Deere 318 starter issue

cef2lion · Sep 8, 2009

My brother's 318 was having starter issues. IGN switch looked ok. Starter would spin but not always turn over the engine or make a loud noise enagaging the flywheel.

The 318 has over 3500 hours but running good. I pulled the motor to get at the starter. It is an older 318 but has the solenoid style starter. It has the relay kit that was released for it. I was suprised it didn't have the bendix starter.

JD wants a lot for a new starter. We are not sure the condition of the starter. Is there a way to test it on the bench before taking it to a shop. I have seen them online for about $125. Could it be the solenoid not working or gummed up? I don't know the history of the 318 other then it was bought a long time ago used. Not sure if the starter was ever serviced.

Suggestions on ways to proceed.

Craig

zman007007 · Sep 9, 2009

you could use a set of booster cables to check it. screw the nut back on the post that your battery cable attaches to. then put the red clamp on it. make sure it is not touching any part of the starter other than the post. then take the black clamp and touch it to a bare metal place on the starter. it should kick the flywheel drive gear out from the starter. if not you have a bad starter or drive gear. HOLD ON THE STARTER TIGHT. BETTER IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE HELP, TO HOLD IT. ZMAN

farmerjim · Sep 11, 2009

my dad had an issue like that w/ his 318 ended up being a crack in the metal where the starter bolts up and the gear engages to spin the motor. he had to have it welded up and it worked fine after that, until the motor finally gave in w/ over 3500 hrs on it.

atschirner · Sep 11, 2009

The John Deere owners group over on Yahoo has documented this repair. See if this link will get you there:

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/QKyqSl...chnical Stuff/Engines/Onan Starter Repair.pdf

cef2lion · Sep 12, 2009

I found the repair referenced. We looked at the mouting points and didn't see any cracks. Going to look closter this weekend.

We found a mounting point on the frame and bolted starter there and connected all the wires. We engaged the starter with the ign key. It is pushing the gear forward and spinning each time pretty consistant. The gear doesn't retract and letting off the key. Should gear pull back or does the flywheel spinning motion do that.

I posted over on that JD yahoo group but the post has yet to show up.

Craig

cef2lion · Sep 14, 2009

It appears the gear on the starter is slipping. Might be the clutch part of the starter.

The engine cover is labeled as B43G. Looking online for a replacement starter. AM109263 is listed in JD parts for P218G onan engine. AM109172 is listed for the B43G. I was looking in ebay and when I search for B43G starter I see a lot of starters listed but the picture shows no solenoid attached like the one we have.

Craig

BradM · Sep 17, 2009

Late model B engines used P series starters. As long as the starter you have bolts to the bottom of the cylinder block and not the oil pan buy the one for a P series engine.

cef2lion · Sep 17, 2009

My brother dropped starter off at a repair shop that my JD dealer recommended. He replaced the starter drive, a bushing and a bearing for $75. I think we are good to go now.

Craig

zman007007 · Sep 18, 2009

As far as your question about the starter gear retracting, it is the the engine cranking once you release the key switch that spins the starter drive gear backwards to its original position. it nevers hurts to put a little powdered graphite on the shaft it runs on. nothing sticky like wd- 40 or similar it attracts dirt. Graphite doesnt.

fergs2000 · Oct 15, 2009

cef2lion said:
My brother's 318 was having starter issues. IGN switch looked ok. Starter would spin but not always turn over the engine or make a loud noise enagaging the flywheel.

The 318 has over 3500 hours but running good. I pulled the motor to get at the starter. It is an older 318 but has the solenoid style starter. It has the relay kit that was released for it. I was suprised it didn't have the bendix starter.

JD wants a lot for a new starter. We are not sure the condition of the starter. Is there a way to test it on the bench before taking it to a shop. I have seen them online for about $125. Could it be the solenoid not working or gummed up? I don't know the history of the 318 other then it was bought a long time ago used. Not sure if the starter was ever serviced.

Suggestions on ways to proceed.

Craig

I need some information and tips on pulling the enging to remove my starter on my 318. Does the enging have to be completely pulled out, or can it be tilted somehow. Either way-i need basic info on what to do- thanks.

cef2lion · Oct 16, 2009

There is a slot cut into the frame where the starter sits at bottom of engine making for the engine removal to get at it. I'm not thinking you could tilt it to get at it. If you have it loose enough to tilt the engine is pretty much ready to lift out anyway.

We did get the starter rebuilt. Couple things wrong with it. A bearing and bushing plus something else. We ran into a issue bolting it back on. One of the bolts was stripped and required us to tap it.

Craig

zman007007 · Oct 30, 2009

wellllllllllllll did you get it fixed? we want to know. lol zman

eepete · Oct 31, 2009

The starter on my 1990 318 went out. The tractor has about 750 hours on it. I let the dealer fix as it was not clear how easy it would be (sometimes you have to trade your time for money). They also had a problem with a stripped bolt. The starter was replaced with an equivalent one made by Mitsubishi (I think that was what they said). Your thread is interesting because of the hour differences. Makes me think it's not the hours on the tractor but the number of times you use a starter that determines it's life.

Found a "new" early '90s mower deck at my dealer that was some stock they had never sold. It was about twice the cost of the parts to repair my current deck, which was ready for it's 3rd set of spindles in it's life. My old deck was also very beat up and rusty. It had eaten a lot of stumps and rocks, and been "corrected" back into shape with a sledge many times. Here's a pix of the tractor (since everyone says they like pictures). It's holding up pretty good and the new deck completes the look. I'm ready for another 19 years of use and hopefully the majority of the rocks have been routed out (I know better, but I can wish can't I?).

- pete

alchemysa · Oct 31, 2009

eepete said:
Here's a pix of the tractor (since everyone says they like pictures).
- pete

Unusual to see wheel weights on a ride-on.

eepete · Oct 31, 2009

I have the front blade for this small guy. The wheel weights make so I can actually push snow (a rare event here in NC but it happens). Rear weights plus chains plus me = traction. No problems tearing up the lawn, so they stay there. Weight also good when using blade to maintain gravel driveway.

I also have a rear weight holder on there too that you can't see in the picture. I added the holder when I got the snowblower for it because it is so front heavy. The weights only get used when blowing snow. Need for snowblower is extremely rare event here, have used it twice.

Pete

alchemysa · Nov 1, 2009

eepete said:
I have the front blade for this small guy. The wheel weights make so I can actually push snow (a rare event here in NC but it happens). Pete

Doh!... pushing snow. As an Australian that never even occurred to me. In fact I've never even seen the stuff!