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Hello all, I have a Hustler mini FasTrak 42" with a Honda GXV530 twin that I bought new 20 years ago. I started having trouble with the starter last year. Had to bang on it to get it to work. I finally installed a new starter and solenoid combo. Now when I try to start it keeps blowing fuses. There is a connector with both a red and a blue wire soldered to it that I have going to the positive post on the solenoid with the wire to the battery. Is this correct? With the key in the run position the red light on the panel doesn't come on and when I turn it to start the fuse blows. Any ideas?

Model number serial number tag Please...

Model# 927368, Serial# 04072197

No blue wire originally on the wiring diagram; unless, it is the one going to the voltage regulator. But something is not right as the engine light should come on if the bulb is okay. You going have to do some local troubleshooting so here is the wiring schematic. And this why I never change the wiring color as the next just gets lost.

Yes, I have that wiring diagram. And yes, it doesn't show the blue and red wire. I have never had a reason to replace any wires on this machine. Everything is as it came from the factory. The blue and red wire, soldered to a single connector, comes out of the wiring harness right at the starter solenoid so I'm pretty sure that's where it attaches. Was hoping someone knew for sure where that blue and red wire goes. Yeah I have a short somewhere. I also replaced the ignition switch. Electrical problems are a pain.

Kinda I was there as troubleshooting is fairly easy when you have done it for 45 yrs.

And then sounds like Hustler did something they didn't note in the owners and service manuals to the wiring harness.

Well I got it fixed. Turns out that the 5 pin ignition switch for a Hustler mini FasTrak is not the same as a generic 5 pin lawn mower ignition switch. Yeah it fits but the pin outs are different. Took a call to Hustler to figure that out.

Now you just learned something. You must order and replace the ignition switch with the correct one.

Plus you didn't mention you installed a different switch. That would had help a little then I could gave an ohm chart for the ignition switch since it is used on a Sabre 1646.

Thanks for your reply. I did mention that I replaced the ignition switch. Never accrued to me that an ignition switch used on hundreds of different lawn mowers would be a proprietary item. Live and learn.

Sorry I missed that in post #5. My fault being aggravated on this end by a supplier. They just keep screwing up the orders.

Actually there is about at least 10 versions of the switch. And that just the Indak versions. There is the Delta switches too. There is enough different to just confuse all of us at times. What worst is the Indak switches don't the manufacture PN on them as where the Delta switches do.

I'll chalk that one up to experience and remember for next time. As this machine is already 20 years old and I am getting long in the tooth myself I probably won't have to worry about it any more. If I'm lucky. Thanks

WLFrench said:

Yes, I have that wiring diagram. And yes, it doesn't show the blue and red wire. I have never had a reason to replace any wires on this machine. Everything is as it came from the factory. The blue and red wire, soldered to a single connector, comes out of the wiring harness right at the starter solenoid so I'm pretty sure that's where it attaches. Was hoping someone knew for sure where that blue and red wire goes. Yeah I have a short somewhere. I also replaced the ignition switch. Electrical problems are a pain.

Click to expand...

You may need to check all of the safety switches for continuity. Some are easy while some require some disassembly to reach. I went through an electrical issue on a 2006 Snapper rear engine rider back in the spring of 2023. I replaced the battery cables with slightly longer ones because the factory ones were a little short. I also found the battery cable to ground was slightly loose and the connector was very dirty. So a cleaned it with a wire brush to get a good grounding surface. I too replaced the solenoid which was bad as well as the starter with an OEM part. That did help.

WLFrench said:

Well I got it fixed. Turns out that the 5 pin ignition switch for a Hustler mini FasTrak is not the same as a generic 5 pin lawn mower ignition switch. Yeah it fits but the pin outs are different. Took a call to Hustler to figure that out.

Click to expand...

I too learned the hard way that otherwise identical looking switches may be pinned differently. Now when I replace one, I flip them over and verify all the pin soder points are aligned the same. This is just a guess but the switch (and wiring diagram posted) for the Honda powered machine might be different than the one used on Kaw or Kohler powered.
I had an ExMark come in with a clusterf*** wiring harness. The owner "adapted" the harness to use a different switch. He wanted a switch with a "real key".

StarTech said:

Sorry I missed that in post #5. My fault being aggravated on this end by a supplier. They just keep screwing up the orders.

Actually there is about at least 10 versions of the switch. And that just the Indak versions. There is the Delta switches too. There is enough different to just confuse all of us at times. What worst is the Indak switches don't the manufacture PN on them as where the Delta switches do.

Click to expand...

I missed it ,too.