I have to put a plug out for Downing tractor parts down in Downing, WI. I was in that area this past Friday so I swung on in and picked up a rebuilt starter for our 706. $115 out the door (after core return) and it came complete with the solenoid. I got home and installed the starter on Saturday. We had a problem. Starter continues contact with flywheel.

Checked it out and starter gear will not return back all the way. It sticks out some. Sent Downing a message Sunday night via e-mail. Explained the problem and the dilema that I am over 300 miles away now.

Got a call from him today. Told me that another starter is already in the process of being shipped to my address and I should see it in a few days. When I get it, confirm it works, drop the other one in the box, and someone will swing on by to pick it up and ship it back! Nothing on our hands at all!

They have been a great place to do business with. Lots of parts, great knowledge, and they stand behind their stuff. I am shocked, pleased, and in their debt. The distance is a problem for me, but I am in that area every now and again so I can always grab stuff then. But if anyone else is around Downing, WI you may want to check them out. I don't think you will be disappointed. I know that I'm not.

Keep us up on how it turns out for ya i been looking for other parts options my self

Will do. He suspected the starter should be here tomorrow. We have company right now so I doubt I will be able to do anything until this weekend though. Dad is busy with the harvest so he won't get to it either.

But I will keep you guys posted. I got a rebuilt waterpump from them a few years ago for an old Minneapolis Moline. The pump works great. Almost too well. Once the new pump was in, we started finding the leaks in the old hoses! :D

thats great somone has good business practices.

Starter showed up Tuesday already! This one works so much better! Very nice movement on the starter gear. It returns back all the way and just is a lot nicer.

It still contacts the flywheel though? Just not as bad. Talked to David down there and he wasn't really sure why either. Figures that perhaps the machine shop shaves a little off the mounting face to true it back up. We can fix this one though. We will only need to shim the starter out about 1/16th of an inch. So this is much easier to work with.

The starter was sitting on the doorstep when my dad got home. Got the old starter in the box, and someone should be out there today, if not already yesterday, to get the old one and take it back.

Now I am having him check on a spindle for a Super M. Guess my brother-in-law snapped mine. I didn't bother asking how. :rolleyes:

Good to hear i dont have much luck these days with starter/alternator since its seems like they all are remans these days any more

Final update on them.

After much investigation, we found the problem wasn't with the starter after all. (Although the first starter we got did have its own issues) The issue is actually with our tractor.

We discussed the issue with Downing and they instructed us to get as many measurements as we could. Bell housing to flywheel, starter dimensions, etc. Then they took the time to measure a couple 706's they have sitting out there and we compared measurements. Everything matched. We were stumped, they were stumped.

Went back out and put the starter in and spied through the timing hole to see what it did when it was started. Then the problem was found. (Hard to see in that dang hole with a loader bracket in your way!

The flywheel must've been replaced at one time. They didn't get the ring gear pressed on JUST right. There is a little hump in part of the gear. That is what hits the starter.

So all in all, it was our tractor. But Downing took the time to take measurements and help us out as much as they could. Great people down there!