Briggs starter issues grind and locking

[Mattmotors]

Briggs Intek 31P7770348 E1 04052QZA. Picked up a nice mower For 300 a couple years ago. Now I have a starter issue. The starter wouldn't always catch and just grind. then It wouldn't even engage. Checked it out and found the bendix was totally destroyed. Went to the grave yard and got a good starter and all worked good for a day. What I found is It either grids or locks at one spot on the fly wheel. The fly wheel is part #591760. I think the teeth are worn on the fly wheel. It always happens at the same spot on the fly wheel. The teeth either don't mesh and grind or the teeth lock up edge to edge. The picture here is showing the gears in a locked situation. I have 2 junk engines.
3197770377E1 with a flywheel part number 591758 And 31f7070112E1 with fly wheel 693556 My flywheel is 591760. Can I use one of the two flywheels to replace my 591760? Please advise. Thanks , Matt.

 

[andrewslarge]

Does the keyway match up the same to the magnet?

 

[Mattmotors]

Yes, the key way match to the magnet on both however, I believe there is a difference in the charging systems. (magnets) After more searching, my flywheel is part # 595100. I hope I can find a good used one.

 

[Auto Doc's]

The pictures shows there is no problem with the flywheel gear teeth. The Bendix gear is fully extended but not even close to contacting the flywheel gear. The gear on the starter gear moves up and down, not side to side.

Are you sure the starter is the correct one and bolted on tight? This does not look like a flywheel problem.

 

[sgkent]

to me, the starter gear should be inline with the flywheel and under it when retracted. Looking at the wear marks on the flywheel teeth, it is the starter damaging the flywheel. The teeth are not going deep enough. Either the wrong starter, bracket or mounted wrong.

 

[ILENGINE]

to me, the starter gear should be inline with the flywheel and under it when retracted. Looking at the wear marks on the flywheel teeth, it is the starter damaging the flywheel. The teeth are not going deep enough. Either the wrong starter, bracket or mounted wrong.

Starter mounted about 1/4 inch too far away from the flywheel.

 

[andrewslarge]

Is your starter gear plastic?

 

[sgkent]

Lot going on here that the OP will have to address. re date code on his engine - 04052QZA - the date code if goofy unless the Q is a 0 in which case the manufacture date would be May 20, 2004. If so the way I read the Briggs fiche, the flywheel part number should be 595100 because it was made prior to July 2012. Someone can verify that but it is how I read it. (I think the OP updated the part number later in the thread to the same.) The casting number on the part itself is not always the Briggs part number. Probably used from a salvage yard or Ebay is all that will be available if one of the others doesn't fit. As to whether the ones off the alternate engines there will fit, that depends on the date codes of those engines which were not provided. Have to go to the fiche for those engines and look up the flywheel PART number. The casting number on the flywheel can fool.

yes. It just isn't getting a good mesh. Pretty rusty too. Bendix might be compromised but the distance between gears is also not right.


Also - the gear is all the way up in the photo. Doesn't the gear drop back when it is not spinning on this model starter? The photo below also shows a gap on the opposite side of the armature shaft - As if there is a lot of play in the gear and shaft. To me, it looks like the starter needs work or replacement. It's possible it simply stayed engaged and wore the flywheel out. Lack of maintenance is the culprit here me thinks.

 

[andrewslarge]

Wisdom above. I wonder if it’s even the correct starter?

 

[Mattmotors]

Yes Yes And Yes. The Craftsman mower was all original when I got it. Starter always worked fine.Then earlier this year I would get the occasional grind. Then the whole starting situation went south. I pulled the starter off and the plastic worm gear was destroyed. The drive gear is just loose on the shaft. I had another 31p777 engine, took the starter off that one and swapped it out. The part number for the starter are the same for both engines according to Parts Tree. Worked fine for a little bit then started acting up again. Every time it acts up, the fly wheel is always in the same position. Thats why I think the teeth on the flywheel in that spot are compromised . Attached is the numbers from the engine I'm working on. I'm going to take a look and see if I can move the starter closer. I think It just bolts on though.