Starter Failure

[Beltzington]

I posted the general problem with my lawn tractor in the Lawn and Garden forum but have not gotten an answer to my final question, hopefully I will get a response. I believe I have isolated the problem as I have eliminated low voltage and/or amps, wiring, interlocks, or seized engine.

When the starter is removed from the engine and connected to a battery the solenoid throws out the starter gear and spins-up fine, when installed on the engine all the starter gear does is spins without engaging. Guessing from the sound of the starter I'm guessing it may initially try to engage the flywheel gear but before the engine turns-over the starter gear just free spins. Since I can't see this happening this is pure speculation. I also carefully inspected the starter gear and flywheel gear teeth (using a mirror) and other than some minor wear did not see a reason the starter gear will not engage.

I have never seen this type of starter failure, is there something I am over looking? I hate throwing money at a problem.

 

[coolreinfarm]

I don’t know what kind of engine you have, but I had a briggs that did that turned out the starter gear was stripped out internally, it would throw out and spin with the starter off. Replaced it several times over a 20 year span.

 

[zzvyb6]

One or more field or armature coils have gone bad but the brushes still contact some of them. The starter rpm is too low to throw out the bendix gear. Try to compare the sound of your starter (as in rpm) with one at a dealer, friend, or neighbor. A new starter will probably run at twice the rpm as yours .

eBay or dealer or junkyard , er 'Recycling Center'.

 

[Beltzington]

Thanks, at this point I don't know what else it could be so I guess I'll try an aftermarket one for $60 instead of OEM which is over $300.

 

[DwayneB]

Thanks, at this point I don't know what else it could be so I guess I'll try an aftermarket one for $60 instead of OEM which is over $300.

I always use aftermarket on mine. I keep 2 usually I can take it apart and clean the carbon off with emory cloth oil the bearings a bit and get another year or two out of em.

 

[mitch becton]

by your profile you show having a jd3720 it shows to be a gear reduction starter nippondenso number 228000-3730 google this on ebay and look at picture it is common that the starter drive will slip after many years of cranking. it you would like to test the starter drive to see if is slipping remove starter from tractor put a vise securely get someone to apply power to start the starter with a hammer handle grip very firmly press it in the spining drive if it stops or slows down dramatically the clutch is slipping any starter repair shop can replace drive clutch if not they are available on several ebay sights for about 90.00 dollars

 

[Beltzington]

Hi Capt. obvious here, installed a new starter and engine started right up, go figure. Still not sure if it was the solenoid, starter motor or starter gear causing the problem but at the end-of-the-day guess it does not matter. Thanks for your replies. If anyone is wants an aftermarket starter the one I bought off Amazon was 1/4 the price of the OEM and seems to be of comparable quality. The vendor was DB Electrical.