Ride on Mower starter solenoid issues

[mrporsche]

Afternoon,

My neighbour has an old ride on Honda motor that to start you need to touch the solenoid contacts with a screw driver.

We bought and fitted a brand new solenoid yet it still doesn't work without the screw driver.

What else isn't working here ?

thanks

[paintman]

Presumably this is started normally by turning an ignition Key the same as a car?

And by bridging the solenoid connections with the screwdriver you are effectively connecting the starter motor directly to the battery?

Also assuming the new solenoid is in GWO & not defective then you probably have a fault somewhere in the live feed to the ignition switch, the switch itself or in the feed from the ignition switch to solenoid.

Time to get the test meter out.

[mrporsche]

paintman said:

Presumably this is started normally by turning an ignition Key the same as a car?

And by bridging the solenoid connections with the screwdriver you are effectively connecting the starter motor directly to the battery?

Also assuming the new solenoid is in GWO & not defective then you probably have a fault somewhere in the live feed to the ignition switch, the switch itself or in the feed from the ignition switch to solenoid.

Time to get the test meter out.

Yes there is a key.

You need to touch the screwdriver and still turn the key ?

If you don't turn the key it just spins over but wont fire.

[Penelope Stopit]

Good chance there are 1 or 2 safety switches in the circuit

How about a seat switch?

[paintman]

mrporsche said:

paintman said:

Presumably this is started normally by turning an ignition Key the same as a car?

And by bridging the solenoid connections with the screwdriver you are effectively connecting the starter motor directly to the battery?

Also assuming the new solenoid is in GWO & not defective then you probably have a fault somewhere in the live feed to the ignition switch, the switch itself or in the feed from the ignition switch to solenoid.

Time to get the test meter out.

Yes there is a key.

You need to touch the screwdriver and still turn the key ?

If you don't turn the key it just spins over but wont fire.

No surprise there, if the ignition is switched off you won't be getting a spark.
I take it you haven't checked for a spark at the plug?

Penelope may have a point, are there any safety switches/dead man's switches mentioned in the owners hand book?

[mrporsche]

Penelope Stopit said:

Good chance there are 1 or 2 safety switches in the circuit

How about a seat switch?

evening,

Yes there is seat switch.

It runs and cuts, but we were hoping to start it on the key not with a screwdriver !!!

thanks

[ColourRestorer]

Is there also a 'brake on' safety interlock?

On one of my machines it requires the footbrake pedal to be pressed before ignition is permitted, and on the other, the handbrake lever has to be lifted before the engine will start.

[Penelope Stopit]

mrporsche said:

Penelope Stopit said:

Good chance there are 1 or 2 safety switches in the circuit

How about a seat switch?

evening,

Yes there is seat switch.

It runs and cuts, but we were hoping to start it on the key not with a screwdriver !!!

thanks

I meant a safety switch preventing the starter solenoid from operating

There could be a seat switch with 2 sets of contacts, 1 pair of contacts for cutting the ignition, 1 pair of contacts for cutting the starting circuit

There could also be a clutch switch and brake switch

There is a good chance that more than one of the above switches are fitted and wired into the starter solenoid circuit

In other words, all switches need to be operating correctly to gain key cranking