vanguard starter locking up

[geneP]

Went to start the Cub Cadet 2165 with the B & S Vanguard horizontal shaft engine and it just clicked. Isolated it to the starter, took the ~3/4"
band off at the bendix, backed the starter shaft and the starter gear came back to the rest position but it was wobbly loose on the shaft. I sprayed it with WD-40 and it started right up. A couple of starts later it did the same lock up trick.

I'm guessing I have starter or bendix problem. Is anyone familiar with the starter and can tell me which parts to buy before I disable the mower? As always, thanks in advance for any information.

Gene

 

[highboy1975]

most starters, if the bendix is bad, the whole thing needs replaced. i think id just go that route anyway, they cant be very expensive. the only way ive known a starter to be rebuildable is if the brushes are worn out.

 

[geneP]

I took off the starter and found the starter gear that meshes with the flywheel is plastic and was chewed up. I just replaced the gear and all is well.

 

[highboy1975]

was the replacement plastic? suprise suprise, another company trying to cheapen stuff up. that gear should be metal imo

 

[RandyT]

briggs has used the nylon starter gear for years. It is not as durable as the medal gear but the ring gear on the flywheel is probably aluminum, or plastic and a medal gear would eat it resulting in a new flywheel to repair.

 

[geneP]

This engine has about 720 hours on it. I would much rather replace an occasional starter gear than have to tear into the fly wheel

 

[turnerbend]

was the replacement plastic? suprise suprise, another company trying to cheapen stuff up. that gear should be metal imo

If you are familiar with lawn mower starters, for the past 15 to 30 years, most starter gears are plastic.