starter grinding

Is it normal for a starter to grind occasionally (half the time I start it) for 1 or 2 second then it stops and run smoothly until the motor start? I removed the starter, cleaned it, the teeth looks nice. The flywheel teeth also looks normal, not grinded or worn. I did a bench test and everything works fine. I don't think it's a bendix type because when I disconnect the power, on the bench, the gear returns to place without centrifugal force. I supposed sometime the teeth are not aligned between the starter and the flywheel and it grind for a few teeth before taking it's place... should I be worried?

thanks
 
What tractor and is it 6 or 12 volts?? Hard for us to help you help your self with out a lot more info
 

Very strange behavior for a starter, but a chattering solenoid could be described as grinding. Cleaning cable terminals may cure it.
 
I am watching this post because my Ford 1710 does a similar thing when it is cold it started doing it when we had that real cold spell. I took the solenoid apart and cleaned and lubed it but it still did it. So now I aim my salamander heater right at the starter for a few minutes and it works fine. I really don't like that grinding sound so after finding the heat works I haven't tried it without it. BTW after starting once it starts normal every time it was just the first try. Maybe someone can help us both.
 

Well just wait till completely quits are tars sum'M up...

Seriously a bench test is not 100% prof its good throw a drive on it, its a good bet it will solve your issue...
 
There is likely something worn or binding inside the starter.

The drive gear is supposed to engage before the starter energizes. If there is a bind, or wear in the shift mechanism, the starter will still energize, but since the teeth are not engaged, they grind.

If you are comfortable completely disassembling, and know what to look for, it can probably be repaired. Or take it to a starter rebuilder.

Continuing to operate it will eventually damage the flywheel gear.
 
What you need to be worried about is eventually wearing the side of the flywheel teeth away. A bench test won’t tell you much because there is no load for the starter and no resistance against the drive when the solenoid pushes it out.

I have a tractor with a starter that will occasionally grind and not engage. I have to wait for it to coast down to a stop and try again. It doesn’t do it regularly but just often enough to aggravate me. It has done this for at least 15 years and through that time I have replaced everything on that starter except for the main frame, fields and end cap. The ring gear has even been replaced because it was worn out.

On yours I suspect the drive, or Bendix as it is commonly called is getting weak.
 
If you cleaned it and used regular gun grease on things it may be just to stiff for things to slide easy enough to engage right. Might want to disassemble and wipe the grease off then lub with a softer lighter grease or a light film of oil instead.
 
It sounds like the drive is failing. There is an overrunnung clutch on the drive gear that lets it overspeed when the engine starts without overspeeding the armature. Yours sounds like it is slipping the drive some before it catches and spins the engine. This will not show on a bench test as there is no load against the drive. Sometimes you can turn the drive gear by hand and see the drive slip. If there is no visible wear on the ring gear or drive teeth this is likely what is happening.
 

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