Can I put an elec. starter on a 5hp I/C Briggs?

redtom

Well-known Member

I built a splitter about 10 yrs ago using a 5hp IC off of a trash pump. Its a good running engine but a bugger to start. I've learned my lesson about leaving it outside after tearing tank/carb apart to clean out water. I took out the antisplash foam from the tank and recently resealed the tank seam. I've had that assy apart ten times to clean it out and its always been a hard starter. Personally, I miss the gravity fed carbs from the old briggs instead of these picky fuel pump specials. It starts hard! With each pull giving a few more putts so after about what seems like a hundred pulls its running and I'm too pouped to split! I know I shouldn't fix one problem with another but can I put an electric starter on this engine? I see them on ebay for troybuilts.
 
I think if I were to do it I'd look for old snowblower engine with electric start and change the engine to that start system, it would involve changing the flywheel and installing the starter and blower housing ( that is if your engine has the drilled and tapped bosses to mount a starter).
Maybe your starting problem is ignition does the engine have an old points magneto or the magnetron ignition?
GB in MN
 
Maybe a "Starter Generator"
I don't have any right now, but buy them whenever I can from junkyards, off riding mowers, etc
The Wisconsin engine website: www.wisconsinmotors
.com has a wireing diagram for starter generators
and Tecumseh, Briggs, repair manuals also do.!
 
I built a splitter in 1982 using a 10hp Tecumseh engine. It had a rope start and would start easily when the weather was warm. I used my garden tractor to start it off the pto pulley using a vee belt during cold weather. I never let it sit outside when it wasn't used. I don't think you can put a starter on that engine. Even with a starter/generator you would need to have a pulley on your engine so the S/G could crank your engine. Hal
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You know, I never had the flywheel off. I see flywheels and bendix style starters on ebay for troybilts. I thought maybe that setup would fit.
 
Troybuilt motor, for the pony models has an ES, but also has a reverse pulley, off the Cam. In short, you can put a gear/bendix starter on it, if it has the toothed flywheel, and right sheet metal.
 
I don't know if all Briggs flywheels have teeth or not, Tecumseh/Craftsman did for years, but if you are able to put a stater on it, you will have to use a charger to keep the battery charged as there is no charging system on your engine. The way you describe it, I assume that it has the carburetor attached to the fuel tank. If so, and since it has had water in it, have you replaced the fuel pump diaphragm? Have you either soaked the carb in cleaner or sprayed cleaner in all passages and blew them out with compressed air? Just some thoughts.
 
I have a "junk" what I believe is a 5HP Briggs snowblower engine that was electric start.
Unfortunately, it has the 120 volt "plug-in" starter which appears to be whipped.
If the toothed flywheel is the same for both 12 volt and 120 volt, this flywheel would get you (as Crystal Gayle would say) Half the Way.
 

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