Cold weather starter just spins?

[Elkins45]

It’s just around freezing here and I decided to move my riding mower from the garage to the barn for winter storage. The battery is fine but when I turn the starter it just spins and doesn’t engage the flywheel. I assume the cold is causing the bendix gear to not rise, maybe from cold grease?

What are the chances the cautious use of a heat gun would let me get it started?

 

[Craftsman Garage]

What riding mower is this on, and what is the engine model number? We can't read your mind . Usually briggs do that when the battery is weak. I would try that first.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

It’s just around freezing here and I decided to move my riding mower from the garage to the barn for winter storage. The battery is fine but when I turn the starter it just spins and doesn’t engage the flywheel. I assume the cold is causing the bendix gear to not rise, maybe from cold grease?

What are the chances the cautious use of a heat gun would let me get it started?

When this happens it can be a battery that is not fully charged or a starter that needs a little lubricant, among other reasons. Try a little WD-40 on the bendix gear and see if that helps.

 

[Auto Doc's]

A blow drier to warm it up, if possible. The nylon Bendix gear gets moody when both worn from use and cold.

A little WD-40 might help, but don't use any kind of thick spray lube because that will attract dirt.

 

[slomo]

A little WD-40 might help, but don't use any kind of thick spray lube because that will attract dirt.

So will WD-40.

Blow the bendix out with shop air and safety glasses. See if it will go up and down with gentle persuasion. I wouldn't spray any form of oil there.

OR, worse case, hit it with silicone spray then blast it well with air. Dry it off with a clean red rag.

 

[slomo]

Remove the battery from the mower. Take inside and place on a Battery Tender till spring.

 

[StarTech]

A blow drier to warm it up, if possible. The nylon Bendix gear gets moody when both worn from use and cold.

A little WD-40 might help, but don't use any kind of thick spray lube because that will attract dirt.

Whoa Neely here. Don't apply oil without knowing if it is one those that rubber to engage the Bendix. A lot Kohler Inertia starters uses rubber fiction to engage the Bendix. Applying oil to these can cause more problems than it solves.

These rubber engaged types will have more problems cold as the rubber wears out meaning a new starter since these Bendix type are usually none replaceable due lack of new Bendix.

Need know which engine we are dealing with so someone can lookup the starter.

 

[Elkins45]

It's a Briggs 22HP V Twin from around 2005. I checked the battery and it tests full, and when I put the charger on it anyway it showed the same.

 

[Elkins45]

Whoa Neely here. Don't apply oil without knowing if it is one those that rubber to engage the Bendix. A lot Kohler Inertia starters uses rubber fiction to engage the Bendix. Applying oil to these can cause more problems than it solves.

These rubber engaged types will have more problems cold as the rubber wears out meaning a new starter since these Bendix type are usually none replaceable due lack of new Bendix.

Need know which engine we are dealing with so someone can lookup the starter.

It's a Briggs 22HP V Twin from around 2005. I checked the battery and it tests full, and when I put the charger on it anyway it showed the same.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hello E.,

We specifically need all the information that is stamped into the top of one of the engine rocker/valve covers. If the valve cover has been off, it could have been reinstalled upside down, so the numbers would be on the underside.

Can you see the gear on the top of the starter? If not, the top plastic fan shroud will have to be removed. They are pretty simple to take off.

If it has the black plastic/nylon gear, it may have split in half. I have that happen several times in recent years.

The individual gear can be replaced but it takes some skill and patience.