starter won't

You state that you 'know' that it isn't a bendix/gear problem, and that the battery is good.

I'd guess that you've got a 95% chance to be 'wrong' on this one.

My bet is bat battery or connections.. and it is so weak that hitting the solenoid dims the lamps.. even though it may show good on a volt meter without load... Or the starter is engaged to the ring gear and hung.

There is a slight possibility that the starter just up and died.. but it's a slim one.

Hold the start button down and pop it with a hammer, and see what it does. You can also jumper around the solenoid if you suspect it. make sure the tractor is in neutral.

What's a volt meter say when hooke dup to the battery when you hit the start button? if it drops lower than 4 it's a bad or low battery.

You can try jumping it with 12v as well.

Once you get it started.. whats the ammeter say?

Soundguy

Put your transmission in 4th gear and rock the tractor back and forth a few times, if starter is jammed it should release itself and then you should be able to start like normal. If thats not it, post back.

Question: does this mean that some sort of repair is advisable? If the starter has been used only say 150 times since I put in the new Bendix,is it likely that this is worn or more likely that the ring gear is worn, or more likely that someone put it in gear, cranked it, and thereby jammed things together.