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Hi,

My Kohler 14 165 07-S Recoil Starter Assembly broke a month ago. The plate that the bolt was holding down was slightly broken on the bolt hole. So I bought a replacement. After a couple of uses, the replacement is now broken. This time the pawls sound to be slipping without latching on. I took the starter apart and it looks like the pawls are lose. In other words, I can move the pawls up and down. I tried tightening the bolt and it broke. Is it possible to get the broken piece out? I guess I need a strong drill bit? But beyond that, why are the pawls lose now? Is the piece on the motor that the pawls turn the problem? If I were to buy a new starter assembly, would it break also? Or did I get a defective starter assembly?


Also, if I were to take this to a repair shop, how much would they charge to fix it? I'm in NYC suburbs, and everything is expensive here. It's a $200 mower, so if it's like $100+ to fix, I might as well get a new one.

You have the correct part and the pawls should be loose. When you pull on the starter rope the pawls will come out and engage with the starter cup to turn the engine over. Do not try to tighten the center screw on the starter, there is no reason to do so. Make sure the your tight the starter hold down bolts good and snug. If they come loose, that will cause your problem. I have seen online your starter for about $22, which is a cheap fix.

Rivets said:

You have the correct part and the pawls should be loose. When you pull on the starter rope the pawls will come out and engage with the starter cup to turn the engine over. Do not try to tighten the center screw on the starter, there is no reason to do so. Make sure the your tight the starter hold down bolts good and snug. If they come loose, that will cause your problem. I have seen online your starter for about $22, which is a cheap fix.

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The starter I bought brok after a couple of uses. It would not turn the engine. It turned, but not the engine. The starter cup is scratched so the pawls were not engaging. I know the pawls should be lose horizontally. I meant that they were lose vertically. So when the came out they could go like 10 degrees up or down. I have no clue how pawls work. But my common sense tells me that the pawls should not be able to move up and down. In fact, I was able to press down on the plate to make a more secure vertical hold of the pawls. That is when I decided to try to tighten the bolt more so that the pawls couldnt move vertically. That is when the bolt snapped.

If the engine will not turn easily with a new starter, the starter is not your problem. Your need to find out why it will not turn easily. Scratching on the starter cup means the pawls are engaging, but cannot hold because the engine will not turn. Finally pawls should be able move in both directions if the starter is to work properly, but you won't believe me if your common sense is better than my experience.

Thanks for confirming the pawls are fine. How do I determine what is stopping the starter cup from turning? Should I turn it be hand to see if it turns? Or should I take it apart or something?

sdlawn said:

Thanks for confirming the pawls are fine. How do I determine what is stopping the starter cup from turning? Should I turn it be hand to see if it turns? Or should I take it apart or something?

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I got a third starter assembly and I installed and took note of the tension required to turn the engine. To my untrained arms, it seems that I require too much force to turn the engine. Is it possible that the starter cup (flywheel?) or some other part is broken or needs to be cleared of debris or oiled? What steps should I take to investigate? I tried removing the starter cup but it just keeps turning. I think I need to place something under the mower to stop the blade from turning and maybe that will let me take out the starter cup. But once I do that, whats next?

Or maybe it is near the blade assembly where I need to clear the debris and oil it? There is grass clipings all over the place where the blade spins. Is that supposed to be cleaned out?

Remove the spark plug and see if the engine turns over easier by hand. Are you making sure that you do not have the engine brake on?