JD 4500 Starter Grinding

[MMH]

Sometimes when I try to start (i.e. crank the engine over) my starter it grinds w/o turning the engine over. This happens about once in ten times.

I had the starter to a starter/alternator shop & they took it apart and said that the starter looked brand new inside & that everything worked properly. I guess the next time that it grinds I will remove the starter & take a look at the flywheel. I looked at the flywheel when I took the starter off but don't remember if it was after a 'grind' or not. If I do not see anything I will spin the engine around and look at the flywheel all the way around. At this point I am thinking that I have a spot on the flywheel. The starter shop said that the way that the bendix on this starter works, it is not possible for the gear to start spinning until it is fully out.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Harry in Ky]

I suspect you will find nothing wrong with the ring gear teeth. If so, take the starter back to the shop and have them replace the drive clutch.