Actually, this belongs to a friend of my wife. She told me it would not start and it also had a fire in the front of the mower under the hood. She also told me that it was acting up the last time she used it. Looking at where she said the fire was, it was directly under the air cleaner housing. After removing the air cleaner it appeared that the fire was outside the housing and had come up into the housing through the air intake opening on the side that the gear shift lever is on. After taking the fuel line off, it was burned a lot in the area under the filter housing and exhaust manifold (very poor design). It looked like there may have been a hole, probably where the gas for the fire came from. Replaced the line, and also added some heat protection tubing over the hose to try to keep the heat away from it. Changed oil and filter. Installed new air filter and pre filter. Then tried to start it. It wouldn't turn over at all. Broke out the owner's manual to the troubleshooting chart and started with the most logical item, the fuse. It was blown. AHA, found the problem right away. Replaced the fuse and tried to start again. Still no cranking, darn, thought I had it. Tried running a wire from the positive side of the battery to the starter terminal. The motor turned. Okay, now had to find the break in the circuit that controls this. And that's where i'm at now. Will be trying to find all the switchs involved with this circuit, and eliminate them, one by one. Going to start with the solenoid by running a wire from the positive side of the battery to the white wire terminal on the solenoid to see if it will crank with it. If it does, I'll continue on, until I find the culprit. I'll keep all informed,
Repairs Craftsman 21.5hp electric start 6 speed model # 917.272452
- Thread starter motepoc
- Start date
Something I forgot to include. I sprayed some starting fluid into the intake of the carb and it fired up, or at least until it ran out of fluid. So, I do have fire, but not sure if the gas is getting there since it didn't stay running. May have to do some carb work when i get the cranking problem fixed
EngineMan
Lawn Addict
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2012
- Threads
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- 2,275
Take off the small wire on the solenoid make up a short wire put a connecter on one end, and connect that to where you pulled off the wire on solenoid, now with the other end touch the big wire on solenoid that come's from the battery engine should turn over. if not look for bad ground on solenoid and if thats ok replace it. you can check to see if you have battery volts on the wire that you pulled off solenoid when you turn the key to start, no volts, work you way back to ignition switch, then again from there (safety switch(s) ).
LawnRanger came up with this diagnostic sequence which I found very good. I modified it a little. Hope this helps you.
Electrical* problems can be very easy or very difficult, depending on four things.
1. * How well you understand basic electricity.
2. *What tools you have and know how to use.
3. *How well you follow directions.
4. *You don't overlook or assume anything and verify everything.
Remember we cannot see what you are doing. *You are our eyes, ears and fingers in solving this problem. *You must be as accurate as you can when you report back. *The two basic tools we will ask you to use are a test light and a multi-meter. *If you have an assistant when going through these tests it would be very helpful. *These steps work the best when done in order, so please don't jump around. *Now let's solve this problem.
First, check the fuse(s), check battery connections for corrosion (clean if necessary) and *voltage - above 12.5 volts should be good.*
Second, check for power from the battery to one of the large terminals on the solenoid. *One of the wires is connected directly to the battery and has power all the time so one of the large terminals should light a test light or show 12 volts on a meter at all times.*
Third, *check for power at the small terminal of the solenoid while depressing the clutch/brake pedal and holding the key in the start position (you may need an assistant to sit in the seat to override the safety switch). If your solenoid is a four wire solenoid, check both small wire terminals as one is ground and the other is power from the ignition switch. *If your solenoid is a three wire solenoid, make sure the solenoid body is not corroded where it bolts to the chassis of the mower as this is your ground path back to the battery. *If in doubt, remove the solenoid and clean the mounting area down to bare metal. *If there is no power to the small terminal then your problem is most likely a safety switch, ignition switch or in the wiring.*
Fourth, check for power on the other large terminal of the solenoid while holding the key in the start position (you may need an assistant to sit in the seat to override the safety switch).*
Fifth, check for power at the starter while holding the key in the start position (assistant again).*
Sixth, check your ground circuit back to the battery.
After you have gone through each of the above steps, let us know what happened when you did each step. *At that point we will have great info to tell you how to proceed. *Remember you are our eyes, ears, and fingers, so please be as accurate as possible.
Be as specific as possible with voltage readings as this will help diagnose your problem quicker. *If you do not know how to perform the above checks, just ask and I will try to guide you through it. *Youtube also has some videos and as you know a picture is worth a thousand words.
Electrical* problems can be very easy or very difficult, depending on four things.
1. * How well you understand basic electricity.
2. *What tools you have and know how to use.
3. *How well you follow directions.
4. *You don't overlook or assume anything and verify everything.
Remember we cannot see what you are doing. *You are our eyes, ears and fingers in solving this problem. *You must be as accurate as you can when you report back. *The two basic tools we will ask you to use are a test light and a multi-meter. *If you have an assistant when going through these tests it would be very helpful. *These steps work the best when done in order, so please don't jump around. *Now let's solve this problem.
First, check the fuse(s), check battery connections for corrosion (clean if necessary) and *voltage - above 12.5 volts should be good.*
Second, check for power from the battery to one of the large terminals on the solenoid. *One of the wires is connected directly to the battery and has power all the time so one of the large terminals should light a test light or show 12 volts on a meter at all times.*
Third, *check for power at the small terminal of the solenoid while depressing the clutch/brake pedal and holding the key in the start position (you may need an assistant to sit in the seat to override the safety switch). If your solenoid is a four wire solenoid, check both small wire terminals as one is ground and the other is power from the ignition switch. *If your solenoid is a three wire solenoid, make sure the solenoid body is not corroded where it bolts to the chassis of the mower as this is your ground path back to the battery. *If in doubt, remove the solenoid and clean the mounting area down to bare metal. *If there is no power to the small terminal then your problem is most likely a safety switch, ignition switch or in the wiring.*
Fourth, check for power on the other large terminal of the solenoid while holding the key in the start position (you may need an assistant to sit in the seat to override the safety switch).*
Fifth, check for power at the starter while holding the key in the start position (assistant again).*
Sixth, check your ground circuit back to the battery.
After you have gone through each of the above steps, let us know what happened when you did each step. *At that point we will have great info to tell you how to proceed. *Remember you are our eyes, ears, and fingers, so please be as accurate as possible.
Be as specific as possible with voltage readings as this will help diagnose your problem quicker. *If you do not know how to perform the above checks, just ask and I will try to guide you through it. *Youtube also has some videos and as you know a picture is worth a thousand words.