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People,

MTD mower from 1998, tecumseh 13 HP engine. new battery, and voltage at starter shows only 6-7v but when red hot wire terminal is disconnected from the starter bolt it does show 12.7V, same as on battery terminal. So I removed the starter suspecting that was at fault and put it on the bench and the shaft is soooo tight, seems stuck. It turns with some force, then kinks/binds during turning by hand. The big "teeth" gears do not slide up/down the worm gear (it is supposed to, I guess).

Engine is OHV130, starter has #'s on it: 36914 and 38026.

I hate to start taking it apart as I fear I wont be able to put the magnets/springs back. Could one lube the shaft/worm gear and work back/forth? Other tips?

Thanks, people.

I suspect that the magnets that are supposed to be glued to the outer housing are loose and broken, So probably nothing to loose taking it apart because most likely it is already junk.

Thanks, IL. I got 26 years out of it, not bad. But curious- do you think that would account for why I am getting only 6-7 v with started having been mounted on the mower? What would cause that? Now, where to buy a new one......There are 2 #'s listed on back of the starter- on top is the 36914, and below it is 38026. Do you know which # is the starter item/code #, for searching the correct one? Thanks!

You are getting 6-7 volts because the starter is shorted which is pulling more amps than the wiring can handle therefore causing a voltage drop. The best way to determine what starter you need is to look up the starter by using the model and specifications numbers from the engine tag. You have the OHV13 but you need the other 6 digits plus letter to properly looks up parts

ILENGINE said:

You are getting 6-7 volts because the starter is shorted which is pulling more amps than the wiring can handle therefore causing a voltage drop. The best way to determine what starter you need is to look up the starter by using the model and specifications numbers from the engine tag. You have the OHV13 but you need the other 6 digits plus letter to properly looks up parts

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Thanks, IL. The engine plate shows ohv13-206820B (H). But are the #'s stamped on the starter itself useless (the 36914)? Why are they stamped on the starter?

This one matches that #:


But my original starter has 4 bolt holes not 2, for the mounting plate. Does it really matter if I mount it with just 2 bolts and not all 4?

rigoletto said:

Thanks, IL. The engine plate shows ohv13-206820B (H). But are the #'s stamped on the starter itself useless (the 36914)? Why are they stamped on the starter?

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Not really it is just an old number that has been superseded.

rigoletto said:

This one matches that #:
But my original starter has 4 bolt holes not 2, for the mounting plate. Does it really matter if I mount it with just 2 bolts and not all 4?

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Apparently the newer starter has just the two top ones now.

Tecumseh went from the 4 bolt system to the 2 bolt in the early 2000's seems like there was a bulletin discussing it.

ILENGINE said:

Tecumseh went from the 4 bolt system to the 2 bolt in the early 2000's seems like there was a bulletin discussing it.

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Good to know as I came in as Tecumseh was leaving the small engine business (2009).

StarTech said:

Good to know as I came in as Tecumseh was leaving the small engine business (2009).

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Wow, didnt know that. Why did they decide that? What are they into now?

rigoletto said:

Wow, didnt know that. Why did they decide that? What are they into now?

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Tecumseh basically went belly up after the bankruptcy and sales of Murray since Murray was the largest user of Tecumseh engines. Tecumseh was purchased/taken over by an investment group. That same group has control of LCT engines and the combined name for both is Lauson engine, which was the prior name of Tecumseh. Peerless transaxle was sold to Husqvarna.

But like most small engine and OPE manufacturers, that is not their primary business. Briggs at one time specialized in Automotive parts under the name of BASCO. Kohler is plumbing fixture until recently when the engine division was separated out. Tecumseh specializes in refrigeration equipment, with focus on compressors. Honda and Subaru(prior to Yamaha taking over the industrial equipment side of the business) are their auto divisions.

rigoletto said:

Thanks, IL. I got 26 years out of it, not bad. But curious- do you think that would account for why I am getting only 6-7 v with started having been mounted on the mower? What would cause that? Now, where to buy a new one......There are 2 #'s listed on back of the starter- on top is the 36914, and below it is 38026. Do you know which # is the starter item/code #, for searching the correct one? Thanks!

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Highly unlikely the field failed as described. Starters are not fully sealed units. Dust and dirt make their way into the interior. Take the starter apart. Clean it out, blow it out, clean up the commutator, check brush length/condition, lubricate the plain bearings if so equipped and the shaft that rides in those bearings. If ball bearings, make sure they're free and if not you can pop the seal out of one side, clean and relubricate. Betcha the starter is fine.

rigoletto said:

Wow, didnt know that. Why did they decide that? What are they into now?

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Due to poor management decisions, they lost most of the business from their best customer, Sears. Then they moved most of their production to Brazil. When you can't pay your bills in Brazil, they lock up your building and don't let you in until you pay. They couldn't pay.