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this is a way to get around fixing the solenoid. Darryl's way.

I'm at work but a quick answer. Starter was overworked and got hot trying to turn that resistance. Before I would buy a new starter I would try what I suggested...pull the solenoid and clean the contacts. It might just work. Glad you finally adjusted the valves. Book says between .oo3 and .005 so 4 is perfect. Enjoy

Another small bit of advice. Remove the plug before starting the adjustment. That will make it much easier to turn thru the cycles.And when, (IMPORTANT) you are finished and button it back up, do NOT put the plug in yet. Pull the engine thru a few turns to make sure you didnt adjust one or both on the incorrect stroke. If you were to try starting right off it make pop and bend a push rod or break the camshaft. If it turns frelly and the valves are working up and down, you can then screw the plug in and try starting it. Best of luck! Ps: I would take that starter apart and check inside the solenoid behind the two studs you battery cable goes on. They usually wcan be removed and they may look all burnt . Clean the contacts good and reassemble. It just might work.

And then get your valves adjusted.

Check your fuses. Should be one inline to the starter.

Lets go back for a minute. That picture you posted of the dirty flywheel where starter engages.............. Is that a large crack in the casting I'm seeing? I'll stop there until I hear from you.

Try this link. You can download a complete service manual for a CH440. https://kohlerpower.com/en/engines/service-manuals

Don't have a lot of experience with Kohler, but an engine is an engine and they mostly work the same, I am concerned after the starter problem you state that the rope keeps breaking. That should not be happening unless the engine is hard cranking. By the way, congrtaulations on the starter work. Shows you are thinking and making it work for you. I would first want to adjust the valves on that engine. most smallengines have some sort of automatic decompression to allow the engine to crank easier and get up to speed. This is usually accomplished by the adjustment on the exhaust valve. They have an internal component that temporarily holds the valve open for just a short while to relieve the compression. It can be off by just thousands of an inch and not open the valve Also it can be too tight and bend a pushrod. You can find youtube videos of how to adjust the valves. Make sure you understand the procedure and go easy. Remember not too tight. If the spec is .00-4 to .0006 set it on 5. After closing it up, with the sparkplug out turn the engine over by hand. If it seems to bind you have the valves too tight. Or you can take it to a local shop and have them adjust it for you. This is an important part of the maintenance and should be done every 500 hrs at least. This could also have been hard on the starter making it fail. I'm going to attach a small handbook for that engine with some starting tips for you to go over. After you get this machine working, remember to never crank one of these small starters more than 10 seconds without letting it cool for a minute. they burn up easily.OM_CMD_PRO_Hor_17 590 11_REV_B_English.pdf

I'm about to get tied upon a call for about an hr, but I have n idea. Send me your engines model numbers and I'll get back to you.

This is flat country and the only thing I want it to tow is my Big Butt! if I get in a bind, I always have both posi-traction and 4 wheel drive.

That's great to hear. Might make a wrench monkey out of you yet. I'm thinking of pulling that twin Subaru out of my machine and replace it with a 13 hp harbor freight engine. I never used all the power I had. I think the 13 should give me about what you have.

Malenurse, I'm at work so don't have much t ime, but try putting your old starter in a vise and jumping just the starter to see if it will run. If it does, you may just have a problem with the solenoid.. I would take the ole solenoid apart. Carefully !! so you know hoe to reassemble it. there are contacts on the inside where the two studs stick out. Clean those up real good and the piece that makes contact with them. You may be in business with your old starter. If that do0esn't work get back to us.

Thanks for the post Fred. You wouldn't have that schematic handy so you could post it. That might help others on here tremendously.

I have the bulldog 700 with the eh65. Never ran right from the git go. Carb defective. Subaru worked with me and furnished pars need. After that it ran well for some time. American Sportworks offered nothing. Their service sucks. Through mistake of my own, let grandson free on the wiring and fried both coils. Found a pair of used ones and got it running again then gov started giving me problems. I'm tired of pulling the engne to change parts on an obsolete engine. i do not need that much horsepower. I don't even use 4 wheel drive. Has anyone ever replaced that subaru with a Kohler 13 hp. It should work just as good as a golf cart.. Any idas or comments?

malenurse Did you ever get your starter installed? Your best bet is to remove bottom bolts and pull the engine out, then it will be easy to replace starter. just watch your wires when reinstalling engine. Hell, I've gotten to where I can pull my engine in 15 minutes alone and I've got the twin cyl. subaru.

Looks like a bearing cage to me. Maybe the crankshaft bearing. Not familiar with the engine. Either way, it has to be torn down if locked up.

I'm no help with the Honda engine. Could be the float ora stuck needle valve. Does it have an electric fuel pump. That could be too much pressure for that carb.

All of them have a heavy spring. No way to fix that I know of

First check your battery. Could it be old and not fully charged or have a bad cell. Put a charger on it for a good while or overnite then try cranking. If your engine is not charging the battery , it will run off of the battery for awhile but eventually drain it. If.that works have the battery checked at an auto supply store. You may also have to check your charging circuit. While charging the battery, check fuses with a meter to verify that they are not blown. Come back and let us know if that solves your problem.

While you're checking the starter, disconnect the white wire at the bottom of the solenoid. This will eliminate the key switch if its leaking voltage.

When you have the battery at full charge, reach down and feel the solenoid and starter. Sounds like a hefty drain on the battery. I'm thinking a shorted solenoid but not enough to crank the starter. If shorted you will generate some heat.

Unbolt the front shroud and pull it off. You should be able to get to those starter holes. You may need to partially pull the engine to accomplish this. Should be just 4 bolts and lift up with chain hoist or engine crane. I took mine out but didn't really need to. Once yo get it off, I would think about cutting that portion of the shroud back for future removal of the starter w/o problem.

Sure wish individuals with a problem would let us know the outcome aftwer offering help. Once they are up and running they forget abouit the forum until something else brteaks. Just venting.

I am guessing you have a subaru twin in your Bulldog probably a model EH65. I also was in need of a starter and found the oem priced out of reach. I ended up doing a lot of research and couldn't even find an aftermarket at the time. I think I saw one listed since then. I did some close measurements and found a starter with a solenoid that was different measurements. I purchased for about 65 I think and modified the solenoid. It bolted right up and is still working. Ill look thru my purchases and see what I can find for you. What is the model on your engine?