1984 Work Horse GT-1600 Possible starter Issue

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

My 1984 Work Horse GT-1600 with opposed Briggs is making a terrible almost like grinding noise when I try to crank it.

I have not took the starter off yet to inspect it.

Any suggestions before I get started on the starter ?

Pics and or video will certainly follow once I put wrench to it.

 

PS: Admins please feel free to move if needed. I didn’t know whether to put under electrical or engines…

Edited September 28 by Horse Newbie

[953 nut 55,218]

Symptoms sound like a bad Bendix Drive. Plastic parts don't last fore ever.      

[Achto 27,570]

3 hours ago, Horse Newbie said:

My 1984 Work Horse GT-1600 with opposed Briggs is making a terrible almost like grinding noise when I try to crank it.

 

I agree with @953 nut. most likely a bad starter drive. inexpensive part.

 

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[WHX?? 48,815]

Briggs vertical in a 246H I had ate them every couple years. Very cheap in the jungle... so cheap you had to buy in pairs. Guess they knew you were gonna go thru them...

Bad part was you had to pop the flywheel to change it. 

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

1 hour ago, 953 nut said:

Symptoms sound like a bad Bendix Drive. Plastic parts don't last fore ever.      

I was thinking I had heard some guys on here referencing plastic parts on the Bendrix drive. That is part of the reason I asked you fellows before I messed with it. I can save myself a lot of trouble by asking first.

I have never worked on a starter on a small engine.

Based on youse guys experience with these starters, would you just inspect the Bendix drive and replace obviously worn parts, or inspect the whole starter and possibly rebuild ?

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

@Achto,

So all that usually(hopefully) wears out is that gear?… nothing else ?

[Achto 27,570]

6 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said:

So all that usually(hopefully) wears out is that gear?… nothing else ?

 

It is a common wear item. Nylon starter gear drives against a metal flywheel gear. Starter gear becomes the sacrificial part.

[kpinnc 12,017]

3 hours ago, Horse Newbie said:

My 1984 Work Horse GT-1600 with opposed Briggs is making a terrible almost like grinding noise when I try to crank it.

As has been said, might be the Bendix. Also could be that the bushings are shot. They tend to make a squealing/ grinding sound when they go. 
 

Swapping the Bendix is easy. 

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

Thanks Achto,

And that would be installed with no grease, lubricant, graphite, etc, correct ?

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

2 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

As has been said, might be the Bendix. Also could be that the bushings are shot. They tend to make a squealing/ grinding sound when they go. 
 

Swapping the Bendix is easy. 

I’ll check that Bendix first. So does it have bushings instead of bearings, or are you talking about brushes? 
I’ll go ahead and ask…

does it have bearings or bushings,

brushes or bushings ?

[Achto 27,570]

A little powdered graphite wouldn't hurt anything.

 

Here is a video showing the process.

 

 

[WHX?? 48,815]

You can use a dry lube like graphite but that's it. 

 

Briggs uses lots of plastic parts... guvs, cam gears, now even carbs. 

6 minutes ago, Achto said:

Starter gear becomes the sacrificial part.

Better than grinding off a ring gear I guess... 

[Howie 886]

Do your self a favor and put a B&S gear on there. Those cheap ones do not last very long.

They are to soft and the ring gear digs into them.

[kpinnc 12,017]

10 minutes ago, Horse Newbie said:

I’ll go ahead and ask…

does it have bearings or bushings,

brushes or bushings ?

 
Should have brass bushings in the top and bottom of the starter, and yes it has brushes as well. 
 

The Bendix is usually held on the end of the starter shaft with a clip or roll pin. Easy to swap it out. You can test it with a battery after you remove it from the engine. If it’s the Bendix, the nylon gear will be visibly chewed up. If it’s dry bushings, it’ll make a fuss when you spin it with the battery. 

[WHX?? 48,815]

6 minutes ago, Howie said:

Do your self a favor and put a B&S gear on there. Those cheap ones do not last very long.

They are to soft and the ring gear digs into them.

Now you  tell me after I sold the tractor... 

[kpinnc 12,017]

14 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Briggs uses lots of plastic parts... guvs, cam gears, now even carbs. 

 
Other than the starter gear, that’s only true on the newer engines. Kohler does it too now. Kohler “Courage” engines are named so because you need courage to use one. So sad how almost nothing is built to last anymore. 

[peter lena 8,623]

@Horse Newbie  agree with others on ideas to improve that set up , @Achto also like a powdered  graphite , on related movement / contact areas , try  test / verify / try , thats a regular for me . its never a one and done , found more  function detailing  improvements , thats the answer , to issues . example , how about  some 3-1 penetrating oil in / on  your  choke and throttle cables , connections , eliminate rusty scraping . its right there , pete 

[Bill D 1,920]

I have a couple of these starters.  I've noticed the bushing wears out on the gear end.  If it's bad enough you might be better off buying a new starter or finding a kit to rebuild the old one.

Edited September 29 by Bill D

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

2 hours ago, Bill D said:

I have a couple of these starters.  I've noticed the bushing wears out on the gear end.  If it's bad enough you might be better off buying a new starter or finding a kit to rebuild the old one.

If I inspect and it needs more than just the Bendix gear, I will look for a OEM rebuild kit. If no luck there I may use non OEM rebuild kit, or source parts from youse guys.

 

But an aftermarket starter will be my absolute last resort.

 

I may inquire on here or locally for a used starter.

 

Aftermarket starters are much like the rest of aftermarket items… just expensive junk….

[ebinmaine 67,468]

1 hour ago, Horse Newbie said:

.

 

I may inquire on here or locally for a used starter.

 

 

 

 

If you get to that point lemme know.  I have two used Briggs starters around. 

No idea if they'll help you but ...

Maybe post pics?

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

4 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Maybe post pics?

I will when I start wrenching on it.

Thank all you fellas for your help.

[kpinnc 12,017]

6 hours ago, Horse Newbie said:

I may inquire on here or locally for a used starter.

Used to be a fella close by that rebuilt starters pretty cheap. Not sure if he is still in business or not, but I’ll try to find out. 

[Bill D 1,920]

There is a new OEM Briggs starter on Amazon for $101.  Might be worth it. The first one lasted 40 years.