Basic Electrical Troubleshooting for Lawn & Garden Tractors

[legoguy8910]

I've got a Murray that does does nothing when the key is turned. We've tested almost everything, and have come to think it's a bad solenoid, is there any way to tell without switching out the whole thing? Thx.

[RichRockster]

Thanks for the great video!..I've gone thru 4 solenoids on my piece of junk MTD mower and never thought just jumping the terminals like that...I had to cut a big hole in the back of the mower body to get to it but it worked!..My MTD bolt bucket is the worst engineered machine I have ever had to work on..Nothing is easily accessible and I've replaced just about every darn vital part on it since I bought it new in 2001..I call it Robo-Mower with all its fabricated fixes..Thanks again!

[mlhovell]

Have a husquavarna lawn tractor that runs fine until you engage the mower deck.Then the voltage drops and the engine stalls out, help

[wertydersa101]

cable clutch



[AutismradioGivesHope]

Great Vid! I have replaces the solenoid and still not able to start. I checked with meter and have 12v brand new battery. checked ground wire. when i turn the key there is nothing happening. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

[vmacmedia]

I have a john deere riding lawnmower. L110.. it had worked great... just started it and then it stopped about 3 minutes later... no electrical power at all.. lights wont turn on nothing... i know the battery is good.

[vmacmedia]

I have a john deere riding lawnmower. L110.. it had worked great... just started it and then it stopped about 3 minutes later... no electrical power at all.. lights wont turn on nothing... i know the battery is good...

[audiocable]

thanks u helped alot, i found out after allllll this time, the problem was that the stupid starter broke its tooth and jammed itself in the flywheel

[audiocable]

i find my lawn mower harder to work on then my audi lol



[elebeu]

Very good lesson. I would only mention that in the "jump start with the screwdriver" section you warn your viewers to be SURE the mower is in neutral and the blade is disengaged as jumping the solenoid bypasses all of the safety switches. Keep up the clear and informative videos.

[bdmfla3769]

my mower wont turn over i replaced the solenoid and put a new starter and all the staert er will do is just click it sounds like my starter is not getting enough power to the starter what can i do to get it started? i also used a screw driver and it still would not start

[TheMrDoItYourselfer]

I got a brand new briggs to put in my mower. The wire colors are different and there is no harness. How can I just took up a battery to get it running?

[dugan978]

i replaced my starter switch because when i turned it it would not turn over. but if i jumped it with a screw driver on the solenoid it would start. but with a new igniton it still wont turn over. whats the problem?

[miragexl007]

no cranking. replaced selonoid, still no cranking with key, but connecting small screw on selonoid and the hot post I get engine cranking. whats the problem? my ignition switch?

[NightTurkey82]

@miragexl007 Im diagnosing a same problem. One of your Safety kill switches might be engaged. Seat, Deck/PTO, in gear etc.

[miragexl007]

replaced selonoid, still no cranking with key, but connecting small screw on selonoid and the hot post I get engine cranking. whats the problem?

[miragexl007]

not good with wires, no cranking, I replaced selonoid and still none...but when I connect the small screw on selonoid with the hot post the engine cranks. whats the problem..the ignition switch? I will try some of the things you mention, like connecting the two big post-haven't tried that.

[miragexl007]

ok, I'm not good with wires. I replaced selonoid because no cranking, still no cranking. but if I connect the small screw on the selonoid (iginition) to the hot/positive post with a screw driver, the engine turns. whats the problem? I'm going to try some things you showed

[TFengineer]

This was such a helpful video. I intend on putting what I've learned to use tomorrow because I spent all of today splicing wires and getting my LT back to "stock" shape, electrically. When I turn the key, I hear nothing. I'm thinking it's a solenoid issue (i hope it's that). Great videos!! Thank you so much.

[mwswewawfw1]

best down to earth explanation that i've watched.

[jamesallen700]

I have a question about my ariens zero turn lawnmower I have. Well what it's doing is when I turn the key swiitch to "on" it doesn't do anything. What I mean by not doing anything is the electric fuel solenoid oon the bottom of the carburetor doesn't come on, but I tested it and it is good. When I turn the key switch to "start" or "off" everything does what it's intended to do. What can I do to fix this problem?

[mpcheevs]

Thanks,18 inches of snow last night my cub cadet with snow blower was dead in the middle of the driveway. I was sure the fuse looked fine. When you said a fuse my be bad even if it appers ok prompted a proper polarity check of the fuse. It was bad. and I felt dumb but hey new fuse and on my way. Thanks for posting.

[TFengineer]

@mpcheevs

Is the fuse supposed to read "0" as it did in his video when you test it with a multimeter? Thanks

[GweneferF]

great but it didnt cover if blades wont come on.

[TheCraftsman11]

wow that works great, awsome info!

Shawn

[ringbolt9]

great info pal.  enjoyed it

[noway180]

Thanks for the video, my old allis doesn't turn over today. Now i can check a few things before asking for help or paying someone to do it.

[th19940305]

what if i just hear a click when i turn the key, it has a new battery

[skyyekatt]

Great video...very helpful. Ive always wanted to know how to test the starter and ignition switches and this video was very helpful. Thank you so much.

[hotcop1]

When was this video made - the guy has a calculator on his watch - thought they stopped makin gthose in the 80's

[fish2night]

I wish it was that easy... the Honda HT3810 - you need to drop the engine to get at the starter bolts.... That may be a bit much for me... So I figure I may bring it in to get fixed... but use an after market starter.... 60 bucks for a lawn mower! That's fantastic.

[fish2night]

Extremely useful video. The problem I have is... Power is going into the starter, but the starter isn't turning. I hear clicking from the solenoid and have power coming in and out using a multimeter. I successfully passed all the other tests you showed... and even attempted to jump the starter with the screwdriver... but the starter is dead quiet. Any suggestions? A new starter is listed @ $455.00. Ouch!

[jenniesboy]

@fish2night Sounds like you got either a bad starter, The spring and gear could be bad. i would take your starter off and look for the gear i had the same problem. but a new starter was $50 so i just bought another lawnmower with the same engine and starter for $60 so i had replacement parts and the part i needed. so my best guess is theck your gear or take the starter off and check it

[Polatron1]

Using a POLATRON test probe that combines ingenuity with continuity and it's CAUSE and EFFECT TRACING (C.E.T) methods is safer, simpler and easier.

[greasyredneck]

hey my lawn tractor wont spark there is a slight scrape in the spark plug wire but i dont think that is it. i had it running good then i left it out side in the rain for a night then it wouldnt start sfter that, could it be because the magneto is rusty and the flywheel? i have no i dea please respont it isa a 1990's rally 12 horse briggs and strat

[josh666675]

i got some wires snapped off some box so it wont start tried everyhting

[Joshua5654]

good video 

[MalloryPowell1]

Download Free Tractor Repair Manuals,

[nurseryplantsguy]

I was wondering what can cause the battery to die in between mowings? I have heard it could be a short, but what do I need to look for?

[briandbrian]

Question, How do you know which terminal is for what on the solinoid?, not seeing any indicators.

[BrotherMike57]

Thanks for the info!!! My craftsman riding mower starts, but when I engage the mower deck the engine shuts off, it doesen't stall it just shuts off. Could it be the attachment switch causing this? As soon as the leaver releases the switch it shuts off. If I put the lever back in the unengaged position before it shuts off completely it will stay running. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

[semco72057]

I like this video very much and it gives the owners things to look for when trying to start that mower. My Craftsman LT1000 with a 17.5 hp Briggs engine in it. The engine turns just fine, and will only start when gas is poured into the the Carb. It will then run until the gas is burned up then quit. One line running into the Carb was replaced along with with all filters, spark plug, and all tires. I am thinking that something is still stopped up in one of the lines.

[foreverwood1963]

@semco72057

You difinitely need a carb clean

[semco72057]

@foreverwood1963 That is what I am planning on doing when I get the time. I have a can of carburator cleaner which I am going to put the unit in for 24 hours. Maybe that will take care of the problem.

[anjoeiscool]

I have a question one of my tire is going to other way as another so when i push the tractor foward one wheen is going backwards can you haelp me.

[yamaharules163]

@anjoeiscool probably if your in gear? thats called limited slip

[wolverine63tony]

how hard is to rig a separate ignition? my mtd's wiring harness plug for the stock ignition doesn't work.

[macavada1]

Thanks! Found a loose ground wire and saved me a bundle!

[ringbolt9]

awesome into

[megalord299]

great vid! 5/5. i have a question though. my starter is getting power but only cranks one or two times then stops. even with a fully charged car battery. i tryed to jump it off with my truck and it worked but the starter started smoking! never got it to run though

[LynolsOffice]

Sounds like you starter's brushes are shot. You either need to replace that if you know how, or get another starter.

[megalord299]

@LynolsOffice how hard is it to repplace the brushes?

[LynolsOffice]

@megalord299 You need patience and small hands, lol.

[JohnDeere1317]

@megalord299

Replacing brushes is a pain in the ass. I had to go through that last week but I ended up just buying a new starter on ebay to avoid the hassle.

[jstrunck]

Good 12 volt electrical troubleshooting vid!

Five Star Vid,

John

[WhenYouSayItLikeThat]

Thank you! Very helpful!

[FordBroncoMower]

If the solenoid is bad, can you replace it?

Or can you just hook up the two red wires on the solenoid to a switch or button, because when you press the button the circuit will be complete wont it?

[LynolsOffice]

A new solenoid is about $9, so I just replace them when they go bad. No point in buying a switch and spending time to rig it up when a new solenoid is cheap.

[iamdigitalman2]

Calculator + Watch = fun. :D

Seriously though, I'll be getting a 19hp v-twin LT4000craftsman soon, and they say it has a bad starter, but I am going to use this video to diagnose it before hand.

Sadly, that big cube 18hp like in your other video I was going to get is gone, but the one I am looking at now is more powerful, hydrostatic, and $125 versus $150 with an oil leak.

[Arturaz1]

great vid! very useful 5/5

[richthecardude94]

nicely done man

[jp23jd]

nice, very helpful. and very well done. You need more vids like this, please. I could really use an ignition system troubleshooting video. I'm sure a bunch of other people could too.

[zoids2890]

i didnt think ur were the kinda guy to have a mini van 0,o

[LynolsOffice]

You can fit a full size garden tractors in there. Or 7 people!

[BlueBirdTC2000RE]

lol

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Excellent, nice job!

[tractorboy8420]

ha ..... funny i just sent you a question about this .. thanks

[lawnside82]

extremely useful!! thanks!! can i recommend a vid on how to re set the throttle cable from carb to that part where you had the kill wire at...resetting that after replacing a carb is a pain in the ass!! i always get it wrong. and break the wire with the choke spring on it...

[Ajaces]

Excellent, Very Professional.

[matts6887]

Very well done video!!! Very informative and well put together!!! :)

[76hotrodF250]

Awesome Vid!! Well made and edited, it really looks like one of those professional how to videos!!

I had thought of making something like this before, but oh well, your more knowledgeable than me anyhow.

[GearHead1625]

my friends mtd ranch king just died on him and i think it is the seat switch because the ignition coil isn't getting power and there is no power at the seat switch so do think it would just be a bad wire or somthing else? and if its a bad wire could i just bypass the seat switch by just going from the switch to the ignition coil?

[76hotrodF250]

you can bypass the seat switch real easily by taking a small lenght of wire, say 2 inches long and stripe back both ends, stick the small "jumper" wire into the plug ends of the wire coming to the seat, this way it completes the circuit, if it tries to start, or starts, the seat switch is bad, if not, you got another problem.

[GearHead1625]

I'm fairly sure the switch itself works fine i think its the wire going to the switch is broken or somthing like that do you think i could just clip that wire at the ignition switch and run my own piece of wire to the ignition coil?

[76hotrodF250]

Let me ask you this, did you try everything in the vid? Make sure you also test all the safety sitches, the deck switch, and the transmission switch. If those turn out to be ok, send me a message and i'll see what I can do.

[jujujus2]

wow! good editing and info. thanks a lot

[nickdigg5]

Great video, Lots of information!!

[boris342019]

Thanks this is a great video

[wassahilden]

thank you

[oymeit]

Very good video. No horse play just information. Thank you.

[coshyno]

thanks!!

very informative!

[CSAKvids]

Useful vid for those who don't know. It's also pretty well put together, looks like you put a bit of time into it. Its appreciated.

[stlouissux9119]

GREAT DIY VIDEO

[dangeroustoys56]

Great video- informative!

I use the jumper bit to test newly dragged home subjects to see if they run ( and do the magneto wire bit) - if they do start, then i either rebuild the tractor or parts it- when i do rebuild one, i actually remove ALL the safteys because most are pretty rusty and corroded to begin with and rewire the whole thing with all new wiring and connectors.

[geoff390]

Good video. Even though i dont get tractors i still found it interesting.

[JustinsDIY]

good information

[huskeemower3]

dude... THANK YOU U NEED MORE VIDS LIKE THIS 1

GREAT JOB Man

[edzgarage]

Nice job!