I can't wait to hear what you find. I have a CV14 that has been a slow starter for 30 years. It will crank around to the compression stroke, and more or less stall. Back off the key, and re-apply starter and it cranks, and then 99.9% of the time it will continue to crank and start pretty quickly. The other, a CV15.5, cranks as if it has no compression, and then finally fires, seems to take ~30-45 seconds of cranking before the first cough. I think the second CR works, the first is semi-crippled.
I looked up the parts- a spring - very simple.
I would be very careful using a blade to separate the sump from the block. Damaging the sealing surfaces could result in sealing problems.
I suggest getting the service manual from Kohler. It instructs to use 3/8" drive breaker bar between the 'splitting tabs'. The picture in the manual shows one to be at the upper side, engine inverted, above the pump mount boss, and near the cylinder head gasket surface. They are pretty wide to accept a 3/8" drive, so may not appear to be splitting tabs... It also says DO NOT pry on the gasket surface to avoid leaks...
manual title:
Kohler Command CV11-16, CV460-465, CV490-495 Service Manual
tom