Removing starter on WH 312-8

[Bahmi 5]

Having a bad time with starter removal on the 12HP Kohler Magnum. Have to remove the oil fill tube but I am a bit leery of really reefing on it for fear of damaging it. Can it be heated gently and slowly enough to loosen it? Or is that going to be a problem?

 

Will the 2 long screws that hold the starter to the engine block come out reasonably well or is this going to be another problem? Starter has never been taken out before. Removal of the 2 screws appears adequate to remove the starter but am I wrong with this assumption?

 

 

[pfrederi 17,743]

The two long screws also hold the body of the starter together.  Duct tape to hold the body together as you remove the long screws.

Edited June 19 by pfrederi

[Ed Kennell 38,329]

6 hours ago, Bahmi said:

heated gently and slowly enough to loosen

Have you removed both bolts?   It should easily pull off the block.    I slit a piece of 1" washer hose and slip it on the fill tube as insulation from the positive lug on the starter.

Don't forget to remove the rear starter support.    Like Paul said, don't let the starter ends separate from the body.   The brushes can be a bear to reinstall.

I always take the one long starter bolt out, then loosen the other one enough to install a shorter bolt and a nut to hold the starter together before removing the second long bolt.

[Bahmi 5]

23 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Have you removed both bolts?   It should easily pull off the block.    I slit a piece of 1" washer hose and slip it on the fill tube as insulation from the positive lug on the starter.

Don't forget to remove the rear starter support.    Like Paul said, don't let the starter ends separate from the body.   The brushes can be a bear to reinstall.

I always take the one long starter bolt out, then loosen the other one enough to install a shorter bolt and a nut to hold the starter together before removing the second long bolt.

OK. I am a bit leery of taking out the oil fill tube. Afraid to take a pipe wrench and apply force without damaging the tube. Have to remove the tube to get the bottom screw out. what is rear starter support? Seems too easy to remove but it isn't as I have to first get the tube off. Is it a screw thread or swaged into the hole? Can I heat it without damage? Or is this too dangerous?I would take off the nut that holds  the hot terminal on the starter and not have to put an insulator tube over the oil fill tube. 

thanks a lot!

[Ed Kennell 38,329]

No no, do not break the pipe loose from the base.  You can remove the two screws with this 1/4" drive rachet with a short extension a 1/4" socket and a straight slot driver.   

 

 

This is the rear starter support. ( called starter tail brace on Pauls picture above)   A small steel angle that connects the starter to the tractor frame.  My index  finger is touching the bolt into the rear of the starter.

My middle finger is touching the bolt into the frame.   You must remove both to be able to slide the starter out of the joint in the block.

 

The insulation is to prevent a spark from jumping from the starter lug to the oil fill tube when starting the tractor.      You  should always remove the positive cable from the battery when working on a tractor.

[lynnmor 7,321]

14 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

You  should always remove the positive cable from the battery when working on a tractor.

 

 

This is the most important part of Ed's information.

 

I keep a handful of those plastic protectors that come on a new battery to insulate the terminals.  Dropping or placing a metal object or tool on the battery can cause serious problems if they short the terminals or bridge positive to ground.

[Bahmi 5]

I had  guessed that  the long bolt screwed into the frame on top and bottom needed removal, hence the reason why I figured I'd have to remove the oil fill tube. Apparently, this was an incorrect assumption. The photos on top of this topic are impossible to discern due to this lack of contrast. I will take this information you kindly sent along and give the starter another removal try. I had previously connected the battery to the tractor ground and then touched the hot wire from the battery to the terminal on the starter and got no indication there was any movement in the starter drive and motor. I got a click but nothing else. I have a spare tractor and will practice taking out the starter on that unit. Your photo shows 4 fuses, mine only has 2 fuses. Minor difference, possibly. Essentially, taking out those 2 supporting screws with the quarter inch drive ratchet and screw tip should free up the starter. Taping the ends appears to be mandatory, right?

Thanks again for the help,

 

Mike

[Ed Kennell 38,329]

9 hours ago, Bahmi said:

 long bolt screwed into the frame on top and bottom needed removal, hence the reason why I figured I'd have to remove the oil fill tube. Apparently, this was an incorrect assumption.

Yes , of course the two long bolts thru the starter need to be removed to remove the starter.    But first you do need to remove the oil fill pipe by removing the two bolts holding it to the block.  Do not break it off with heat or a pipe wrench.     You also must remove the small angle support at the rear of the starter.