starter motor issue, 2006 rs venture

[adVENTUREr]

i have got a 2006 rs venture and i seem to have a starter motor issue. earlier this winter when it was really cold (-15 to -20) overnight, i would go to start the sled and the starter would just wind up, but the motor was not cranking over. i would throw the nipco heater on it in the garage for 15-20 minutes, and then it would eventually start. so i figured the starter was frozen...somehow, because after the machine would get up to operating temp, i would have no other issues starting the rest of the day.
now that it's warmer, i go to start the sled and it will turn over the motor, but it sounds really bad as in it makes a ton of noise like im missing teeth on my flywheel or something. is this the way they starter is on these things? where is the starter located?

thanks

 

[adVENTUREr]

hmm, posted three different times, not a single response. helpful site.

 

[Mooseman]

Have you tried posting in the RS section? I find that the Tech Advisor Board is not the quickest way to get an answer. Please don't take a lack of an answer as not wanting to help. There were 53 views when I came along and probably was just that none of those had any ideas for your particular problem.

Although I am not familiar with your sled, my hunch would be a defective starter clutch drive. If it's anything like mine, it's in the engine, not on the starter itself, which makes it more difficult to replace.

 

[maim]

what oil has been run in the sled? there is a clutch for the starter that burns out from running synthetic motor oils. might just be gummed up as well.

moving topic to rs section for more help.