Trying to find a good recoil starter for Scag Advantage walk behind

[MarkD]

I am trying to find where I can buy a high quality recoil starter for my Scag 36 Advantage walk behind with Kohler 15hp moter. When I bought it used it had no recoil starter (pull starter) assembly on it. I used a rope to start it. I have since replaced that assembly three times. They always fail because the internals are made from plastic and they won't hold up to the force of pull starting that engine. This is getting old. At $60 each, I would think they'd be better quality.
It it a great mower. This has been my only problem with it.
Can anyone direct me to a vendor who could supply me with a high quality recoil starter assembly?
Thanks for any help.

 

[Honda Tech]

Hi Mark,

Honestly, I suspect something else is causing the starter failures. The 'plastic' internals are common place in the industry and work well when everything else is working properly. I would recommend replacing the starter cup along with a new recoil starter. Make sure they are Kohler OEM parts. Very possible your starter cup is worn or damaged and that will shorten the life of your starter.
Are you always fully engaging the starter before you pull the engine over? If you are just grabbing the grip and jerk starting it, a better starter won't last any longer. Always pull the rope out until it is fully engaged, then pull the engine through. If you have to pull more than a few times when cold, it needs a tune-up. And it should always start with one pull when engine is warm.
Hope this helps.

Regards,

Jim L.

 

[MarkD]

Thanks for the response. The first time I replaced the starter, I also replaced the cup. I have also made sure to fully engage the starter before pulling. The second starter assembly I bought was advertised as an OEM Kohler part but, when it arrived, it appeared to be a cheap knock off. The mower does start on the first pull when it's been sitting for 2 - 4 weeks. When the last one broke a couple weeks ago, it broke when the motor seemingly caught itself in the compression stroke. It usually takes a forceful pull to start it but, this time, I had pulled the rope about 1/3 of the way out and the motor hung up on what seemed (to me) to be the compression stroke. It tried to take my arm off. That's when the starter broke. I simply pulled it off the motor, cut the rope out of it and used it to start the mower on the first pull. I guess I'll try harder to find a good OEM Kohler parts source and buy a new one. I will also give it a tune up. It has been running on the current plug for about a year. See the attached pic of the mower.
I see you have a username of Honda tech. Check out the attached pic of my retrofitted 1976 Troybilt tiller with Honda engine.

 

[Honda Tech]

Hi Mark,

Nice repower on the tiller!

If your Kohler kicked back on you like that, your automatic decompression mechanism on the camshaft may be sticking. That's a tough one. As you know, these starters are not designed to pull over at full compression. Sounds to me like you are doing everything right that you can do, but if your camshaft decomp is worn, this won't be the end of broken starters until it is repaired.

FYI - I'm also a Scag tech, but I live a breath Honda.

Thank you,

 

[MarkD]

I'm a Honda fan myself. Notice the '97 2wd 300 behind the tiller. Is that automatic decomp mechanism a big deal to replace? This has only happened once or twice, that I can remember.

 

[Honda Tech]

Mark,

Yes it is. The ACR (automatic compression release) is part of the camshaft. The engine would have to be pulled and oil pan removed to access it.
Your Kohler engine also has hydraulic valve lifters, so it is also possible that the lifter is the problem also, if it is not operating properly, but usually a 'flat' lifter will show other issues.
Since it has only occurred a couple of times, it most likely is going to be the ACR (automatic compression release) . Personally, unless it becomes a consistent problem, I would just deal with it until Winter sets in and then take the time to fix it.

Regards,

Jim L.

 

[MarkD]

I will definitely wait til winter to make the repair, if I do. The only other thing it does is that 3 seconds after I shut the mower off, it backfires through the muffler. It does this every time, like clockwork.

 

[Honda Tech]

That is a common Kohler 'after-bang' scenario. All you can really do to minimize it is to let the engine idle for a good minute before shutting off.
What is happening is that when you shut off the engine, as the engine coast down to a stop, it is still pumping fuel into the hot muffler and it accumulates enough fuel that it ignites and creates your 'after-bang'.