ZT48 XL Single click when starting

Jakeman

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Gravely ZT48 XL - only single click when starting. Replaced ignition switch, starter solenoid, starter, seat switch, cleaned battery terminals, tested starter relays (they were good), battery tested showing 12+ charge. Any ideas? The only thing I can think to do now is replace wiring.
 

Gym123

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Gravely ZT48 XL - only single click when starting. Replaced ignition switch, starter solenoid, starter, seat switch, cleaned battery terminals, tested starter relays (they were good), battery tested showing 12+ charge. Any ideas? The only thing I can think to do now is replace wiring.
TEST, don't just replace. If you don't have a test light with incandescent bulb, buy one. It shows more or less current by illuminating brightly, or more dim. You should be able to jump from the battery to the starter, as a test- make sure to disconnect everything from the starter and use jumper cables- starters use a lot of current and skinny wires will become too hot to handle- could burn the insulation, too.

Find a schematic, too- then, trace the path from battery to switch, switch to solenoid, etc with the test light.
 

ILENGINE

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Gravely ZT48 XL - only single click when starting. Replaced ignition switch, starter solenoid, starter, seat switch, cleaned battery terminals, tested starter relays (they were good), battery tested showing 12+ charge. Any ideas? The only thing I can think to do now is replace wiring.
12+ volts at the battery doesn't mean anything. Need to have it actually load tested. You can have 12 volts at rest and drop to 0 under a load.
 

slomo

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Going with "what is a bad battery for 200 Alex".

All circuits must be load tested as ILENGINE said. As in fully loaded with amps while testing.

Don't forget to check all the grounds too. They need some love. Most over looked item on a battery is the - post.
 

Tiger Small Engine

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Going with "what is a bad battery for 200 Alex".

All circuits must be load tested as ILENGINE said. As in fully loaded with amps while testing.

Don't forget to check all the grounds too. They need some love. Most over looked item on a battery is the - post.
With electrical issues, the first place to check is the battery. Make sure the battery is charged and load tested. Make sure terminals are clean and tight. After battery checks out, keep testing. In this case, before replacing the wiring harness, take it to a shop to get it repaired.
 

Gym123

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12+ volts at the battery doesn't mean anything. Need to have it actually load tested. You can have 12 volts at rest and drop to 0 under a load.
Absolutely true- I got into my pickup one morning and as usual, the dome light came on but when I turned the key, EVERYTHING went dark. I grabbed a wrench, to check/tighten the cable ends and the positive lug came right out of the battery.
 

common sence

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Gravely ZT48 XL - only single click when starting. Replaced ignition switch, starter solenoid, starter, seat switch, cleaned battery terminals, tested starter relays (they were good), battery tested showing 12+ charge. Any ideas? The only thing I can think to do now is replace wiring.
Just for fun. Take spark plug out and see if gas shoots out of spark plug hole when you turn it over.
 

Gym123

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Gravely ZT48 XL - only single click when starting. Replaced ignition switch, starter solenoid, starter, seat switch, cleaned battery terminals, tested starter relays (they were good), battery tested showing 12+ charge. Any ideas? The only thing I can think to do now is replace wiring.
Was this submerged? If not, why would you make the leap to replacing the wiring? And what kinds of terminals & connectors would you use that wouldn't corrode?

Have you done point to point resistance/continuity/voltage tests on all of the wires?

My riding mower's headlights didn't work when I got it, but after unplugging the wires at the front in order to remove the shroud over the engine, they started working because the contacts didn't have anything to protect the terminals- I would recommend that you check any contacts between the switch and starter or anything and clean them, then put some dielectric grease on the terminals.
 

kjonxx

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Gravely ZT48 XL - only single click when starting. Replaced ignition switch, starter solenoid, starter, seat switch, cleaned battery terminals, tested starter relays (they were good), battery tested showing 12+ charge. Any ideas? The only thing I can think to do now is replace wiring.
clean ground cable ends
 

snailtrax

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Gravely ZT48 XL - only single click when starting. Replaced ignition switch, starter solenoid, starter, seat switch, cleaned battery terminals, tested starter relays (they were good), battery tested showing 12+ charge. Any ideas? The only thing I can think to do now is replace wiring.
Read the instructions in the pdf file first. I listed one from Amazon. It is purpose built for John Deere. You can buy a 30 amp Bosch relay at the parts store and make up your own wiring for less.

 

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