12V 4Pole Starter Solenoid Replaces Briggs & Stratton 5410K, Cub Cadet, Craftsman…

v 4Pole Starter Solenoid Replaces Briggs Stratton 5410K, Cub Cadet, Craftsman, Husqvarna 109946 MTD,Mower AM133094 AM138497, John Deere L100 L110 L118 L120 L130

Decrease quantity for 12v 4Pole Starter Solenoid Replaces Briggs Stratton 5410K, Cub Cadet, Craftsman, Husqvarna 109946 MTD,Mower AM133094 AM138497, John Deere L100 L110 L118 L120 L130 Increase quantity for 12v 4Pole Starter Solenoid Replaces Briggs Stratton 5410K, Cub Cadet, Craftsman, Husqvarna 109946 MTD,Mower AM133094 AM138497, John Deere L100 L110 L118 L120 L130

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Hope all customers will not hesitate due to shipping costs and will not be disappointed by shipping time !

Details are as belowed:

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-Fast Express charges 29.9 when your order is under 500

-Fast Express is free worldwide when your order is over 500

About this item

• 12 Volt with 4 Post/ Dual Mounting Bracket with the External Ground including Spade Converters
• Replace:Craftsman Poulan 146154, 109081X, 109946, 192507;Ariens 35510, Briggs Stratton 5410K
• Replaces Bolens 1752137, 1753539, Case C-266525, C33025; Exmark 1-513075, Gilson 212655, Grasshopper 184251, Gravely 45071
• Coil Roll is using 180℃ copper wire, Robust plastic Shell is durable and upgrade heat resistance performance
• 100% high quality Oem Match, direct replacement,6 Month Warranty/ Free Return and Exchang, Full Refund

How Does It Works

MaySpare Lawn Mower Starter Solenoid Relay Delivers Electric Current Power to Start Your Machine with Precision.

• When Ignition Key is On, The 12Volt Current Flow Go Accross Through the Two Big Terminal and Then the Plunger Move Up.

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Worldwide Free Shipping (Ordinary Delivery)

Hope all customers will not hesitate due to shipping costs and will not be disappointed by shipping time !

Details are as belowed:

-We offer free shipping to worldwide about standard mode of shipping

-Fast Express charges 29.9 when your order is under 500

-Fast Express is free worldwide when your order is over 500

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​How to Tell Your Lawn Mower Starter Solenoid is Bad: SOLVED!

Home » Blog » Lawn Mowers » ​How to Tell Your Lawn Mower Starter Solenoid is Bad: SOLVED!

I jumped on my lawn mower to start it and all I heard was a clicking sound when I went to start my mower. Electrical problems can be pretty hard to diagnose and take a lot of time to narrow down the issue.

It’s a good idea to narrow down the problem and not throw expensive parts at the mower hoping it fixes the issue.

Here are some of my favorite items I use when testing my battery and diagnosing electrical items on my lawn mower: volt-ohms meter, battery charger, and continuity light.

Additional guides that may help:

• Lawn mower clicks and won’t turn over
• Why does my lawn mower battery keep dying
• Reasons a lawn mower won’t start
• Reasons a zero turn won’t start

This post may include affiliate links. Purchases made through these links may provide a commission for us, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow all safety instructions provided in your equipment operator’s manual before diagnosing, repairing, or operating. Consult a professional if you don’t have the skills, or knowledge or are not in the condition to perform the repair safely.

What Is a Lawn Mower Solenoid?

A lawn mower solenoid is an on/off switch of sorts. It is an electromagnet switch that is actuated to engage the starter motor to turn your engine over. The solenoid can be found mounted on the starter. However, it does not have to be mounted on the starter to do its job.

Some lawn mower solenoids can be found mounted closer to the battery than the starter.

Three Four Post Solenoids

This is a typical wire schematic of three and four-post solenoids. Remember, not all wire schematics are the same for every lawn mower. Some schematics will include wiring for options like lights and 12-volt ports. These diagrams only show the basic wiring schematic.

How to Identify Your Lawn Mower Solenoid?

Your solenoid may be round or square in shape with either 3 or 4 posts sticking out of it. You will find some solenoids attached right to the top of the starter and others attached to the frame.

The positive wire from the battery attaches to one side of the solenoid. Following the positive wire from the battery is an easy way to find your solenoid.

You will find solenoids on every electric start engine. Not only will you find solenoids on electric start lawn mowers, but you will also find them in trucks, cars, and tractors.

What Causes a Lawn Mower Solenoid to Go Bad?

A solenoid is an electrical switch. As we all know, an electrical item can fail at any time.

Inside the solenoid, you will find a spring and copper plate. A lawn mower solenoid can go bad if the spring gets weak or the copper plate starts to corrode. The solenoid can also fail as a result of a weak starter, bad battery, or bad ground.

It is good to know what to look for when you are diagnosing a solenoid.

Symptoms of a Bad Solenoid on a Riding Lawn Mower

A riding lawn mower solenoid may be bad when you hear a click or hum when you turn the ignition key and your mower doesn’t start. Another indication your solenoid may be bad is when a wire gets hot and begins to smoke or melt.

Steps to Diagnose a Bad Lawn Mower Solenoid

List Tools Needed:

• Volt-Ohms Meter
• Screwdriver
• Continuity Light
• Wrenches to check for loose wires
• Needle Nose Pliers (If screwdriver does not work)
• Battery Charger (Optional)

If you are going to diagnose the solenoid on your lawn mower, there are a few ways to do so.

Make Sure Your Battery Has a Full Charge

Use your voltmeter to make sure your battery has at least 12.3 volts in it. Read more about testing your battery in our article “5 Things That Are Draining the Life of Your Lawn Mower Battery“.

Get Your Mower Ready to Start

• Set the parking brake
• Make sure your lawn mower is in neutral
• Turn the key to the on position

Bypass the Starter Solenoid Using a Screwdriver

Lay a long screwdriver over the solenoid to touch the two cables to bypass the starter. The two cables you are looking for are the cable from the battery and cable to the starter.

It may throw a spark when the screwdriver makes contact with the wires. This is common so don’t be alarmed.

If the engine happens to turn over while you have your solenoid bypassed there is a good chance your solenoid is bad. If the screwdriver does not work well, you can also use needle nose pliers to jump the solenoid.

You may only have loose wires or bad ground so you will need to check these items out before you replace the solenoid.

Test the Solenoid

Solenoids that are mounted on the starter can be tested. Remove the starter from the engine and test the solenoid with a battery charger. This is a good way to watch if the starter is working with the solenoid.

Once the starter has been removed from your lawn mower, you need to attach the negative (-) clamp to the case of the starter and touch the positive clamp to the big post and exciter wire on the solenoid. This is just a quick bench test when the starter is out.

Can You Bypass a Lawn Mower Solenoid?

A lawn mower solenoid can be bypassed by placing a long screwdriver from across the solenoid from touching the cable from the battery to the cable to the starter. Be careful. The connection could cause a spark which is normal.

Related Topics

Another reason why your mower may not start is due to water in the electrical system. Read our article “Why Your Mower Won’t Start After Leaving in the Rain”.

Starter Solenoid FAQ

Symptoms of a faulty solenoid are a clicking or humming sound when turning the ignition key, wiring getting hot and smoking, and the starter engaging and not disengaging after letting go of the ignition key.

When the starter solenoid fails, it will not provide the current required to engage the starter motor to turn over the engine.

A starter may click but not crank or turn over when the solenoid isn’t providing the power to turn over the starter. This may be due to a weak battery, loose or corroded wiring, or a faulty starter solenoid.

A lawn mower solenoid is an on/off switch of sorts. It is an electromagnet switch that is actuated to engage the starter motor by sending more current to turn over the engine.

The lawn mower solenoid is either attached to the top of the starter motor or to the frame of the mower. You can easily locate the solenoid by following the positive red cable from the battery to the solenoid.

Still Having Problems with Your Lawn Mower?

Lawn mower ownership doesn’t come without its frustrations. Own a mower long enough, you are bound to run into many lawn mower problems including starting, smoking, leaking, cutting, and overheating.

For mower troubleshooting, check out my guide Common Lawn Mower Problems: Solved.

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How To Test A Lawn Mower Starter

It’s the rainy season now and, as expected, you need to mow the lawn repeatedly to keep your home looking good. However, you have noticed that your lawn mower’s engine produces a clicking sound when you attempt to switch it on, stops intermittently, or is irresponsive to ignition start attempts. All these point to a problem with the starter. We have prepared a complete guide on how to test a lawn mower starter so you don’t have to look any further. Let’s get right in.

How To Test a Lawn Mower Starter

After making sure the battery is fully charged and the wires are free of dirt and corrosion, connect a jumper cable from the negative battery post to any metal part of the starter and connect another cable from the positive post to the starter terminal. If you hear a clicking sound, the starter is bad.

These steps will be expatiated on further.

The lawnmower starter is powered by the engine battery and would not work properly if the battery isn’t sufficiently charged or in good condition.

You may check how much voltage you have in the battery with a multimeter to determine this.

Turn the multimeter to the 20DC voltage range represented by “VDC” or “V–” (with three dots), place your red probe on the positive battery post and place the black probe on the negative battery post.

If the multimeter presents you with a value lower than 12 Volts, then you should charge the battery.

After charging, check whether the battery presents you with the right voltage reading. If it doesn’t, then it could be why the engine isn’t starting.

Additionally, if you have the battery reading 12 volts or higher, then try to start the lawn mower.

If the lawn mower still doesn’t start up, then you proceed to the next step. It is important to note that a fully-charged battery supplying 12 volts is required to successfully diagnose a lawn mower in the subsequent tests to be described.

Your lawnmower starter may not be working because there is dirt interrupting its electrical circuit.

What you do next is to detach the battery connectors from their posts using a wrench and inspect all the electrical wires and terminals of your battery, starter solenoid, and starter motor for any form of contamination.

Use an iron or wire brush to clean out any sediments from all the wires and connection terminals, connect the battery cables back using the wrench, then check to see whether the starter works.

If it works when clean, then dirt was affecting the lawnmower’s electrical circuit. If it doesn’t switch on when clean, you proceed to check the starter itself using the battery and jumper cables.

One other way you may check your electrical wires is with the use of a multimeter. You run a resistance or continuity test on a wire by putting the multimeter in the Ohm setting and placing one probe on each end of the wire.

Any reading higher than 1 Ohm or the multimeter showing “O.L” means the cable is faulty and you should replace it. Nonetheless, you may proceed to the next step.

Now, you want to boycott the whole stream of electrical connectors leading from the battery to the starter to directly diagnose it.

Disconnect the battery cables with a wrench, set the fully-charged battery aside, and get yourself jumper cables. Jumper cables are connector wires that have two clamps on both ends.

From this point on, we will be dealing with potential shock hazards, so you make sure you take measures to protect yourself.

For our tests, wearing a rubber insulated glove is enough protection for you. It helps when dealing with jumper cables, as these typically produce high-voltage sparks. You may also wear safety goggles.

The starter solenoid is one of the important parts of the lawn mower ignition system, as it receives and supplies the right amount of voltage to the starter motor. The solenoid is a typically black component mounted on the body of the starter that has two large terminals or “lugs”

A usually red cable comes from the battery and connects to one lug, while another black cable goes from the other lug and connects to a terminal on the starter.

What we do now is to make direct connections between the battery and solenoid, as well as the solenoid and starter, using jumper cables.

You may need a metal screwdriver and about three to four jumper cables for this. Attach one end of a jumper cable to your positive battery post and attach the other end to the solenoid lug receiving power from the battery.

Next, to ground the connection, attach one end of another jumper cable to the negative battery post and attach its other end to any idle metal part of the starter.

Once this is done, attach one end of a third jumper cable to the other solenoid lug and its other end to the starter terminal receiving it.

Finally, either use a screwdriver or jumper cable to bridge or connect the two solenoid lugs to each other. When using a screwdriver, make sure the part you hold on to is properly insulated.

It’s time for our first evaluation. If the starter spins when you bridge the two large solenoid lugs, then the solenoid is faulty and should be replaced. On the other hand, if the starter motor does not spin when you make this connection, then the starter could be why the engine is not starting.

Our next steps help you to directly test the starter to see if it is faulty or not.

Now you want to make direct connections from the battery to the starter.

With all your previous connections for the solenoid test detached, you connect one end of a jumper to your negative battery post and then the other end to an idle metal part of the starter to ground the connection.

Next, connect one end of a second jumper cable to your positive battery post and connect its other end to the starter terminal that is supposed to receive power from the solenoid. Make sure all your connections are sturdy and not loose.

This is our final evaluation. At this point, the starter motor is expected to spin if the starter is in good condition. If the motor does not turn, then you have confirmed that the starter is faulty and needs to be replaced.

If the motor attempts to turn but stops and produces a clicking sound, then the solenoid has a problem. This direct starter test helps you take care of the two testing processes.

Testing A Starter Solenoid Could Be Dangerous

Starter solenoids draw about 8 amps to 10 amps from the lawn mower battery to power the starter motor. For comparison, a current of 0.01 amps is enough to cause you severe pains, and a current of more than 0.1 amps is enough to be fatal.

A 10 amp-current is a hundred times more than this, which is a good reason why you should always wear protective equipment while testing with the use of jumper cables.

Conclusion

Diagnosing your lawnmower starter for issues could go from very easy procedures like checking the battery for charge and wires for corrosion to intricate processes like jumpstarting the motor.

Make sure you take all protective measures and replace all faulty parts with new pieces that have the same specifications. You may also check our guides on testing a car starter and also testing a car solenoid with a multimeter.

FAQ

How Do I Know If The Starter On My Lawn Mower Is Bad?

Some of the symptoms of a faulty starter include a clicking or cranking noise in a failed attempt to switch on the engine, periodic stops, or a total lack of responsiveness of the engine.

What Causes A Lawn Mower Starter Not To Engage?

A lawn mower starter may be irresponsive if the battery is bad or weak, there are wiring problems within the circuit, the motor Bendix isn’t working with the flywheel, or the solenoid has gone bad.

Mower Only Starts When I Jump Solenoid: EZ Fixes

Jumping the solenoid can be handy if you have starting issues with your mower. However, it’s best to only use it as a few times alternative because it’s not the recommended way to start the machine. The way to go is to diagnose the fault with your mower and fix it.

While it might seem like the issue is due to a faulty solenoid, it isn’t always the case. This article will teach you why your lawnmower only starts when you jump solenoid. You’ll get a detailed insight into how to diagnose and fix the issue on your mower.

What is Lawnmower Solenoid?

Before going into the causes of the issue and its solutions, it’s imperative to understand how a starter solenoid work. Understanding how a starter solenoid works will help you better understand why you’re having problems with your machine.

The starter system makes your lawnmower start when you activate the ignition button, and a solenoid is essential to the starter system. It’s responsible for sending current from the battery to the engine.

When you start the machine, the battery sends an electrical current to the solenoid. The solenoid does its work and sends a more powerful current to the starter motor, which starts the machine. Any flaw in this process might cause your mower not to start.

However, you can start the machine even if the solenoid is faulty when you jump it. When you bypass the solenoid, you’re using another method to send the required signal to the engine in place of the solenoid.

Why Does My Lawn Mower Only Start When I Jump Solenoid?

Many reasons could cause your lawn mower to only start when you jump the solenoid, and the most common one is issues with the solenoid itself. Other possible causes include a fault with the ignition system, terminals, or control cable.

This section will give you a detailed look into these causes and their possible solutions.

Faulty Solenoid

As mentioned earlier, the starter solenoid transfers current from the battery to the engine. Most mowers will have a square or round 3 or 4 posts solenoid responsible for running them. However, the most common problem for both solenoid types is similar.

Most solenoids have an electromagnet that completes the circuit between the battery and the solenoid. After some time, the electromagnet can become too weak to serve its purpose, thus causing problems. Alternatively, the component can wear down and jam up due to its nonstop plunging.

The best way to know if the solenoid is a faulty part of the machine is to inspect other components. If all the other starting components work fine, then the problem is from a faulty solenoid.

How to Fix a Faulty Solenoid In Your Lawnmower

Before you can do anything with the solenoid, you’ll have to know where it is. You can locate the solenoid by checking your owner’s manual. Alternatively, you can follow the positive wire on your battery to find it because the cable directly leads to the solenoid.

After locating the solenoid, the next step is to fix it if it’s faulty. It’s rare to repair a bad solenoid, and you’ll mostly have to replace it. Follow these steps to replace the solenoid on your lawnmower.

• Turn off your lawnmower’s ignition and its cover to expose the battery area. You’ll need a socket wrench to remove the nuts that hold the solenoid cables in place.
• Remove the bolts that fasten the solenoid to the mower’s frame.
• Remove the solenoid from the machine. It’s best to take a photo of the connections if you’re working with the mower for the first time to help you remember how to re-fix it.
• Replace the solenoid with a compatible one for your machine. You can check the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website to know the specific solenoid type for your lawn mower. Ensure that you connect all terminals rightly, or the fix might not work.
• Reconnect all the required cables and terminals, and the lawn mower should start well.

Faulty Ignition Switch

When you activate the ignition button, it sends a signal to the starter circuit, which activates the solenoid. A fault with the ignition will mean it can’t send the required power to other starter components, and the mower might not start. The best way to diagnose if the ignition is the problem is to perform an output voltage test.

You’ll need to use a multimeter for the test, and if you don’t have one, you can get one at a local electrical store. Follow the steps below to check the output voltage of your ignition switch.

• Power on the multimeter and connect the ground to the lawn mower’s battery negative terminal.
• Connect the multimeter’s positive terminal to the ignition switch’s starter terminal.
• Check the voltage of the connected component after you’ve connected all entities correctly.
• Most mowers either have a 12V or 6V battery. The multimeter should read 12V for a lawnmower with the same battery type and 6V for a 6V machine. Anything less than this reading signals that something’s wrong with the mower.

How to Fix A Faulty Ignition on your Lawn Mower

It’s best to change the whole ignition system if you notice that it is faulty. Then, you can be confident that it’ll serve you for a while. Luckily, most lawnmowers (especially riding mowers) have an easy-to-change ignition system.

Follow the steps below to change the ignition on your lawn mower.

• Remove the main battery fuse and ignition key from your lawnmower.
• Lift the lawn mower’s hood and locate the ignition.
• Squeeze the tabs at the back of the ignition, and you should be able to bring it out.
• Remove the ignition from its connector and attach the new one that you have appropriately.
• Once again, you should only connect a compatible ignition switch to your lawn mower.

Faulty Control Cable

As mentioned earlier, the ignition will need to send current to the solenoid, and that’s when the control cable comes to play. Any fault or breakage with this cable will render it useless unless you change it. You can check the status of this control cable using a multimeter if you follow these simple steps.

• Connect the multimeter’s negative side to your battery’s positive terminal and the multimeter’s positive terminal to the cable farthest from the ignition.
• Move the ignition switch to the start position, and you should see a reading corresponding to your lawnmower’s battery voltage. Anything less than that reading is a sign that the cable is faulty.
• Once you’ve diagnosed the issue, the next thing is to run the fix in the following section.

How to Replace the Control Cable on Your Lawn Mower

If your lawnmower is a few years old, it’s best to replace the complete wiring harness. You can replace the individual cable if the wiring harness is still functioning well.

To replace the wiring harness, all that you have to do is to disconnect the old one and connect the new one. If you’re replacing the individual cable, disconnect it from the wiring harness and fix the new one. Memorize the connection pattern to make it easier to do the reconnections.

Broken Connections in the Starter Circuit Terminals

Many connections in your starter circuit make it start, and the machine may refuse to work if there’s a problem with any of them. A multimeter is a tool you can use to test the condition of your starter circuit.

The multimeter will let you check the incoming and outgoing power. A perfectly functioning lawn mower should have a balance between outgoing and incoming power. If the voltages are imbalanced after the test, something’s wrong with the component.

How to Fix Broken Connections in Your Starter Circuit Terminals?

You’ll have to inspect the circuit terminals to determine what went wrong with them. Tighten loose connections and refix broken ones to get the mower working regularly.

Sometimes, you won’t need repairs on the terminals because dirt and debris can hinder performance. Therefore, cleaning it with an electrical contact cleaner can work wonders.

It’s imperative to disconnect the terminal before working on it to avoid accidents. Also, ensure that you use the correct tools to do the fixes. The tools you’ll need for this fix include pliers, an electrical contact cleaner, screwdrivers, a small socket wrench set, protective gloves, and a small wire brush.

Differences between a Jump Start and Jumping a Solenoid

When you jump the solenoid, the battery is good, but the solenoid is not. So, you’re trying to trick the machine into starting it with a bad solenoid. On the other hand, a jump start happens when the battery in your mower isn’t working, and you want to use the machine urgently.

Therefore, you’ll get an external battery to start it with because the lawnmower can’t possibly work without a battery. Jump-starting a mower is riskier than jumping the solenoid, which isn’t recommended. The reason is that mistakes can result in eye injury or burns.

If you want to jump-start your battery, ensure that you wear protective equipment. Only jump-start your mower with a battery with a voltage that matches the one on your lawn mower.

Conclusion

Faulty solenoids and spark plugs are the two biggest reasons your lawn mower may require you to jump the solenoid every time you want to start it. Aside from the fact that jumping the solenoid isn’t the regular way to start the machine, it’s uncomfortable. Therefore, it’s best to repair the mower as soon as possible so you can start it properly.

The diagnosis and fixes mentioned in this article will help you fix the issue on your lawn mower in no time. You should check the fuel and spark plug first before attempting other fixes. If the machine refuses to start after running all the fixes, it’s best to take it to a qualified technician for repair.

Lastly, it’s imperative to wear protective equipment anytime you want to work with your mower. Also, don’t attempt any repairs unless you have all the required tools.