Cleaning the 782 Starter

[_DX3_]

I had to get into changing the oil on the 782 today and did not realize I had to do major surgery to get the oil filter off, LOL. So I figured while I was that far into taking stuff apart, I would take the starter out and clean it, as it has been squealing when trying to start it sometimes and or it would not engage. Getting the starter out was not a big issue at all as I was afraid it was going to be.

Now here is the problem, this starter does not seem to have the removable end where the bendix is. The bushing seems to be retains by either a spring wire or type of locking wire. I have nothing that seems small enough to get into the crevice to see if I can get it to remove. Has anyone run across this problem and if so, were you able to break the starter down any further and how?

Many Thanks
DWayne

[Matt G.]

A picture would be worth 1000 words here

[_DX3_]

LOL, yeah that was exactly what I was going to do. But, as usually happens with me, I figured out I could clean and lube the shaft and bendix threads as it was after thinking about it.

It actually looked like a fairly new starter. It was a Johnson Electric brand starter. The brushes looked great. The bendix was dragging and slow. Once cleaned and lubed it works great now. No squealing or sticking.

Oh by the way, the idea of several long socket extensions works like a dream on the bottom starter bolt. I had the starter off in about 5 minutes of work. Obviously with the deck and subframe removed from the tractor. I used three 6 inch, 3/8 extensions. Ran them up thru the bottom of the tractor just in front of the lowered lift arm.

[Matt G.]

If it's newer, you probably can't take it apart. I ran into that issue with the starter on my 1872...it had been replaced, and the bendix drive on it was crimped on instead of being retained with a nut.