by passing starter solenoid

[neighborbill]

I have read and have removed and replaced a starter motor on a BX1500 Kubota.
It is a nightmare because of room spacing.
I know now that the contacts on my solenoid are not making good contact when I try to start.
Without trying to remove the starter again. Here is what I am thinking of doing.
Buying a three terminal starter relay. connecting the B+ from the starter motor to the B+ on the new relay.
Then connecting the other side of this relay to the starter motor. Effectively by passing the contacts in the solenoid.
I will make a parallel connection to both the new solenoid and the old solenoid. This will engergize the plunger to the fly wheel. and at the same time close the new solenoid contacts.
When the motor starts, pinon falls back 5 volts to solenoids (because the starter switch is disengaged) is broken and the motor starts.
What do you think.

 

[StarTech]

As far as I know you can't do this as the current starter as it is a solenoid shift starter. The solenoid not only engages the starter motor it also moves the starter Bendix into the flywheel ring gear.

Now if you can mount a non solenoid shifter starter then you can and would need to add the remote solenoid (relay).

 

[neighborbill]

Here is my concern.
When the engine starts the pinion leaves the fly wheel. does the pinion disconnect the solenoid voltage or does turning the spring loaded key switch make the pinon pull back and thereby disconnecting the current to the starter motor.

 

[StarTech]

Your keyswitch provider voltage to solenoid trigger wire. As solenoid retracts it both moves the starter Bendix up into the flywheel ring gear and also makes a contact plate across the two main terminals internally to activate the starter itself. When when you release the keyswitch the voltage to solenoid is no longer present and solenoid release the Bendix and move the contact plate away from the two main terminals deactivating the starter motor.

 

[neighborbill]

Your keyswitch provider voltage to solenoid trigger wire. As solenoid retracts it both moves the starter Bendix up into the flywheel ring gear and also makes a contact plate across the two main terminals internally to activate the starter itself. When when you release the keyswitch the voltage to solenoid is no longer present and solenoid release the Bendix and move the contact plate away from the two main terminals deactivating the starter motor.

Excellent,
then what I am going to do, will work.
All this because it is so difficult to remove the starter and solenoid from the Bx1500.. Clearances are almost impossible without removing a lot of parts.

 

[StarTech]

Just some of the Gravely ZTRs where the engine has to pulled just to get to remote starter solenoid.

 

[neighborbill]

Gravely use to be a great machine. I had two of them and they were beasts.
Then they sold out.
Wouldn't touch them out.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Gravely use to be a great machine. I had two of them and they were beasts.
Then they sold out.
Wouldn't touch them out.

Gravely was never a great zero turn mower, but a good, solid zero turn mower, yes. Gravely is the commercial side, and Ariens is the residential side, same company. When you say “Gravely sold out”, do you mean literally? Because Gravely has not sold out.

 

[StarTech]

Gravely was acquired by Ariens in 1982. So yes they were basically swallowed up by Ariens but remains as a division of Ariens. Matter of fact they opened a Gravely factory in Fayetteville, TN fairly recently.

I have one customer that has both Ariens and Gravely mowers that looks nearly identical except for cosmetics such as paint color. Actually one of the Ariens is sitting is sitting on the parts yard as he was not willing to replace the blown engine.

Even many of the part numbers are the same.

It the same way Murray brand still exists until Briggs either kills it off or sale the rights to another company. Or the way Tecumseh died and was reborn and now probably dying again.

 

[Forest#2]

Just curious.
You say you REPLACED THE STARTER MOTOR and the solenoid contacts are not making good contact.
It's a solenoid shift type starter and the solenoid is on the starter housing.
I've seen the mechanical bendix shift linkages on those type starters get worn and act like bad solenoid and replacing the solenoid would not correct the issue.

Most generally a NEW small engine replacement bendix shift type starter comes with a new solenoid on the starter and on some starters the solenoid only can be removed from the starter and replaced and others are made as a complete starter solenoid assembly.
Did you install a new starter as an assembly with the new solenoid???(or use your old solenoid on the replacement starter
If you installed all as new and the solenoid is bad it might have a warranty.
Did the old starter fail or have the same crank issue or what?

Reason I ask is I'm wondering if you have taken voltage reading to confirm that the solenoid is the issue and not a electrical issue elsewhere?
I do feel your pain about having to do go backs into a non-friendly machine.