New member here and I'm posting a follow up to some information I got elsewhere..

My 240 is giving me problems starting. Sometimes when I turn the key it will start, sometimes I'll get a bit of a grind, sometimes simply a whir of the starter motor running. The problem is consistent as long as I crank it...when I stop and try again it will change.

I've been told that the problem I'm seeing is one of two things...lost teeth on the flywheel or a pinion gear on the starter that is not extending properly.
I know that I should get underneath and find the inspection port in the bell housing.. Before doing that I've got a question ...my limited understanding is that the flywheel only moves when the starter is engaged with it OR the engine is running. Correct?

Since the problem I am having comes and goes and the symptom often changes without the engine starting, or the starter engaging to advance the flywheel, it seems to me that this problem should (must?) be with the pinion not extending. If the flywheel is so badly damaged that the starter can't engage in a section, how would it advance to a point where the starter can engage on a subsequent attempt to start?

If folks agree with this I'll just go ahead and pull out the starter and figure out a way to bench test it.

Follow up question.....assuming this is the pinion not properly extending for some reason is this a cause for a new starter or is there some sort of fix for it?

thanks!

 

You need a new starter.