1811 Starter clean/removal
 

I have an 1811 with a Kohler M18. My starter needs cleaning but how can I remove it without pulling the engine? (The Kohler manual says it should be done as preventive mainenance annually!) Alternatively, any advice on how to clean gunk off without having to remove the starter from the engine?
Many thanks,
Bob

I did it on my 1810, took an old 7/16 wrench and cut it in half. With a little luck and some small fingers you can get the bolts loose and pull the starter out. You have to remove the engine shroud to. My incentive was not wanting to pull the engine either.

Don't be afraid to pull the engine. It is no where near the daunting task you think it is.

AJ

I have an 1811 too and the starter began to spin but not crank the engine over.
I just removed the left side sheet metal from the engine and with a long thin screw driver was able to pull the Bendix gear back towards the rear and pressure wash it off after a turn or two of the starter. I then sprayed it with WD 40 and that was a year ago with no further trouble. I really don't know what there is to clean other than the gear. It is a sealed motor with pre-lubed bearings with no oil holes. :beerchug:

Matt G has a great idea on this subject. Tried it on my 1712 and 782 and it works great. Purchase a 7/16 wrench that is a cheapy so it can be heated and bent is almost a 90 to 45 degree and take your lower nut off.

My starter was spinning also. I took off the panels to get some limited access to the starter and cleaned it with carb cleaner. It has started just fine over the past week. Thanks for the replies.

It worked well for a week or so, but now the starter is spinning again and not engaging the wheel. I'm concerned about using WD-40 attracting dirt even though it has worked well for inspectorudy. I'll try some Teflon lubricant for bicycle chains if I can get in close enough to apply it, otherwise I'll use a silicone spray. I'm also going to pick up a cheap 7/16" wrench and doctor or cut it as referred to above.

Starter lube
 

I had to pull the spring loaded gear cover back with a long thin screw driver and then power washed the whole thing as well as I could. I then used WD-40 with the red tube to get up and into the cover as well as the spring and gear. Like I said that was over a year ago and we have very dusty conditions here. I also power wash my tractor after ever use but not the starter. I raise the hood and spray down each side panel as well as the area behind the gas tank and down into the steering unit area. I do this before the rest of the mower and you won't believe how much crap comes out each time. :beerchug:

WD-40 will eventually gunk it up again, particularly if it gets cold. My dad has a zero-turn with an M18 that we had no choice but to shoot some WD-40 down into that area to keep the mower working until the end of the season because the engine has to be removed to remove the starter in that machine, and it is not an easy task. Anyway, for whatever reason we didn't ever pull the engine, and it seemed like roughly a year later it was gunked up again.

The same company that makes PB Blaster also makes a dry lubricant. There is a guy here who rebuilds starters, generators, etc., and he uses this. He says it drys but still leaves a waxy film as a lubricant. It will not attract or retain dirt and dust. I think it can be purchased at Lowes.

I sprayed mine with dry graphite lube (typically used on locks) several months ago (May 20 2012).

Been working perfect since then. :bigthink:


I am happy, no removal yet.

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...010800x470.jpg

For anyone having the same problem, here's how I resolved it: I took apart the engine shield enough to get access to the starter. I then sprayed a Teflon lubricant onto the threads. I picked up the lubricant some years ago at a bike shop - it goes on wet, but dries to a dry waxy film. That was a couple weeks ago and I haven't had any more problems - it starts right up. The bike shop version of the Teflon lubricant is undoubtedly more expensive than the graphite lube or the PB Blaster dry lubricant.

Enjoy

1811 Starter
 

Does anyone have a pic or diagram of the starter and where it is?

As you are sitting on the tractor, it is on the LH side, low and under the cylinder jug.

Can I get to it from underneath to clean the terminals without having to remove anything?

You should. :ThumbsUp:

Thanks Roland. A nice morning story to go with your coffee. When we moved into our house 7 years ago, there was a grandfather plowing a small farm behind our home, our property lines meet so my girls would watch him and wave, eventually we became friends of the family. He became sick and unable to go out on the tractor, without offending the family I reluctantly offered to plow it using the tractor of course, which only happened a few times as it somewhat felt awkward. It's been a few years since he passed and recently I offered again, of which the daughter accepted graciously. His choice in tractor, the 1811. I'm a Chevy guy, so I am looking forward to getting this baby up and running again. It was somewhat buried, tires flat, no gas, and no charge. With all that rectified, I turned the key and the Solenoid is just making a click and buzzing. I cleaned the terminals on the battery, cables, ground, and the solenoid. Hoping to clean up the Starter today and if needed, I'll test the solenoid.

I'm sure Vernon is up there waiting to hear his baby run again!!!!

Thanks for your help in advance.

If it has been sitting out in the weather, most likely it has a rat nest in it. Sometimes they will get caught in the starter.

Since it has been outside....Remove ALL battery cables (hot & ground) clean, polish, and make sure they are bright. Then re-tighten them back down.

Even better, it's been sitting inside her barn. Nice and dry.

Ok, found the starter, thanks. Cleaned up the terminal, didn't look that bad to begin with.

After putting the solenoid back, I got nothing this time when I turned the key, not even the lights went on. When I checked the battery, I had 11.8V. I get sparks when I jump the two large terminals.

Got the battery on the charger now.

Wondering if I have the Solenoid connected correctly. It's a 4 terminal. The way it was connected was the large, top right terminal had a small red wire and a large red wire. The bottom left large terminal had a Black cable connected to the Positive terminal on the battery. The top left small terminal had a small red wire attached. The bottom right small terminal had nothing attached to it.

I'll attach a pic.