New Starter for $500.00? Sound right?
 

My father is planning on giving me his old tractor (2086 Super Garden Tractor as stated in an earlier forum). Before he brings it to me he has brought it to a mechanic to get a tune up. Apparently, the tractor needs a new starter and the folks he brought it to claim that it will cost $500.00 to fix. I think he said they would need to rebuild it. Does that sound reasonable to you all?

Do any of you have any suggestions, or recommendations? Seeing as it is from 1997, he wasn't sure if it was worth doing. He may help me buy another tractor. However, I doubt it would be a new Cub Cadet. I'm afraid I'd have to settle for a Sears rider or something.

What do you think? Is the price appropriate for a new starter? Any places to order a starter online that would save some money?

Thanks for any input.

Ebay search is your friend.. as is Google. Here's just one of several starters I found by searching Cub Cadet 2086 starter..
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/START...ehicleQ5fParts

Only $69 if I remember correctly.

That $500 must have included a brand new from the dealer starter and labor.

That's weird. That starter is NLA. $500 is WAY too much for that. Just get a ebay starter and you'll be fine. I would almost bet if you took it apart and cleaned it, your old starter would probably be fine. A lot of times it just get too dirty inside of it to work properly.

AJ

starter
 

FWIW,
That type of starter has a removable solenoid, that could be defective.
Also, many times on that type, it can be relaced seprately.
I would remove the starter and find out what is the problem.
Many times corosion @ the teriminal (s) could be a problem too.
Worst case is purchase from ebay as previously mentioned.
Luck!