noise when starting ztr

[brucec32]

I have a 2003 Exmark lazer z hp with the kawasaki engine. In an absent minded moment earlier this year I turned the starter to start position instead of off when it was running and it made the expected gear clashing sound.

Since then, when I start up I get a harsh sound for a second which I assume is a gear tooth that is missing. My question is when this happens does it tend to shear off a tooth from the starter gear or from the flywheel?

It's a little bit of a pain to open up the starter and it does seem to operate ok, but if it's just the gear on the top of the starter I'd like to see about replacing it. If it's the flywheel gear I'm more likely to just live with it and get it repaired if it fails down the line.

I suppose I should open it up and see but that will have to wait till I have some time and energy for it. Till then, anyone with experience fixing these things have a hunch if it's the starter gear or what?

[mowerknower]

you dont have to open up the starter to check the gear. Just remove the 2 bolts, the starter cable and the solonoid wire and inspect the gear. To check the flywheel gear just pull off the top flywheel shield, put your finger against the flywheel gear and turn the engine over by hand and you should be able to tell if there is a tooth missing.

[mowermankevin]

What Mowerknower said is right-on for checking the teeth,but for folks that don't work on them everyday, disconnect the negative,(black) battery cable,before pulling the starter bolts. It takes a skilled hand to be careful enough to disconnect the positive(red) off the starter and not have a welding experience,L.O.L. As far as the teeth gnashing on crank, it may not have knocked a tooth off of either the starter or flywheel but the starter clutch may be zinging when the ignition is put in start. Kawa makes the best starters, but with a lot of hours comes a lot of dirt, so before you go buy a starter, find someone who is good at diagnosing the sound your hearing. C'ya Merry Christmas!! P.S. Try switching out another starter and see (or listen) what happens.

[brucec32]

Thanks guys. I will get on that. I appreciate having experts here to help with these little problems.