From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Key West, FL

Help, I want to till today but I can't figure out whats going on with the tiller. I start it up, and it's just running and all of the sudden it will kick out the pull start rope thing and start making a LOUD screeching noise. Or sometimes the cord doesn't go back in and it makes the loud screeching noise right away. What's going on? It's got oil.

11/21/2004 4:05:09 PM

Indiana

Sounds like the pull start mechanism is catching on the flywheel or somthing maybe worn take it apart and look??

11/21/2004 4:32:41 PM

[email protected]

If it's an older Briggs & Stratton motor, then the balls in the starter clutch are dirty & sticking. To use it today, remove the starter & wrap a rope manually. If you're handy with these thing, carefully disassemble the clutch (pry the top off with a thin bladed device) over a bucket to catch the balls. The clutch can be reverse threaded off the flywhell end of the crankshaft which makes this much easier to do.

Clean the balls & the housing they're in with carburator cleaner (or similar) & reassemble DRY. No lube.

If it's a Techumseh or other later model plastic part laden fiasco then I'd bring it to a dealer & let them fight with it.

11/21/2004 4:58:10 PM

Itzetown City

I´ve had the same problem with a Tecumseh starter. They changed the starter to a new one. Fortunately in was in the guarantee.

11/21/2004 5:14:05 PM

Key West, FL

ya, it's an older briggs & Stratton. I don't really know how to work on this thing at all though. I'll have to talk to my dad I guess, see if he knows.

11/21/2004 5:51:40 PM

Walton N.y.

you can even buy a new starter clutch for around $10-15 if you don't want to mess with it someimes groves getworn where the ball berings fling around and will stick again

11/21/2004 6:49:40 PM

[email protected]

Oh yeah. If there is any sign of wear it is best to repleace. Good point Randy.

11/21/2004 6:55:25 PM

Key West, FL

ok, I'll mess around with it tomorrow

11/21/2004 6:55:58 PM

Indiana

Yea what Tremor said, that is what i was thinking but getting it written down was a different story

11/21/2004 7:03:47 PM

Ohio

Ben, when its running, take and pull the rope out all the way and hold it and see if it stops making that noise. When you take that apart becareful because there is a coil in that, that is wound tight, and if it comes undone it a pain in the a$$ some times to rewind it. I think your rope is just getting caught up in it.

11/21/2004 10:45:02 PM

Ohio

re-tighten the coil to Ben, or you might have broken one of them plastic clips (or metal) that keeps the coil tight too.

11/21/2004 10:48:14 PM

Sequim, WA

My old Sears 5 horse has been doing that for the past three years. I give it a whack and it settles down for a while.

11/22/2004 12:38:41 AM

Indiana

mine got bent in and was rubbing against that fly wheel or whatever you call it. it eventually wore off and stopped making noise.

Tom

11/22/2004 12:44:02 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

I have a bigger rototiller problem...I don't have one :-(

11/22/2004 12:54:07 AM

Key West, FL

so it wouldn't be bad to run it if it's making that noise, just annoying?

11/22/2004 1:57:53 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Ben you need to remove the metal starter pull string housing from the top of the motor. Upon doing so you will see a small pin hole on top of the starter clutch. You need to put as much oil (Fine machine oil works best, or even 3in one or marvel mystery oil) into that pin hole as you can, as it will seep into where the the crank meets with the starter clutch and will hopefully loosen it up as you work the thing around by hand. This is an easy fix if it just needs lube in the clutch. On the other hand if this does not work you will need to disassemble the clutch from the motor as Tremor said which takes a special tool, but if you want to improvise you can use a big pipe wrentch with a cheeter bar to get that clutch off of the flywheel, and as Tremor said make sure you turn it the correct direction, as it is opposite threaded...And the answer to your question if it is safe to run with the squeelin, well it will eventually trash your pull cord, and possibly lock it up, as then you will not be starting your motor at all without doing the procedure described above,and also buying a new pull cord and then having the spring on the cord re- wrapped. I know from experience as I am a mechanic....good luck and hope this helps..JK

11/22/2004 2:37:50 AM

Ohio

Ben, I also could be wrong too,lol

11/22/2004 4:50:08 AM

Key West, FL

got it fixed! I did just what you said steve, and cleaned the shaft. I also had to tighetn the drive belts. Works like a charm now.

11/27/2004 6:48:55 PM

[email protected]

Good job!

11/28/2004 12:01:38 AM

Montoursville, PA

Hey guys.........I stopped a screamer like this with a can of WD40 followed by a good bath. It quit screaming and I got well covered with overspray and the ruckus this action caused. Fun fun but it worked.

11/30/2004 8:43:00 PM