Starter trouble on the Craftsman GT6000

cjet69

cjet69

Tractorologist
Senior Member
Member
When I tried to fire up the Blower tractor to blow snow yesterday it would either make a grinding noise or would spin without turning the engine over. I pulled the tin cover to see, and the drive gear wasn't lifting into the ring gear. I hit it with WD-40 in case it had some water freezing in it. That got it to engage but the engine wouldn't turn over. I could hear the starter spinning so I rotated the flywheel. That got it turning over and it fired up. I haven't tried starting it since I finished blowing snow. Does this sound like the drive is going out on the starter? and should I just buy a new one? not sure if you can get a new bendix for these. This engine is the Kohler MV18S 58560, and the tractor is 917.258870.

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Here's a parts manual for that engine. I have found it about as cheap to buy a new starter. I usually get mine here:
www.dbelectrical.com

DB Electrical - Aftermarket Auto Parts - Starters and Alternators

DB Electrical keeps your vehicle running with premium aftermarket auto parts, including replacement alternators, starters and more.
www.dbelectrical.com www.dbelectrical.com
 

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KennyP said:
Here's a parts manual for that engine. I have found it about as cheap to buy a new starter. I usually get mine here:
www.dbelectrical.com

DB Electrical - Aftermarket Auto Parts - Starters and Alternators

DB Electrical keeps your vehicle running with premium aftermarket auto parts, including replacement alternators, starters and more.
www.dbelectrical.com www.dbelectrical.com
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Thanks Kenny. I have bought several starters from DB also. I was wondering if it would be almost as much for a Bendix as a new starter. That answers my question.
 
Yea I'm with Kenny its easier and probably just as cheap to buy a new starter, but you could try pulling the starter remove the bendix gear and wash the shaft and gear good no lube on those parts, I have done that with the starter on my M20 (same starter) and just had to clean the shaft and gear on the K361 that one won't release after the engine started sometimes make a terrible squealing sound
 
MNGB said:
Yea I'm with Kenny its easier and probably just as cheap to buy a new starter, but you could try pulling the starter remove the bendix gear and wash the shaft and gear good no lube on those parts, I have done that with the starter on my M20 (same starter) and just had to clean the shaft and gear on the K361 that one won't release after the engine started sometimes make a terrible squealing sound
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I'll give that a try. Won't be fun pulling in these cold temps. The older I get the faster my fingers go numb. The upside is once it's out I can get in the warm 35°F shop to work on it. This cold with uninsulated walls makes it hard to get much heat in there.
 
KennyP said:
I'm in hibernation, Daniel. This cold front is supposed to make it down to my son's on the Mississippi coast. They are scrambling to 'winterize' down there.
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Hard for the deep south to prepare for something like this! I did fire up my generator today and it's ready to go. But only have about 6 gallons of gas on hand. That's plenty till I can drive and get more. Matt and Kaylin's generator fired but surged, then second start it ran fine. I think the anti-diesel solenoid needle was sticking.
 
Tried starting the Blower tractor today. It took 3-4 tries before it started turning the engine over, but it did start up. Some reports are calling for 1-3" of snow tonight others are 3-5". Figured I should wait and see before I disable the tractor.
 
Made the decision to just buy a new starter to get the tractor starting reliably (hopefully). This will give me time to play with the other starter and see if it can be fixed. The new starter showed up today so as long as it is the right one, I should be good to go.

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Was driving along terraces yesterday looking for a possible deer that was shot over the hill to the SW. Was heading bak home when the templight came on but no fan (Polaris Ranger) Nothing with me to work with. Walked ½ mile home and got the truck with some cooloant and couple tools and a driver. Back to the Ranger. Temp light was off so removed the radiator cap and added about a pint of coolant. Cut a piece of electric fence wire and jumped the connector going to the thermal switch for the fan. Fired right up and drove it home. First thing next morning was put the new thermal switch in I forgot to do a month ago. Fan was working in the heat of last summer but now that it is cooler, no go. No wind and was driving about 5 mph so I could see in the deep grass good.
 
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