Onan’s plastic starter motor gear breaks easily Alternative?
Hello everyone,
I am really tired of my Genset’s starter motor gear breaking or stripping.
This has happened twice in the past two years. Every time it happens, I replace the gear and the bendix drive…only to break again after some time. it is a royal pain to replace it. I have to drop the whole genset out of the Motorhome.
I see many other threads on the internet about people having the same problem. People say Onan makes it out of plastic to prevent damaging the flywheel. I say that is BS. All other starters I have seen have metal gears, nothing damages that heavy flywheel.
I have tried calling people who make aftermarket starters, hoping someone makes a different design…. Hopefully something with a metal gear but have not found any luck, yet.
Any alternative / solution?
Tips on getting the starter last longer?
By the way, Onan makes a Starter drive kit (p/n 191-2313, 191-2157). I can find it online for around 25 bucks. I can also find a aftermarket starter for $35. Last two times, I have replaced the drive kit only. This time I am thinking about trying to replace the whole starter.
My Genny’s Technical details:
Onan Model 4KY (Spec K)
4000 watts
Onan Starter. p/n 191-2351 (we have older p/n 192-2312)
Drive Gear: 24 teeth
I am really tired of my Genset’s starter motor gear breaking or stripping.
This has happened twice in the past two years. Every time it happens, I replace the gear and the bendix drive…only to break again after some time. it is a royal pain to replace it. I have to drop the whole genset out of the Motorhome.
I see many other threads on the internet about people having the same problem. People say Onan makes it out of plastic to prevent damaging the flywheel. I say that is BS. All other starters I have seen have metal gears, nothing damages that heavy flywheel.
I have tried calling people who make aftermarket starters, hoping someone makes a different design…. Hopefully something with a metal gear but have not found any luck, yet.
Any alternative / solution?
Tips on getting the starter last longer?
By the way, Onan makes a Starter drive kit (p/n 191-2313, 191-2157). I can find it online for around 25 bucks. I can also find a aftermarket starter for $35. Last two times, I have replaced the drive kit only. This time I am thinking about trying to replace the whole starter.
My Genny’s Technical details:
Onan Model 4KY (Spec K)
4000 watts
Onan Starter. p/n 191-2351 (we have older p/n 192-2312)
Drive Gear: 24 teeth
