Solenoid Issues - Scag Freedom Z

jrgibs6

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May 28, 2018
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I am new to the forum and have spent hours on google.. I am hoping explaining in a paragraph what I know will help someone with more knowledge than me help me. I hope this is the right spot.

My mower is used for home use only. One day it wouldn't start.. Someone recommended I just jump across the posts on the solenoid to see if it started, and it did. I ordered a solenoid and put it on it and it started right up. I thought, "wow that was easy".

Then 4-5 mows later, it stopped working again. Same situation I jumped the posts on the solenoid and it started right up. This time rather than buying a regular $12 solenoid I went to a scag dealer and bought the OEM solenoid for $30 and put it on.. and then it worked again.

2-3 mows later it stopped again.. I can still jump across the posts and start it, but now I'm realizing its not just a solenoid issue.

The current solenoid I am using can be jumped across the posts and work... so I took it off. I put a 12v charge on one side of the prong (ignition) and grounded the other prong. I then ran 12v to the post. When I turn the power on the ground/ignition off, then I do not get 12v across both posts.. when I turn the power on then I do get a solid 12.4v reading. THIS leads me to believe my solenoid is fine and perhaps it has been coincidence that my mower works for a few spins after changing out the solenoid.

I am at a loss... and probably all that I have listed above is useless information because it was done improperly.

Thank you in advance for your help.
 

ILENGINE

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I suspect you are having an issue with one of the switches on the direction levers, or the seat switch, or the pto switch that works sometimes and not others.
 

bertsmobile1

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The switches mentioned above control the 12 V feed to your solenoid and the ground to the solenoid if it has 2 small ( trigger ) posts.
On the early models there are relays on both sides of the solenoid and on the latter models there is a relay on the + side and the "Tiger Eye" control module looks after checking all of the safety switches are functioning properly.
So you can check the safety switches and try replacing the relay ( won't hurt to have a spare )
It is a std 30A headlight/horn relay.
After that it will be the control module which AFAIK only Scag dealers can test.
 
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