D Raymond: If you think starter lockup is the cause, pull the starter, have a look at the teeth on starter drive as well on the flywheel ring gear. Let us know what you see, condition of those gears. If this only happens once in 45-50 starts very likely the starter motor itself is in good condition. Next time it happens, try loosening the starter mounting bolts until you can move back of starter 1/4" sideways. Then try the starter with it loose, if it works you may run it for years that way. Another way to loosen a locked starter if you are on level ground, is place the tractor in high gear and rock it one way then the other on a rear wheel. Often doing it that way you will hear a click when starter unlocks. Still another is place it in 5th and give it a tug backwards with another vehicle. I've run them that way for years, probably wont get much worse for some time. Tow starting will do damage when the starter is locked, in fact you can bend the starter shaft. Shame to do that if the motor portion of the starter is in good working order. Probably your going find a bad spot on the flywheel ring gear. Changing that ring gear requires splitting the tractor. Years ago we often ran them that way until we had other reasons to split the tractor, ie engine rebuild, clutch replacment, etc. I know this may be annoying however you may split the tractor, find you have a clutch and presure plate one year away from replacing. Personally, unless it gets worse, I'd wait until major rebuild time for ring gear. Called, killing two birds with one stone.
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