Starter problem

[grassrootsfarmer]

My TO-20 has been starting and running without any problems this summer and fall. Until......I tried to start it to give my
grandson a ride and the starter just spun. Battery seemed strong, but no cranking occurred. I am not a great mechanic, but I'm
thinking that the Bendix did not extend and engage the flywheel. The starter, an expensive part, was replaced this spring and has
worked just fine until now.

Thoughts and how to investigate (and fix).

Thanks.

 

[Richard L]

Possibly the ring gear moved back. Lots of information in here. You can take the inspection plate off the bottom and see if maybe that is what happened.
Fly wheel ring moved back?

 

[Steve@Advance]

I'll second the gear moved back on the flywheel, common problem especially if converted to 12 volt.

You can pull the starter, check out the drive gear, be sure it is intact and working. While the starter is off, look at the flywheel gear. It should be all the way forward against flange on the flywheel. If not you can carefully pry it back into place, a little at a time while turning the engine.

Also, a low battery, bad connection or ground, or bad/out of adjustment starter switch can cause the starter to not spin hard enough to engage the drive.

 

[Bruce(OR)]

I did a 12V conversion on the wife's TO-20. The old flywheel was chewed up fairly well just from a 6V starter. I also used her oven set to broil and about 30 minutes to heat up the ring gear before dropping it onto the flywheel with a sheet of plywood and pliers in the middle of her kitchen floor. The wife also helped with that project. It took a slight bit of hammer action and no problems since then. Splitting the tractor can be fun. I used a bottle jack under the bell housing and a rolling floor jack under the trans to roll it back. Bolts that hold the housings together can be replaced with longer bolts with the heads cut off to use as a guide for re-assembly. I also stuffed some wedges on the front axle pivot to keep the engine/front assembly from spinning on the front axle. Be careful, Don't bump it.