K1818hp new starter not touching fly wheel

[JoeM 8,293]

friend called me last night and asked me about his new starter, not touching the flywheel when it’s engaged on his 8 horsepower Kohler.

He asked me if I have ever seen that before and I told him no.

he says it seems like the mounting fplate for the two bolts is too thick and ithe teeth on the bedex are missing the flywheel when the starters engaged.

has anybody seen that before or know what the fix is?

[ebinmaine 72,426]

Couple things come to mind. 

A. Verify it's the correct starter. I.E. Small block versus Big block.

B. Count the number of teeth on the bendix.

[JoeM 8,293]

teeth are same part # is from kohler spec

he says the new starter is thicker where it mounts ? 

 

[ebinmaine 72,426]

1 minute ago, JoeM said:

teeth are same part # is from kohler spec

he says the new starter is thicker where it mounts ? 

 

 

 

Sounds like they will need to send pictures of new and old to the company that sold them the starter

[JoeM 8,293]

it’s strange like the starter is made for a slightly larger flywheel ?? 

[ebinmaine 72,426]

That's what made me wonder if it was for a big block.

 

Trina has at least three Kohler 8 horse engines but they're all SG so I don't even have a comparison.

[Ed Kennell 41,800]

I remember someone else had this problem.    I think the solution was to add shim to one side of the bolts to tilt the starter closer to the flywheel.

[Ed Kennell 41,800]

I have a new K-181 starter on my trailer If you want to check measurements.

I'll be there by 9AM Joe.

[Racinbob 11,919]

23 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

I remember someone else had this problem.    I think the solution was to add shim to one side of the bolts to tilt the starter closer to the flywheel.

 

That would be me. I first tried to shim the top of the bracket to 'roll' the starter closer but that didn't work. Then I put a washer behind the bracket on the pto end and that's all it took. The gears mesh fine and it doesn't look cocked at all. @Lane Ranger contacted me sometime after I posted that with the same problem. Seems there is something going on with the aftermarket starters. I told him what I did and he tried it with success. There was other suggestions such as grinding the base, etc. but the washer worked perfectly and was far less involved. 

Edited June 20 by Racinbob

[Racinbob 11,919]

On the starter subject, I want to rebuild the original as a spare. Every kit I've found has the wrong bushing for one of the ends. 

 

 

I want to remove the old bushing for a better measurement but it's been at the bottom of the priority list. Has anybody found a kit with the correct bushing?

[oliver2-44 10,689]

I’ve used the kit you show. I’ve found that far end bushing has very little wear, so I’ve not replaced it on several future project ones I’ve rebuilt. 

[Racinbob 11,919]

3 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

I’ve used the kit you show. I’ve found that far end bushing has very little wear, so I’ve not replaced it on several future project ones I’ve rebuilt. 

 

What do you think about drilling a small hole to allow some lube now and then?

[ebinmaine 72,426]

2 hours ago, Racinbob said:

On the starter subject, I want to rebuild the original as a spare. Every kit I've found has the wrong bushing for one of the ends. 

 

5 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

I’ve used the kit you show. I’ve found that far end bushing has very little wear, so I’ve not replaced it on several future project ones I’ve rebuilt. 

 

 

Same & same.  

 

I did one on Cinnamon Horse (??) Years ago. Been fine.  

[ebinmaine 72,426]

1 minute ago, Racinbob said:

 

What do you think about drilling a small hole to allow some lube now and then?

 

 

Could go either way on that. Me personally I would leave it alone.

 

 

[ri702bill 9,348]

Let me guess.... the starter was bought from a low-cost provider and was manufactured in a land afar.....

Others have had issues with the fitment & function of these....

[oliver2-44 10,689]

I would be concerned of contamination getting in there. Kind of like today’s new car sealed transmissions. They say they are better off sealed and not getting contamination from dip stick hole. Then again they are saving a few Pennie’s not installing a dip stick which equals profit. 

[ri702bill 9,348]

4 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

 

What do you think about drilling a small hole to allow some lube now and then?

Drilling a small hole while it is disassembled and a secure removeable cap / plug fitted may be the ticket...

[ri702bill 9,348]

1 minute ago, oliver2-44 said:

they are saving a few Pennie’s not installing a dip stick which equals profit. 

Cost Reduction!!! 

[adsm08 3,148]

4 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

Kind of like today’s new car sealed transmissions. They say they are better off sealed and not getting contamination from dip stick hole.

 

I promise you, this is not accurate. That might be the claim, but it isn't the reality. Most of these "sealed units" are less sealed than the ones that had dipsticks.

[kpinnc 14,585]

12 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

They say they are better off sealed and not getting contamination from dip stick hole.

 

 

[JoeM 8,293]

Talked with @Ed Kennell about the starter issue at the show. After confirming the problem of being about an 1/8" too far away, we thought we could remove the double plate. 

I measured the old starter clamping it to the table and it was 1 3/4" to the center of the shaft. The new one was just over 1 7/8" to the center. After slicing the outer plate the new one was just under 1 3/4". That would allow the starter to be shimmed out to the correct engagement. 

First thought was to remove the outer plate completely. I think it would have held up just fine but opted to slice and weld. 

The original problem with the old starter was the gear. it was stripped internal and would not spin the engine. We did remove the gear from the new one and placed it on the old. One issue is the new gear kits are just about as expensive as a aftermarket starter.