Greetings Boobala & Rivets!
ENGINE INFO Tecumseh 15.5 HP Engine
Engine Model: OHV155 204509E
Engine Family: WTPSX.4902AA
Engine Displacement: 490.
Uses Regular Unleaded gas, and SAE30 Weight Oil.
D.O.M.: 9300 D (made on 300th day of 1999, so most likely a 2000 model year)
I've read-up on replacing the bendix gear and I'm confident that I can replace it.
I'm not at all sure about how to replace the solenoid as the mower is currently using a four-pole (but is only actively using 3 of the 4). Is this an occasion where I can utilize a 3 pole replacement? Lastly, nothing even comes close to looking like my solenoid, what would I want to look for in a replacement?
Thank you both for your contributions! It is greatly appreciated!
The solenoid is USUALLY, a part of the mower itself, supplied from the manufacturer, so, now we need the mower model number (usually found under the seat,) most likely, if you've been using a 3 pole solenoid, that's all it needs.
I am not disagreeing with Boo I am just letting you know what I do. I replace all 3 pole solenoid with 4 pole and make a ground wire and hook it up. I find it the more reliable form of a ground.
The solenoid is USUALLY, a part of the mower itself, supplied from the manufacturer, so, now we need the mower model number (usually found under the seat,) most likely, if you've been using a 3 pole solenoid, that's all it needs.
Greetings Boobala!
I'm most appreciative of the links you provided. Very helpful in determining what parts I need to get. Thank you!
-David
Remove the power wire to the starter from the solenoid.
Turn the ignition switch to start then back to run several times.
While doing this, with your 3rd pair of hands measure both the power at the solenoid starter terminal and power at the trigger wire .
- IF you get power at the starter terminal and none at the trigger then the solenoid is duff.
- IF you get power at the trigger terminal when the ignition switch has been turned back to run then the ignition switch is duff or the start relay is duff (if you have one)
Hello Bertsmobile1!
View attachment 36523
Here's my Solenoid and I've labeled it based on my observations of the electrical wiring.
I'm confused by the readings that I'm getting. Either I'm doing it wrong (most likely), or the solenoid is defective (also a valid possibility).
So I've set my basic voltmeter to DCV, measured the battery from ground strap at solenoid and positive terminal on solenoid ("red from battery") and see 12v. This confirms what I would expect to see on other tests.
Then I tried taking a reading from ground strap from battery and the other big terminal going from the solenoid to the starter and saw nothing when twisting key from run to start several times.
Then I tried taking a reading from ground strap from battery and the small terminal going to the ignition switch (I presume this is what you meant by trigger terminal?) and saw nothing when twisting key from run to start several times.
Am I testing this correctly?
SORRY for "buttin -in" Bert, YES your test is right, to prove the solenoid is bad take a cable (same size wire as BIG solenoid cables, and jumper from battery side of solenoid to starter side of solenoid ( connecting the 2 big posts in essence ) if starter spins, then, as bert says the solenoid is "duff" ( no good) then try connecting battery side of solenoid to the starter terminal, only other thing to check is the ignition switch (power from BATTERY terminal to Starter terminal ( key in start position)
I am butting in Boo and too bad for you.:laughing::laughing: He said he had no voltage to the trigger wire from the key switch. I am guessing a bad switch at least if not the solenoid too.
Good afternoon All,
I finally had time and the cooperation of the weather locally, and went back out to begin checking the wiring as recommended. After giving it some thought, I felt that instead of tearing the harness apart again and retesting everything, that I would reconfirm my previous test results by retesting the Solenoid.
Without changing anything, I now am getting 12V on the lead going to the Ignition Switch S (for Starter Solenoid) pin, which I did not see before, which I believe changes everything. I am still NOT getting any voltage on the side of the Solenoid pole/lead going to the actual Starter itself when I turn ignition key from OFF to START position repeatedly. I did this particular test about 20 times to see if any of them registered, and none did. I of course have 12v at the battery side of the Solenoid, so it does now sound to me like the Solenoid is indeed bad.
Question: it was originally suggested by BlazNT earlier (top of Page-2 I believe) that I create a new wire run on that unused pole and wire it to Ground. If I made sure the Solenoid frame itself is cleaned (wire brush) & grounded to a bare metal portion of the mower frame, along with battery ground strap as well, and if the unused pole remains unwired, could that possibly account for the failure? I'm happy to run it as suggested regardless, but just didn't know if that could possibly account for the test fail, or possibly change the outcome of the test if I ran it...
-David
Good afternoon All,
I'll need to track down some thicker gauge wire to create that ground strap for that 4th pole on the Solenoid, I'll try to get that handled this weekend.
Based on what I've been able to read-up on PTO (Power Take Off), it's normally a gear or rotor that transfers power from the engine to an attachment, and while I can picture that on any other tractor, I can't think of where such a thing is on my tractor, other than the mower deck, and that is pulley/belt driven, and activated/deactivated by a physical lever, so now I'm even more confused about the PTO being an actual switch.
Forgive my ignorance here, but what is a PTO SWITCH, and where would it come into play in my equation?
-David
Good afternoon All,
I'll need to track down some thicker gauge wire to create that ground strap for that 4th pole on the Solenoid, I'll try to get that handled this weekend.
Based on what I've been able to read-up on PTO (Power Take Off), it's normally a gear or rotor that transfers power from the engine to an attachment, and while I can picture that on any other tractor, I can't think of where such a thing is on my tractor, other than the mower deck, and that is pulley/belt driven, and activated/deactivated by a physical lever, so now I'm even more confused about the PTO being an actual switch.
Forgive my ignorance here, but what is a PTO SWITCH, and where would it come into play in my equation?
-David
Good afternoon All,
I'll need to track down some thicker gauge wire to create that ground strap for that 4th pole on the Solenoid, I'll try to get that handled this weekend.
Based on what I've been able to read-up on PTO (Power Take Off), it's normally a gear or rotor that transfers power from the engine to an attachment, and while I can picture that on any other tractor, I can't think of where such a thing is on my tractor, other than the mower deck, and that is pulley/belt driven, and activated/deactivated by a physical lever, so now I'm even more confused about the PTO being an actual switch.
Forgive my ignorance here, but what is a PTO SWITCH, and where would it come into play in my equation?
-David
Dave you only need a piece of 12 or 14 guage wire, for the extra solenoid "ground wire" .. I attached mine to my throttle bracket assy.
View attachment 36650
That is one good looking crimp job Boo.:thumbsup:
ARE YOU be makin laughs of my lektrik work ..?? ..:laughing:..:laughing:
No not at all. I think it has just the right amount of wires sticking out. It makes it peerty.:laughing::laughing: