Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - Craftsman Ride On Bad Starter Gear

The large gear that the smaller gear on top of the starter mower engages to start the engine is missing all of its teeth, I ordered a new part for it but does anyone know how to replace it? Its an older model 15.5Hp Briggs ride on

I believe the new gear will come with an instruction sheet. You have to drill the rivet head off, punch the rivets out, remove old gear, and install the new one with the supplied bolts and nuts.

You have got to be kidding me haha im taking it somewhere there is no way i can do it

Why not? Got a drill? It's easy.

Yea but I dont wanna break anything, and how do I even get to that gear

Oh... I thought you had that part off already. Maybe you do want to take it to a shop. You have to remove the engine shroud and remove the flywheel to get to the gear.

Do you think I can do it myself, im currenty having issues with my truck that is taking the majority of my cash flow haha

We really have no idea if you are are capable of doing it. The task does require some tools and mechanical savvy, if you do not feel comfortable tackling it talk to a service shop.

I no im just asking if its something someone with a little experence can do..... not really looking to spend 100$ in labor on this thing

Someone with mechanical ability and some tools can do it. I can do the job in 30 minutes or less at my shop.

My uncle used to be a mechanic he is gonna come give me a hand when the part comes in, from what im reading online... am I gonna need a special tool to remove the fly wheel?

A steering wheel puller works well.

I think the better question is is it possible without the tool?

Yeah, but you risk damaging parts. You can put the flywheel bolt in until it's 1/4 inch or so from bottoming out, then have someone lift up on the flywheel while you hit the bolt downward with a hammer. Done correctly with a sharp blow, this usually gets the flywheel to come loose.

they way i remove it is i use a prybar used for prying off hubcaps on cars and go around the flywheel till it pops loose. you also risk breaking the flywheel that way.

Or the charging stator, or the engine block.

So im pretty much outta luck with doing it myself? Im just gonna have to pay a ton to have someone come do it for me

You do not need much pressure lifting up to remove it as cheese suggested.
You should notice a slight bit of up and down movement in the flywheel. You only need to hold the flywheel "up" so the shock of the hammer strike has room to move the crank "down" a very small amount...
I use a prybar on a safe place on the flywheel and just enough pressure to keep it raised...as cheese said, with a targeted sharp blow, it will pop off usually.

Alright ill figure it out lol, does anyone know anything about y the clutch pedel is sticking down? I gotta lift it up with my foot to move, alright tried to spray some wd40 in there didnt do a thing

Probably the clutch return spring is off or broken.

How can I fix that? Is it just that side panel that the pedal goes into

It's a long spring that goes from the transmission belt tensioner arm to the front right corner of the mower frame.

I have the mower opened up now, how do i access that spring?

What is your model #?...................

Never mind about that I am having someone come out to work on it ill just have them look at it, not gonna spend alot givin that I can just lift it with my foot

How can I get a pull start on it