Hello, It sounds like you have a sticking Bendix on the starter. A Bendix starter on small engines are completely mechanical, which is a good thing. The Bendix is a one way clutch that extends forward when the starter motor is turned on. Once the engine starts, the one way clutch prevents the starter motor from damage and when you let go of the starter switch the Bendix retracts from the flywheel teeth and waits for its next use. Here's the solution. The starter motor is bolted onto the side of the engine, usually with 4 bolts, and has an electrical connection. There should be a threaded post with a nut holding the positive line. Remove the electrical connection paying close attention to any insulating washers, do not loose these, take a picture if you want to for reassembly. Then remove the 4 bolts, the starter motor gear and Bendix should slide out of the hole by the flywheel. Now that you have it in your hands you can check to see if it's sticking. On the business end you should see a gear with a metal cup around it. Make sure that the teeth on the gear are in good condition. Is it visibly gooked up with lubricant like grease or oil that has hardened? If so clean it with a little carburetor cleaner. Here is a link to a picture of a Bendix http://www.starterdrives.com/bendix.htmYours might look a bit different but this will give you an idea of what is going on. As you can see in the picture there are some springs, yours will probably only have one. After cleaning hold the cup and twist the gear, it should rotate on the shaft and move forward, when you let go it should spring back. If it does this things are looking good for you. After it is thoroughly cleaned spray it with a dry lube like Liquid Wrench Dry Lube. Make sure that you get the lube under the gear and into the cup. Fill the cup if you have to and then dump it out. The gear should now easily twist forward and spin back when released. Slide the Bendix back into the hole by the flywheel and bolt the motor back in. Reattach the electric connection and give it a start. If you found a bad gear on the starter or the spring was ruined or missing you will have to take the starter to a small engine shop and have it repaired. Onan electric starters are expensive to replace, so I would start with trying to repair it first. I hope this helps you out and gives you a good understanding of how the starter works. Hopefully you can get away with just a good cleaning. Good luck, Michael Burke
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Hello, It sounds like you have a sticking Bendix on the starter. A Bendix starter on small engines are completely mechanical, which is a good thing. The Bendix is a one way clutch that extends forward when the starter motor is turned on. Once the engine starts, the one way clutch prevents the starter motor from damage and when you let go of the starter switch the Bendix retracts from the flywheel teeth and waits for its next use. Here's the solution. The starter motor is bolted onto the side of the engine, usually with 4 bolts, and has an electrical connection. There should be a threaded post with a nut holding the positive line. Remove the electrical connection paying close attention to any insulating washers, do not loose these, take a picture if you want to for reassembly. Then remove the 4 bolts, the starter motor gear and Bendix should slide out of the hole by the flywheel. Now that you have it in your hands you can check to see if it's sticking. On the business end you should see a gear with a metal cup around it. Make sure that the teeth on the gear are in good condition. Is it visibly gooked up with lubricant like grease or oil that has hardened? If so clean it with a little carburetor cleaner. Here is a link to a picture of a Bendix http://www.starterdrives.com/bendix.htmYours might look a bit different but this will give you an idea of what is going on. As you can see in the picture there are some springs, yours will probably only have one. After cleaning hold the cup and twist the gear, it should rotate on the shaft and move forward, when you let go it should spring back. If it does this things are looking good for you. After it is thoroughly cleaned spray it with a dry lube like Liquid Wrench Dry Lube. Make sure that you get the lube under the gear and into the cup. Fill the cup if you have to and then dump it out. The gear should now easily twist forward and spin back when released. Slide the Bendix back into the hole by the flywheel and bolt the motor back in. Reattach the electric connection and give it a start. If you found a bad gear on the starter or the spring was ruined or missing you will have to take the starter to a small engine shop and have it repaired. Onan electric starters are expensive to replace, so I would start with trying to repair it first. I hope this helps you out and gives you a good understanding of how the starter works. Hopefully you can get away with just a good cleaning. Good luck, Michael Burke