Geochurchi

Kohler M8 elect. Starter

Hi All, trying to bench test an electric starter or a Kohler M8 , starter spins does not engage the flywheel, looks like a part may be missing but I am not sure, the service manual shows a dust cap which I think may be missing,would that prevent the gears from engaging?
Geo

cheese

The dust cap won't keep it from engaging. There is a piece with rubber on it under the gear. Sometimes the rubber cracks and falls off and that keeps it from engaging. Sometimes the helix on the armature shaft gets dirty or rusted and that also keeps the gear from engaging.

Geochurchi

I didn’t think so but that was the only thing I could see missing, I have instructions for taking the drive end apart so that will be the next step.
Geo

Dixie2012

Off hand, I'd say the bendix is bad. That's normally what kicks the gear on the starter out to engage the flywheel.

Just for the sake of asking, you havent just replaced the battery have you?