I have an MTD 1993 16 hp lawn tractor.
When I turn the key it goes tick tick tick tick tick very quickly--it's not the "click" sound. I've heard the "click" sound before, and this isn't it. The engine doesn't turn over at all. But if I jump start it with a car battery, it starts right up without any hesitation at all.
The battery is fully charged according to the needle on the charger (I don't have an instrument to measure volts). I charged it for two days.
I just bought a new solenoid and installed it. Didn't solve the problem. Sounds exactly the same.
There is no corrosion, loose wires, etc. -- if there were, it wouldn't start right up when jump started, right? Same with spark plugs. If that was the problem, why would it start right up from a jump start?
If the starter motor were bad, why would it start right up with a jump start?
I'm out of ideas. I should add that although I can repair things, what would take an ordinary person two minutes will take me an hour. I have 0 mechanical ability, and have virtually no idea what various parts are called or what they do. I know the basics: tractor, wheel, gas tank....
When I turn the key it goes tick tick tick tick tick very quickly--it's not the "click" sound. I've heard the "click" sound before, and this isn't it. The engine doesn't turn over at all. But if I jump start it with a car battery, it starts right up without any hesitation at all.
The battery is fully charged according to the needle on the charger (I don't have an instrument to measure volts). I charged it for two days.
I just bought a new solenoid and installed it. Didn't solve the problem. Sounds exactly the same.
There is no corrosion, loose wires, etc. -- if there were, it wouldn't start right up when jump started, right? Same with spark plugs. If that was the problem, why would it start right up from a jump start?
If the starter motor were bad, why would it start right up with a jump start?
I'm out of ideas. I should add that although I can repair things, what would take an ordinary person two minutes will take me an hour. I have 0 mechanical ability, and have virtually no idea what various parts are called or what they do. I know the basics: tractor, wheel, gas tank....