OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Briggs & Stratton Engines Briggs squealing like a pig

I had pulled the mower apart for a clean and get reel and blade sharpened
Fired it up after putting back together and it ran for a min then started to squeal.
Shut it off and checked it out and it seems its coming from the wind up starter or one way clutch ??
What do I need to do to fix this?
This is on a SB45

Thanks all

You need to remove the rewind starter housing, unscrew its sprag clutch from the end of the crankshaft, clean everything carefully (especially the pockets where the steel balls are, keeping them completely dry, no form of lubricant is permissible). Put one drop of high-quality oil on the small shaft extending from the end of the crankshaft, which supports of the central part of the starter:


The squeal is caused by the small shaft beginning to seize onto the starter.

If you become unsure, come back here and post pictures - don't mess up the engine rather than ask.

Thanks grumpy

I looked at this heaps but I couldn't see how to pull it apart?
You say screw but I couldn't see any, will check again and report
Back in 5

Cheers

Please post a couple of pictures. I think you'll find that there is a thread inside the retainer cover (aluminium base of the upper part of the starter, see figure 16, right-hand illustration). It isn't externally visible, you have to know it's there. It is a right-hand thread. You can unscrew it by tapping anticlockwise with a hammer, using a piece of wood as a punch, on one of the 4 splines. Be gentle.

Mate trying to upload a pic but its just not letting me for some reason

Going by your pic and what I can see I need to pry the retaining cover?

Got it

Thought I put some pics up so it may help someone else one day

There was grease in there, assemble dry you say, ok

And obviously lubricate the seal to shaft area

You can see some wear on the ratchet so I cleaned it up a bit with a small file

Got it back together and she works!!

Thanks Grumpy!

Thanks for reporting back. You have a later version of the starter, with the retainer pressed on rather than screwed on. Cleaning up the sprags with a file was the right thing to do, and by cleaning the sprag clutch parts as well you have probably avoided a future problem with the clutch failing to engage or sticking in the engaged position. With the scream gone as well, your clutch should have a new lease on life.