Repairs Snapper SX825- Solenoid Issues

jimcahoe

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Give this a try, will tell you where the problem is.



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). *If you have power what is the voltage?

Fifth, check for power at the starter while holding the key in the start position (assistant again). *If you have power what is the voltage?

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.


There is a white 2 outlet plug by the starter. One side has a white wire only. It has 13 volts. The other side has 2 black wires. The one directly across from the white has pulled out of its spot. The other wire is black and is across from nothing.
I can still manually start the mower. Does any of this make sense?
 

Rivets

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As I said in post #9, you are going to have to do some electrical troubleshooting. Start at the key switch and trace the wiring to the starter. At each connection you will be testing for 12V. Make sure that each connection is clean and tight. If you can pull start the unit, that normally means the safety switches are good, but when electrical troubleshooting you must NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING, DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING.
 

jimcahoe

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You said 0 Volts on #3, that's the problem. Read Rivets last sentence in his "Third" paragraph and that is your answer. If you don't have 12V on the small wire while trying to start then it can't bridge the voltage over to the other solenoid post leading to starter.

My solenoid has two attachments that are equal size that have nuts on them. There is a third push on wire in
the middle which is blue. When I pull this off the wire shows 13 volts with the starter switch turned to the right.
Does this help?
 

Mikel1

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What hp is your engine, need for wiring diagram? I do see a blue wire on the diagram I am looking at, should go to S terminal on ignition switch from solenoid. Is that correct?
 

Carscw

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My solenoid has two attachments that are equal size that have nuts on them. There is a third push on wire in the middle which is blue. When I pull this off the wire shows 13 volts with the starter switch turned to the right. Does this help?

That good it should show 13 volts.
On the two others post one should be 12 volts all the time the other should be 12 volts with the key on start.

If you use a wrench to bridge the two together will the starter work?
 

jimcahoe

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1) 13 volts
2) 13 volts
3) 0
4) 0
5) 0
6) ok
Hopefully I answered everything.

I was wrong about #3. I have a 3 connection solenoid. When I pull the wire in the middle and test the wire(not the terminal) i show 13 volts.
 

Rivets

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If you have 12 volts at the small wire in step 3, this indicates one of two things. Either the solenoid has lost it's ground to the frame (remove the solenoid and clean the base where it attaches to the chassis) or the solenoid is bad (replace)
 

jimcahoe

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If you have 12 volts at the small wire in step 3, this indicates one of two things. Either the solenoid has lost it's ground to the frame (remove the solenoid and clean the base where it attaches to the chassis) or the solenoid is bad (replace)

When I removed the solenoid to clean there was a clear piece of plastic about 4" x 4" underneath it. Is this correct? If so what am I cleaning?
 

ILENGINE

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If the solenoid is mounted to plastic without something metal to ground it, it won't work. You may need to make a wire to go between the solenoid mounting screw, and something metal on the frame.
 

jimcahoe

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There is a white 2 outlet plug by the starter. One side has a white wire only. It has 13 volts. The other side has 2 black wires. The one directly across from the white has pulled out of its spot. The other wire is black and is across from nothing.
I can still manually start the mower. Does any of this make sense?

I replaced my solenoid and the mower now started but only runs about half throttle and rough. I think it may have something to do with the wires by the starter. The colors I listed above are wrong. The two wires coming down from the top around the top of the starter are red and black. The other side of the plug had white only. The red wire was pulled out and the plug was damaged. I am the one who connected the red and white wire. I need help in figuring out how these wires should be connected.
It is 8 hp and the model# is 250816BE.
 
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