Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I have an Ariens 926PRO (model #926004) with 120v electric start which I use almost exclusively to start the machine. Today I went to start it up, and the electric starter sounds very sick, makes a much higher pitch squealing noise than usual and some other crunching type noises. Engine does not start. If I pull start, the engine starts fine. Unit was recently in the service position and I tightened up everything in the owners manual to spec with regards to controls and auger belt. Unit started by electric right after this, and that was 3-4 days ago. Now this. I have a youtube video of the problem here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFQtmSkE18c

What am I looking at here? A bad starter motor? Does something else need fixing/adjustment? Help would be appreciated. I would like to try to repair this myself.

Thanks guys for all of the comments, and the parts numbers (trouts). I will not use the electric starter until I replace the gear on the starter and inspect the ring gear. In the danyboy video, he uses a special Tecumseh tool to get the gear off the starter. This tool kit is about $50. Any comments on the feasibility of doing this without the special tool set?

He said he used to do it all the time without the toolkit.  He finds it easier now.  If you are only doing it once then why bother spending the money.  The rubber should pop off with a screwdriver under it and that clip can probably be done with a screwdriver as well.