I bought this riding mower for $80 off craigs so I still think i got a good deal. Even after all the parts Iv thrown at it. I brought it to my neighbors to work on it and we replaced the battery, pulled the carb and cleaned it and changed the air filter. I changed the oil because it was mustly gas mixed in with it which tells me the carb was dirty.
After that, it started up and ran and i drove it home. The next day, I wanted to change the ignition switch because it was worn out from someone trying to start it with a screw driver. I went to check to make sure it works by bumping the starter but not actually starting it so I assumed it was good after that. Then two days later, the ignition wouldnt do anything when i turned it. You could hear the sensor click on the bottom of the carb but that was it. No turn over or nothing. So I tried jumping the solenoid and it would turn the motor over like half a turn and then stop. SO I assumed the starter was going bad so I took it to my local mower repair shop to have it tested and they said the starter was fine. So I told them about my problem and he said to pull the plug and try to get it to turn over. And if it did, then he said my valves needed adjusted. So i went home and pulled the plug and jumped the solenoid again and it did turn over. So i guess it needs the valves adjusted. But my question is, why will it turn over when i jump the solenoid but nothing when I turn the key? Something between the ignition switch and the solenoid isnt right but I dont know what. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance.
After that, it started up and ran and i drove it home. The next day, I wanted to change the ignition switch because it was worn out from someone trying to start it with a screw driver. I went to check to make sure it works by bumping the starter but not actually starting it so I assumed it was good after that. Then two days later, the ignition wouldnt do anything when i turned it. You could hear the sensor click on the bottom of the carb but that was it. No turn over or nothing. So I tried jumping the solenoid and it would turn the motor over like half a turn and then stop. SO I assumed the starter was going bad so I took it to my local mower repair shop to have it tested and they said the starter was fine. So I told them about my problem and he said to pull the plug and try to get it to turn over. And if it did, then he said my valves needed adjusted. So i went home and pulled the plug and jumped the solenoid again and it did turn over. So i guess it needs the valves adjusted. But my question is, why will it turn over when i jump the solenoid but nothing when I turn the key? Something between the ignition switch and the solenoid isnt right but I dont know what. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance.