pfrederi 17,738 #1 Posted February 19, 2021 OK so for years I was taught never lube a starter bendix. Went to blow snow and the K341 starter would spin but not engage. That had happened a few days ago and I wrote it off to bad electrical connections so I cleaned them up made a new cable and it worked well. Today same thing. I used screw driver to push the pinion out a couple times the she worked. Pulled the starter motor just now and indeed the bendix doesn't move freely. OK so clean it up but, guidance from Kohler is not consistent. The 9-68 K service manual says no lube. The 11-92 K series manual calls for special lube as does the Magnum service manual. I had actually purchased some a could years ago but never used it. (52 357 01). Seemed to me the flying dust and chaff would stick gumming up the works. However since this is a snow only horse she doesn't see dust (Heck snowblowers don't even have air cleaners) do you think I should use the magic grease??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,570 #2 Posted February 19, 2021 10 minutes ago, pfrederi said: do you think I should use the magic grease??? I prefer to lube the spiral gear with dry graphite powder. I have had good luck with it. 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,099 #3 Posted February 19, 2021 Since you got it Why not. I have cleaned the drive area with brake cleaner and used powdered graphite with success. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #4 Posted February 19, 2021 Years ago I had that issue and I tapped the starter a bit and it worked. Months later it did it again. Then again and I started to haul a hammer around. I think years went by with no further issue. Now, a couple times recently it's done it again and just yesterday. Started fine today several times! I've read that lube was a bad thing but so is not engaging! Maybe a dry lube? Obviously I'll be following this thread! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,570 #5 Posted February 19, 2021 1 minute ago, DennisThornton said: Years ago I had that issue and I tapped the starter a bit and it worked This practice can lead to starter damage. It would surprise you to know how minor of a tap-tap can knock the outer magnets loose in the starter motor. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,450 #6 Posted February 19, 2021 The local Wheel Horse dealer that I bought parts from told me that Wheel Horse sent a service bulletin stating that dry graphite lube should be the only lubricant used. I have looked, but never found such a bulletin. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #7 Posted February 19, 2021 23 minutes ago, Achto said: This practice can lead to starter damage. It would surprise you to know how minor of a tap-tap can knock the outer magnets loose in the starter motor. All in the tap. Done it many a time on this tractor and a couple times on others through the years. Wouldn't call it :"Best Practice" but rather do it at your own risk. And if it did mess it up I've got to pull it anyway and I have several more starters. But yes! "NOT the Best Practice" warning should have been given. My bad... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,464 #8 Posted February 19, 2021 34 minutes ago, Achto said: I prefer to lube the spiral gear with dry graphite powder. I have had good luck with it. 34 minutes ago, squonk said: . I have cleaned the drive area with brake cleaner and used powdered graphite with success. 24 minutes ago, rmaynard said: dry graphite lube should be the only lubricant used Another vote for dry graphite powder. Learned that maybe 30 years ago from old time techs that used to FIX things instead of REPLACING them. Remember that??? Clean it. Run a fine steel or brass wire brush around it. Hit it with brake clean or carb clean. "Foof" some powder on and reassemble. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stepney 2,325 #9 Posted February 19, 2021 Years ago gramps had the Bosch starter on the Electro 12 rebuilt, in his line of work he could do anything pertaining to it. It looks different from the normal K series starter. The ends were bored out and he fitted needle bearings on the starter shaft. He claimed it would free wheel better and didn't give so many false starts in the cold. Yearly he would scrape a graphite bar over the Bendix spline. The ring gear had been painted in some sort of marine graphite paint. It always turned very quiet compared to most K engines. The stuff has held up for years. The gears show next to no wear. But anyway, another vote for graphite. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,769 #10 Posted February 19, 2021 21 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Another vote for dry graphite powder. Learned that maybe 30 years ago from old time techs that used to FIX things instead of REPLACING them. Remember that??? Clean it. Run a fine steel or brass wire brush around it. Hit it with brake clean or carb clean. "Foof" some powder on and reassemble. Guess I better put that on my ToDo list before I beat my magnets out... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,873 #11 Posted February 19, 2021 I use 3 in 1 garage door lube, spays on wet and drys leaving a nice lube film. Like Red Hot I use that s##t on everything! 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WVHillbilly520H 10,373 #12 Posted February 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Achto said: I prefer to lube the spiral gear with dry graphite powder. I have had good luck with it. That's what my father always used on starters, generators, S/Gs and alternators, and I prefer that as the go to lube on the hydro cam/eccentric, no sticky/gummy residue to attract dust/chaffe ect. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 6,999 #13 Posted February 19, 2021 I'll agree with graphite powder as being the proper lube on a starter Ben fix. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,202 #14 Posted February 19, 2021 (edited) I'm sure the graphite is fine, but my vote is on a dry Teflon(tm) lube. It too "use that 5h1t on everything!" The starter on my 175 used to 'hang' almost every time. I could stick the straw through the flywheel screen and hit it with the T-lube. Would work great for a LONG time after that. I know I'm going to jinx it, but I haven't that issue in years now. (most recent use was the window tracks on my wife's car, a miracle cure for sluggish power windows!) Edited February 19, 2021 by Jeff-C175 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,738 #15 Posted February 20, 2021 Well in the interests of science I put the Kohler grease (actually it is from GE) on the pinion and put it back together. Will let you know what happens... In the past i was always a graphite powder type. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damien Walker 246 #16 Posted March 11, 2023 Sorry to be late to the party, but you should change.ean the Bendix 'thread' with petrol or carbon cleaner and get the Bendix running freely. Then lubricate with Graphite or Molybdenum Disulphide both are dry lubricants. Do not use grease of any sort...not even Graphite or Molybdenum Disulphide loaded grease. Do not use Copper Slip either. All greases are magnets for dust and grit which just gums the Bendix up again! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rick 233 #17 Posted March 12, 2023 Kohler explains in the factory repair manual to use a Kohler p/n lubricant after cleaning the associated parts. When the starter in my '97 314-8 quit working I did as the manual advised with excellent results... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,622 #18 Posted March 12, 2023 @pfrederi prefer graphite detailing at any movable / slide point , a thorough detail cleaning also helps , might also enhance the electrical wiring to it . why not make sure every part of it , works like it should , pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
