Starter Motor Gear/Wheel Keeps Stripping

[hartfish]

The little plastic flywheel/gear on top of my lawn tractor's starter keeps stripping. The first time it stripped, I replaced the entire starter. That lasted a year or so, but now I've replaced the plastic gear three or four times. Lately it's lasted just a handful of starts. The starter motor is mounted solid and does not have any play in it.

Thoughts? And thanks for any help.

 

[ILENGINE]

I would be checking the ring gear on the flywheel for chipped or broken teeth.

 

[BlazNT]

I would start with the valve lash. Sounds like the decompression in not working and your starter motor is.