Is your briggs cranking slow?

We've had a opposed twin briggs for a while now, and it always cranked slow. Put on a new battery, and still slow, so we pulled the starter. The bushings in the starter were bone dry. Cleaned it up, new grease, and it spins like new! Also had a brush holder that was loose.

With how expensive these starters are, don't be afraid to take them apart and try to fix before buying a new one. I've fixed at least 5 of them now.

Rainbow took some pics, should post them up. Was working on his tractor.

Getting the brushes to stay put. We used finishing nails to hold them back.


Greased the bushings on both ends. They were dry as a bone.

question..... what does cranking slow mean?

Starter spins engine slowly, or spins it only half a spin, and won't start.

We have now pulled 4 starters. All of them had something wrong, lack of grease, bad brushes, starter gear chewed, cracked brush holders, etc. I believe part of the problem is grease being washed out when we pressure wash the tractors.

If your battery is good and charged, and still cranking slow, check your starter. It doesn't take long, and easy to take apart/put together. You have to knock out the roll pin on top with a good punch, and unbolt the bottom or top, depending on which starter you have.

stupid question, but what grease did you use?

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I followed this guide and now my starter wont spin... What gives?