Kubota Mowers & maintenance

[Tonsko]

Alright all,

Just wondering if anyone with a bit of experience on this is around:

We bought a Kubota ride on, a good machine by and large, but the starter failed. We got the recommended Kubota replacement - except, it doesn't work that well. The starting spindle doesn't engage properly with the flywheel, leading to trying it, turning it slightly by hand, trying it, and so on, until you get it lined up correctly and the engine starts.

The only real solution that springs to mind is to grind the 'points' of the starting spindle sprocket so that they fit between the teeth of the flywheel better, but I'm hesitant to do this in case it makes the situation worse. Another option I suppose would be to everso slightly grind an angle into the flywheel teeth, but again, once it's done, it's done.

Does anyone have any ideas? Presume simply greasing the flywheel teeth is not a good idea?

[ayton 1]

If you are happy you have the right starter it could be the fly wheel is damaged. Engines usually stop
in one of two places & the teeth on the flywheel at that point can get chewed a bit. you could try cleaning them up with a file. With the starter removed you should see this. If you say you "turn it over by hand a bit & it then works" this could be your problem.

[Tonsko]

The latter comment, perhaps wasn't explained properly. I nudge the starter cog slightly, and try, nudge it slightly, try and so on. If I take the engine cowl off entirely so that I can look at the front of the fly wheel and line starter up, it fires first time.

[Cheib]

Can't help at all technically I am afraid but I own a Kubota compact tractor and my local dealer couldn't be more helpful and they aren't expensive. They have to be set up to deal with small work at short notice because most Kubota kit is on farms or commercial use and time is money and at least in my local agents case they look at these jobs as building customer loyalty rather than say a car dealer looking at it as a profit centre.

I may or may not have forgotten to unplug my trailers hydraulic pipe when unhitching the trailer and thus been left with a broken and leaking hydraulic system...Came out and fixed it for less than £150 which was probably two hours time and £50 of parts.

[Condi]

As has been said, appears your starter motor and flywheel arnt lined up properly, or you have the wrong starter, or you have a damaged flywheel.

Its one of those things which is hard to describe over the net, but any half decent mechanic could tell within 5 seconds of having a look.

[Tonsko]

The, beginning to think that I have the wrong starter.