Heavy equipment used on construction sites and other jobs often has diesel engines that require electric motors or equipment starters to get them running. Buying the right starter is not difficult if you know what to look for, and often there are options beyond a part store or dealer.
Starter Motors
Starting the engine in any construction equipment you have on your job site works similarly to the engine in your car. An equipment starter motor is mounted in the gas or diesel engine that spins the engine's flywheel and turns it over to get things moving.
Once the engine builds compression, the starter motor is no longer necessary, and the engine will run on its own. Diesel engines are harder to start when cold, so the equipment starters used on these big engines must be strong enough to do the job.
Many of the diesel engines used in heavy equipment are made specifically for those machines, so buying equipment starters at the local parts store is probably not an option. However, there are equipment dealers and parts businesses that sell these starters if you need one.
Equipment Dealers
Most equipment manufacturers have dealers around the country that sell the machines they make. Most of those dealers have parts departments that have replacement parts like equipment starters for popular machines in stock and ready for you to buy.
If a dealership does not have the parts you need, they can order them through the dealer network and get them quickly. The time you have to wait for the part is shorter when you order it from a dealer most of the time, but if you need the part right away, there are other options to consider.
Used Parts
Finding used equipment starters is not as easy as finding used car parts, but there are salvage operations specializing in used equipment parts that may be about to help. Typically you will need to search online for these businesses. However, if you have one locally, they may have what you need.
If your heavy equipment uses a diesel engine that is the same as one used in a truck, the starter motor may be the same, and you may be able to use the truck version in your equipment. Check with the truck parts dealer to verify the part numbers on the starters before you purchase one, and take the old equipment starter to the supplier and compare them side by side to ensure they are physically the same.
