[300fan]

I have a 318 which has the original Onan P218. When I bought it, the starter pinion would not engage the ring gear, but the starter would spin and make a horrible loud grinding sound. Upon disassembly I found a severely worn flywheel ring gear and pinion. I plan to buy replacements for both. I also noticed that one of the starter mounting holes located in the cylinder head, has cracked all the way along the bottom. I figure that due to the gear teeth being warn so much, the pinion tried to jump a tooth, and pushed the starter away from the cylinder head, cracking the aluminum around the mount hole. I have a very experienced TIG welder at work. Has anyone ever tried TIG welding the aluminum on a cylinder head? I am not a metalurgist, so I don't know if this can be done?

 

[akaothermick]

Zeke, it can be TIG welded easily, though its AC with HI- Freq, definitly do able, myself i welded the same problem you have with Aluminum stick once, not as well controlled as TIG but it was a field weld with the motor out, cleaned it up with a grinder, adjusted the starter with shim stock for optimum engagement, and that was 8years ago and that Onan is still in service, with no problems

 

[300fan]

That's good news. From what I can see, shimming will only adjust how far the pinion travels into the ring gear, but not how close the pinion gets to the ring gear. I cant see any way to make the pinion mesh with the ring gear tighter. What is the "318 starter enhancement" I'm seeing talked about on this sight?

 

[jd2854020]

Zeke, what you refer to is probably the starter improvement kit. Search the forum for that. Other more knowledgeable will be along I assume.

 

[chuckv]

Zeke,

The starter improvement kit, AM107421, is a way to improve the electrical performance of the solenoid-shift later model starters which can suffer from all the voltage drop in the safety circuits that amount to a series connection of the the key switch to the PTO interlocks to the brake switch to the neutral switch and back through the key switch to the solenoid winding -- Whew! It looks like this in the wiring diagram for a stock tractor.

Here is the kit description from Deere:

It interposes a relay such that the 'signalling' of the stock circuit is kept low current, and the relay contacts handle the larger current drawn by the solenoid. It also vastly improves the life of your key switch. If your tractor clicks but does not crank initially when you first turn the key and needs many cycles of the key being turned to finally catch, you need this kit. It can be used to some advantage on earlier 318 tractors with the separate solenoid as well... Here is its schematic:

Let me know if you still have any question on the starter improvement kit...

Chuck

 

[boomers_influence]

zeke
you do have another option.
buy a B43 or B48 G oil pan and starter,
along with the correct solenoid.
the B series ring gears are the same as the P ones.
these B starters NEVER had as many
alignment problems as the P ones did.
thank you. boomer ( the used onan engine parts guy )

 

[akaothermick]

Zeke, the repair i made was because most of the mounting had broken apart and was missing, so i had to build it up and re-tap the mount necessitating the adjustment with shim stock, if yours is just a crack TIG ing it shouldn't alter the position, The Onan block is high quality aluminum, making for a good weld base. The starter improvement kit is big plus to have.

 

[boomers_influence]

mick
the starter mounting holes
on the P series cylinder jug are THRU holes.
the starter end plate is what is tapped.
thank you. boomer

 

[akaothermick]

Yes Boomer,and one mount was broken apart, the ring gear stripped and starter drive not much better, Both were replaced and yes I remember it was just drilled, but the shims were to get it lined up as the field repair wasnt balls on perfect, ER4043 rod.

 

[akaothermick]

Boomer, though the owner cursed Onan, the reason for the damage was, he would remove his hearing aids when mowing and constantly try restart the engine when it was running, after the repair I added a relay into the starter system to prevent it operating when the engine was running, this was 8 years ago, and its still in service,