Hello, I'm new to this forum. Bought my first sxs, a used 2016 Pioneer 700-2 with 6000 miles in March 2020. Dealer told me the previous owner had just replaced the starter before trading it in. Around 3 months and perhaps 30 total starts, it would simply grind and spin when we turned the key. Yes, I know to get off the key as soon as it fires and starts. It starts a little hard and takes a few tries to finally catch and run. I pulled the starter and ID'd that the starter teeth were significantly worn down and that the previous owner had installed one of the cheaper $50 Taiwanese starters off the web. I learned from the dealer that the lower priced ones typically have softer metal gear teeth and that is likely why it failed so quick. So I bought a higher priced starter at around $115 and installed it. Wasn't ready to pop $400 for an OEM Honda starter. This $115 starter lasted exactly one start. We rode for 30 minutes, shut it off, and it wouldn't actuate after that. Batter, relay, cables all good. Pulled the starter out and removed the housing and found one of the four magnets cracked in half. Broke down once more and finally spent the big bucks for original Honda starter. Installed it July 19th and it worked immediately though the machine was still a little hard to start and usually would take 2 or 3 attempts at turning over before it would fire and run. I only use fresh non-oxy fuel. On Dec 6th the damn starter began to grind again during a difficult starting session and ended up just spinning and grinding again without ever effectively rotating the motor sufficiently to start it. Had to abandon it in the woods and drag it out with a tractor. Have pulled this latest starter and the teeth are worn somewhat though still appear sufficient to mesh and rotate the motor. I can reach inside the engine and rotate the ring gear freely with one finger in one direction only but cannot rotate it in the opposite direction due to the one way clutch. I'm at a loss what to do next and am very disappointed in my purchase. Thought I was buying the best machine out there. Any help out there? My machine is parked in a field under a tarp in a Minnesota January so working on it in the cold is quite a challenge.
Thank you
