Engine Starter Mystery

[nyone]

Mark the spot it grinds and check it prior to every start. I bet you will find it's only useing a few teeth to start alot of the time. Then get it in that spot and pull the starter to inspect the teeth.

 

[mmranch]

Thanks for the ideas!

Not sure what I should be 'marking'... the crank pulley? Not sure why it would start perfectly every time when the engine has been running and is warm?

Attached are a couple of photos of the ring gear from when I did the split a few years back. Not the best photos but they might show something others would recognize.

Thanks again.

 

[nyone]

Mark the crank pully in a easy location.

 

[mmranch]

Finally... this problem is solved.

Turns out, the starter had bad grounding when the tractor (engine and transmission) were cold. But that grounding improved when the tractor was warmed up. When the tractor got cold again, the grounding was bad again.

I added a wire from the starter mounting bolt to the ground point on the tractor frame. This provides permanent good grounding to the starter and it is starting perfectly now regardless of tractor temperature.

Thanks again to all for the ideas!

 

[scootr]

A weak ground would reduce the amount of amperage the starter could pull which may only show when the motor is cold. Thanks for the update.
I love a hoppy ending.

 

[NHBX]

A weak ground would reduce the amount of amperage the starter could pull which may only show when the motor is cold. Thanks for the update.
I love a hoppy ending.

I try to have a hoppy ending to every day

 

[newbury]

Thanks for the wrap up!

 

[nyone]

Well that's prob a great relief to you. Lol. Glad it's not the starter gears and that you had a prety easy fix.

 

[zzvyb6]

And in other news, new starter sales are down 90 pecent...

 

[not2old]

And in other news, new starter sales are down 90 pecent...

Something for me to check out on my Harley. 2005 XL1200 been doing similar stuff since new. Warranty changed the battery but no improvement. Been waiting all these years to have it quit and then find the problem.