1440 won't start
 

my 1440 was working fine and when I went to start it up again I am getting an odd sound I can't identify. Any help identifying the issue would be appreciated.
Possible starter?, My battery is showing 12.6 volts. I seem to be getting 11v at the starter. It sounds like a loud squealing.

I uploaded a video of the sound on youtube. https://youtu.be/tlDBZlBAomw

Sounds like the bendix is not engaging or the teeth are missing on the bendix. Also possible you are missing a couple teeth on the ring gear. BTDT on Vanguards. 1st pic shows a ring gear with a couple missing teeth, 2nd pic shows a used up bendix gear and a couple bent push rods. Bendix gear is made out of plastic, ring gear is aluminum. Bendix gear is no big deal and it's about $15.00 ring gear depending on the engine can be a problem some are NLA and you'll need to find a good used one. Ask me how I know.

yes that is the gear on the starter,it is prolly gots some bad tooth's. Time to take it out.

I've had to replace 2-3 starter pinion gears on V twin Vanguards. When the gears went bad, they made more of a grinding sound than the noise yours makes so I have no idea what is wrong there.

Briggs uses both metal and plastic starter gears. Your 1440 should have a plastic gear. DON'T try to use a steel gear in place of plastic, shelled teeth on the flywheel will be the result.

You'll also find it very handy to have a 10 mm wiggly socket to use on the top starter mounting bolt. I got one from Sears and shortened the hex head just short enough to capture the head of the bolt. The shorter the socket, the better.

While you have the starter out, that would be a good time to clean up the brushes and commutator and lube up the armature bushings in each end. Also, check the flywheel end of the armature bushing for wear. Some get bad enough to cause the teeth to get knocked off the starter gears.

thanks for all the responses, that very helpful. when I took the starter out and inspected it the teeth were in pretty bad shape. Surprising since I just put a new starter in a couple months ago and haven't used more than a dozen times. I must have bought a POS aftermarket.

Inspect the teeth on the ring gear. If you have a problem on the ring gear it will eat the teeth on the starter.

I agree with Sam, we have a customer at work that comes in every 2 or 3 months to buy a Bendix because his flywheel gear is all messed up and he doesn't want to split the tractor to fix it.