starter clutch pissing me off

[newrider3]

Ok, so a customer brings me his edger with a 3.5 Briggs Flathead with the infamous squealing starter clutch. Simple, I lube up the felt, clean the crank, test it out quite a few times (works great), send the guy on his way. Next time he starts using it, it starts squealing again. Fvck; put on a brand new starter clutch, being sure to lube it before I reinstall it. Works great. The guy picks it up again, goes to use it, and it starts squealing again. this time screwing up the pull cord and getting it stuck.

Is there something that I'm missing here?? Extremely frustrated at this point. :x

 

[motor_head]

what did you use to lube it, it needs to be a light oil, auto trans fluid works great

 

[newrider3]

Yep, used ATF.

 

[solomon]

use a wire wheel on the crank then use atf. Torque to Spec

 

[newrider3]

Crank is completely spotless, even buffed it with some steel wool.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Make sure you teach him how he is supposed to walk the rope back to the engine, if he's just letting that recoil snap back into place it will put un-necessary strain on the clutch and parts of that recoil.

 

[gocart]

Are you opening up the starter and cleaning it out (where the little ball bearing are)? Sometimes they get crud in there, wire brush the crap out, clean the steel balls and then then put a few drops of oil in there just for rust prevention, resassemble.

Also look at the inside of the recoil housing, make sure it is working properly. Sometimes if you put them on good and tight they drag a little, if so you need to open it up about 1/8" and then tighten the bolts down.

I have no idea what you mean by oiling the felt and what does cleaning the crank shaft have to do with this?

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

I open up the starter clutch, put 3-in-1 on the balls and heavily grease the crankshaft. The clutch never needs to come off the crank to do this.

 

[newrider3]

Cleaned the piss out of the first one, now it has a brand new unit. No drag/catching perceptible when turning it by hand.

 

[gocart]

Cleaned the piss out of the first one, now it has a brand new unit. No drag/catching perceptible when turning it by hand.

Well if you feel good about the starter clutch then the problem must be with the recoil housing.

 

[solomon]

 

[EagleTalons]

Is the recoil housing smashed into the clutch?