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Trouble matching a dick waters starter on my O-540

Yusup

New member
Joined
May 16, 2025
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Back in 2018, I upgraded to a 2.7 hp Dick Waters starter after my original one gave out after 10 years. It was supposed to be his improved diesel-based model, but I never got a part number. A rebuild shop in Homestead said it might be a DENSO 228000-297, and while it mounts fine, the 11-tooth bendix gear is too large to mesh with my O-540 angle valve's flywheel. Has anyone run into this before and found a solution? I could really use some guidance.
 
Back in 2018, I upgraded to a 2.7 hp Dick Waters starter after my original one gave out after 10 years. It was supposed to be his improved diesel-based model, but I never got a part number. A rebuild shop in Homestead said it might be a DENSO 228000-297, and while it mounts fine, the 11-tooth bendix gear is too large to mesh with my O-540 angle valve's flywheel. Has anyone run into this before and found a solution? I could really use some guidance.
Looks to me like there was a mismatch. :/ That 11-tooth gear being too big can just bring lots of problems later on, as it is already doing it now. Maybe swap to a different bendix or flywheel setup? Consider that. GL, mate.
 
That bendix gear mismatch is a known issue with some DENSO starters, some folks modify the gear or swap to a smaller one.
 
Looks to me like there was a mismatch. :/ That 11-tooth gear being too big can just bring lots of problems later on, as it is already doing it now. Maybe swap to a different bendix or flywheel setup? Consider that. GL, mate.
agree, OP needs to find the a bendix drive assembly (the gear and shaft it rides on) that has the correct tooth count and pitch for your O-540's flywheel and is compatible with the DENSO 228000-2970 starter body.
 
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