starter won't engage
#1
04-26-13, 08:31 AM
starter won't engage
I tried this last night but no one answered. I have a 1995 Craftsman tractor with a 12 HP motor. The starter turns but does not engage the flywheel to turn the motor. Any ideas?
#2
04-26-13, 08:44 AM
Low voltage, whether the battery needing to be replaced, a bad battery cable, or loose connections, typically at the battery, starter, or ground, will cause this, so I would start there. Another culprit can be the drive itself, hanging up on the armature. Check for a build up of grass clippings or whatever, clean around it as necessary, and try tapping it gently with a piiece of wood, to see if it frees it up.
#3
04-26-13, 09:01 AM
Member
Low voltage, whether the battery needing to be replaced, a bad battery cable, or loose connections, typically at the battery, starter, or ground, will cause this, so I would start there. Another culprit can be the drive itself, hanging up on the armature. Check for a build up of grass clippings or whatever, clean around it as necessary, and try tapping it gently with a piiece of wood, to see if it frees it up.
To the OP,
When you say the starter turns, do you mean it's spinning freely when you try to start the motor, or you hear it making noise?
#6
04-26-13, 10:09 AM
Member
The starter turns but the small gear at the top of the starter will not rise and engage the flywheel. The battery is good.
If you can, remove and clean of all dirt.
#7
04-26-13, 11:10 AM
More times than not the starter drive wears and the top gear cannot rise to the flywheel, get some wd-40 and lubricate it and see if that helps, also just because the battery shows 12 volts doesn't mean it's good, it may not have the Cranking Amps to spin the starter drive to turn over engine. The plastic shaft that the starter gear rides on sometimes has burrs on it from just normal use. Replace whole starter drive if that is the case. Good luck.
