Starter Gear Replacement Briggs/Stratton Craftsman Riding Mower (EASY TRICK)

Simple trick on how to replace a starter gear on a Briggs and Stratton engine starter.
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This starter gear is pretty standard on most Briggs & Stratton engine starters.
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[@hudsonriverlee]

I did this to me Craftsman. It worked really well. Very quick and simple. Thanks . I used a socket to press the snap ring back in place.

[@stormofdragons]

Thanks for the video, and the tips! I just got a used B&S mower yesterday, and immediately stripped the gear, so spend my afternoon tearing it apart. Up and running thanks to you video!

[@Outthereinthedark]

You're the man, Joe! What a great tip for getting that gear on and off. I could get our worn one off but not the new one on. No way on account of that flywheel lip. But with a bit of grinding and tapping out the wee bits of remaining lip to expose the teeth, I was good to go. Dealing with the snap ring that holds it all in place was painful. Literally. Ouch.

[@donaldmunro1164]

fixing to try this may loosen starter rather than grinding flywheel Thanks for the tip

[@ncervantes5414]

This really works. You sir are a genius

[@kevinThomas-ln2wd]

This guy's solid. Changed out pinion (without grinding anything) started right up like a champ

[@tobytollefsen8802]

YES!!. Thanks for the trick. Drove me nuts last time. Thank you.

[@RTD1947]

Tried this and it worked perfectly!! Thanks Joe!!

[@TheCallofFreedom]

You bet. Happy to help!

[@stacybaltimore8480]

Straight to the point awsome thank you very much

[@winterturtle5764]

This tip probably saved me half a day. Muchas gracias.

[@SirALXNo1]

Way to go Joe! Really cool trick. I used my dremel with a grinding burr and only needed to cut in four teeth to pop out the pinion gear. You saved me a lot of hassle. As for some of the other commentaries: yes, the retainer ring took a little cussing but once you hold down the retainer/spring cap and pry a small screw driver under one of the ends of the retainer ring and get it started I was able to get a bite with my duck bills and pop it rite off as well. Putting it back on is pretty much reverse order using two pliers. One to hold and push on the ring in the back and the other plier to get an end started until it pops back into the groove. And yes, of course if you let it get away it will almost assuredly turn invisible and vanish.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Thank you for the feedback, SirALXNo1.

[@marvinsanders5135]

You're a genius. I did that and on and off in 5min.

[@JosephdiCaro]

Great trick man! Thanks so much!

[@dwscooter]

great trick. i like keeping things simple.

[@hollowscott]

Great video. I tried this and worked great. Thanks.

[@tommynorred2429]

Thanks for the tip

[@davidsiugzda7105]

Thank you this helps out a lot

[@blackbird35116]

Terrific idea!

[@carportchronicles1943]

Thanks! I have the same mower and the same problem. Evidently more than 37,000 other people have had the problem as well.

[@samturner216]

Thank you I am working on 1 just like it now this helps a bunch.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Awesome Sam!

[@wazzzuuuppp2158]

We have the same tractor lol thank you so much for making this video simple

[@willcountypowersports6338]

Thank you so much for the video this trick is awesome it save the day!!!

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Glad to help!

[@waynebastianelli8391]

I did mine lol worked good 👍

[@StephenSale-kv6hw]

Thank you for the excellent tip.i have an old white ride on.just can't get to the inside starter bracket bolt.it's 8.30 pm.here in outback oz.i'll try in morn.👍

[@jefferykirby7498]

Thanks you answered my question

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Glad I could help!

[@martinmueller5066]

Brilliant

[@donwilson4618]

I found it's easier to engage the gear teeth to flywheel then turn the starter motor by hand. The gear lifts itself straight up without turning. Same with installing new gear.

[@brdzukebrdzuke8111]

Fantastic! working on mine right now and going to do this. why Craftsman put that starter hinge bolt up under the flywheel to make it so you have to pull flywheel is beyond me. Thank You!!

[@Mitch-nz2iz]

I just removed my starter on my opposed & replaced starter gear and bad top bronze bushing that was bad very easy fix.

[@markjanness3440]

Just replaced the starter pinion gear assembly in the same tractor. 2 bolts holding the starter motor in. Motor dropped right out after removing the retaining ring/clip. No need to grind down the fly wheel and risk throwing the balance off.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Glad that method works for you.

[@InventPeace1]

Great trick ! Tell us how to determine which side is UP on the new plastic gear ? thanks.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Hey John! The ones I ordered from Amazon (link in description) has "this side up" marked on them.

[@gbonze1783]

Wow I had the same exact problem with ours

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Did this trick fix yours?

[@aronmud9568]

good vid.. wish I post a pic. Instead of grinding off a section of the fly wheel risking balance. Just knock off the top rail on 4 or 5 individual slots leaving the teeth in place. / works the same.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Good tip. Thanks Aron!

[@poochie49]

Are the flywheel teeth aluminum? I have an old B & S engine with what I believe is a steel flywheel. In that case do I have to use a steel gear or will a plastic gear work? Thanks.

[@dieterbillinger3956]

I have the same tractor with the same engine. The starter gear failed after almost 25 years of service. I watched your video to see what to do to repair the problem. Thank you for your easy fix instructions. I was about to attempt taking off the flywheel in order to replace the entire starter. You saved me a lot of time and trouble. I don't agree with your hack of grinding a flat spot on the flywheel. It's not necessary at all. Now your flywheel is off balance and will cause engine vibration.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Thanks Dieter. I was a bit worried about engine vibration as well, but I still have this mower years later and it has never given me any trouble at all! Runs just as smoothly as it always has.

[@realitytx]

If you did not grind the flywheel, nor take the flywheel off, how did you get the starter gear off and on?

[@douglasphillips8979]

I need to know the sizes of the Briggs & Stratton engines that would be on power washers that will have that Craftsman their Craftsman power washers with Briggs & Stratton engines and

[@nicholegraham7982]

We have this same mower. What causes the starter gear to shred in the first place. Also does anyone know if you can adjust the valves on the intake and outake?

[@unknownname9719]

I replaced my gear once and then about a year later it went bad again. The second time I realized the bushing on the start shaft closest to the gear end was worn out. I believe now that was the problem to begin with and I didn’t realize the first time. My advise would be to check the starter shaft and see if it has play in it before you buy just the gear. I replace the entire starter the second time. You may be able to press out the bushing and find a new one, but for $35 I just bought a new starter online.

[@richardmurphy1048]

Mr. Z; You left out the hardest 2 steps [for me anyway]. #1 - taking the Snap (aka: Retaining) Ring that holds the Cupped Spring, Coil Spring, and Cap onto the Starter's Shaft. And worse; #2 - putting that #@%$! Retaining Ring back on. That Ring is excellent at popping off and going who knows where, especially when you have it ALMOST back on the shaft. I have tried many different ideas/tools, including a cylinder whose ID fits over the Starter's shaft, but its OD is just a few MM larger than the unexpanded snap Ring. It helps if you have at least 3 hands, 4 is even better, especially if they are small! :) I would not grind the Ring Gear. I back off the 2 long screws (5/16") that hold the Starter's body and 2 ends together and then gently tapping the top of the Starter's Shaft. Eventually the Starter will drop down enough to allow the needed clearance to replace the Pinion. Or you can remove the Starter I notice the video appears to leave out the curved (cupped) spring steel 'washer' that goes under the Coil Spring. Whoever has a solution to replacing the Snap Ring will receive a well deserved "Atta Boy or Atta Girl'. Thanks, Murf

[@TheCallofFreedom]

That is a tough one Richard and I haven't figured out a quick, foolproof way to do it. I have lost those snap-rings before as they tend to want to disappear into thin air when popping them off! I only went with the grind down method after getting tired of removing or loosening the starter EVERY SINGLE TIME the wheel goes bad, and they do a lot. I know it's probably a bit unconventional but it works fantastic for me. :)

[@billypreston12]

Joe Z - B&S sells two separate tools to remove and install the circlip real easy but they are pricey

[@pl747]

Put the slot in the metal retainer 180 degrees opposite the open end of the C clip, then start working the clip up. I lay a rag across the top then use a little Stihl screwdriver to get it up out of the groove, then use a bigger wider screwdriver to finish the job. I then reassemble and use a piece of tubing that will just fit on the stater shaft and give it a pop with a hammer. Everything is tapered and it will pop right in. It is much easier than fighting that clip starting at the end of it.

[@kevinr5187]

Use rag popping off c-clip. Putting on c-clip use a small socket slightly larger than the pin the clip snaps on to. Place c-clip on top of beveled pin and place socket on top of c-clip and wack it with a hammer it will snap on.

[@sungazer888]

@@pl747 atta boy

[@hudsonriverlee]

My recently purchased Craftsman same engine is doing the same exact thing. Hmmm ?

[@mjshuja1948]

👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@marysmith3042]

By grinding metal off of the fly wheel will take the fly wheel out out of balance and then you are not in balance by the factory settings

[@TheCallofFreedom]

You may be right, Mary, I don't know. I certainly haven't had any problems with it since then.

[@fawkurface46]

my question is now that it can pop out the top, when you go to start it will it go out the same way it went in and ruin the gear?

[@TheCallofFreedom]

So far I haven't had trouble with that and it's been months since I did this. Makes changing out the starter gear so simple!

[@arnulfolopez5805]

Me gusta

[@codytipton2882]

May not ruin the bearings in the motor but removing weight from a flywheel will throw it out of balance.

[@jordanwebster2631]

Where can you buy just the starter gear??

[@TheCallofFreedom]

I simply buy mine on Amazon. Here's the link. Is this it? www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073HKS2P9/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecaloffre-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B073HKS2P9&linkId=a24d33ae0f5504054108d5b195710f61

[@jeffnations6649]

Why wouldn't the metal match the fly wheel? I have a plastic one also. It broke, so I bought a starter with a metal one. Now it makes a grinding noise when starting the mower? Is this the reason why?

[@TheCallofFreedom]

That's a great question. My understanding is the plastic starter gears are 16 tooth, while the steel ones are 15 tooth. To use a steel gear you would have to replace the flywheel to match.

[@jeffnations6649]

Actually I counted both my teeth and both were 14 tooth.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Interesting. Sorry, I have no idea.

[@davejeff6941]

Hi... hey my starter gear won't pop up... what should I look for now....help

[@TheCallofFreedom]

I have had that problem before and unfortunately it's usually a starter problem. A rebuild kit should do it or simply buy a new starter. Here's a link for one of the most common ones. Be sure it fits your model though! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DOLQ0BY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thecaloffre-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01DOLQ0BY&linkId=3d43e79fd80030efc98f0dc7f1f4305b

[@mikeelston6181]

Where do you get a new gear

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Hey Mike, this is where I get mine. amzn.to/2vdUMXW

[@wendyleigh2796]

Could this be the reason mine will turn over but makes a grinding sound and doesn’t start?

[@vladbelonozhko339]

Yes

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Definitely.

[@whereterrorlurks8690]

the craftsman gt5000 flywheels already has a flat spot

[@verhalten1867]

I really wanna know how he put the c clip back on I can’t get my in for shit

[@TheCallofFreedom]

It's a bit tricky! I used a small needle nosed pliers and a tiny flat bladed screwdriver simultaneously. You have to be careful though or the spring will end up in the next county if it comes loose without your finger on it to stop it!

[@andybozeman9769]

Deep well socket. I can't remember the size. Maybe 8mm. But find one that slides over the shaft. Place the C clip on top of the shaft and tap it in place with the socket.

[@ryanbuckner2405]

This dude sounds just like Danny McBride! Lol!

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Lol!

[@el_cheleonel]

you dnt have to do all that, jus lift the little gstarter jear and turn the flywheel the opposite direction and it come right off

[@drbichat5229]

Loosening bolts is not difficult

[@vortexan9804]

But flywheel pops off easy, used no puller, same engine. 1st time off too. Use the Taryl method.

[@CornShuck4CE]

I made this same Video 4 years ago. Go check it out.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

Awesome!

[@jws3925]

Bull...........you didn't even show us how you got the snap ring off and on. That's the hard part!

[@TheCallofFreedom]

My bad. I should have included it in the video. It can be a real pain in the @$$.

[@danielboguse4249]

Why don't you show how much of pain in the butt it is to get the locking ring off the end of the starter without it go flying in the air.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

I should have filmed that part but didn't. It is a pain for sure!

[@danielboguse4249]

@@TheCallofFreedom there are two different types of starter gear setups one with the clip and one with a roll pin which is much easier to change.

[@racerguy500]

That's just really stupid! By the time you went to find an extension cord, a grinder and a wheel you can loosen the bolts and move the starter to replace it. All without butchering your flywheel. DO NOT DO THIS!

[@TheCallofFreedom]

For some reason this motor eats through the starter gears like crazy. So doing this one time saved me tons of time down the road. But you do you sir. It's a free country after all!

[@racerguy500]

@@TheCallofFreedom ok, first I would fix the " for some reason" problem. Obviously a misaligned starter. And secondly, that little lip you ground of is what strengthens the flywheel teeth so they don't snap off. But you saved a couple of minutes. Good for you. Like you said, to each his own.

[@tonywall8991]

Just plain lazy, and wouldn't that put the flywheel out of balance then. Causing premature wear on other components of the engine.

[@TheCallofFreedom]

If this is lazy, I'm guilty! I haven't seen it negatively impact the flywheel balance, but then again, it's an old mower. I probably wouldn't do this to a new one!