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Handy tips to help in replacing your starter!

Adding an electric starter to any engine that wasn't built with one brings up a lot of questions that must be asked before an answer can be given. Some engines can easily be converted to electric starters. Some can not be done at all.

There are kits available for Briggs and Stratton engines. But these engines were not equipped with coils to recharge a battery. So the flywheel that comes in the kit does not have any magnets it it. This is not a problem if you are converting a generator engine where the generator has a 12 volt charging circuit. Just connect the battery charger to the battery for a few minutes. You can not hard wire this to the battery because if the generator is used for a long period the battery would be destroyed by over charging. You could convert the engine by installing all the individual components. A good place to start is with a Service Manual.

Kohler engines can be readily upgraded with a kit. Kohler provides all the components that are required for the engines that they supply kits for.

Many types of equipment are using Tecumseh Engines. There are many questions that one must answer to equip a Tecumseh engine with a 12 volt starter. Tecumseh does not offer a 12 volt kit, but does supply these starter kits. Their engines just come in to many variations. In fact some can not be converted cost effectively because these engines never had the mounting bosses on the cylinder machined. So this is the first question: Are the mounting bosses (places) machined and drilled to mount a starter? If the answer is no you can stop right here. It can't be done. Next, does the flywheel have a ring gear on it? You must remove the shroud and look. After these 2 questions are answered you need to arm yourself with the answers and the model spec number. Now with that info we can answer your question. And list what individual parts are required. Just visit our engine parts section and go to the starter section you need. Or Contact Us and we'll be glad to help with your starter questions.

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