Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Murray 12.5 hp 40, hp 40, yellow seat


Question
I have a '87 murray 12.5 HP 40" rinding lawn mower that i had to replace the solenoid in. Between removing the part and putting it back on i have forgotten which wires go where. there is a small red wire with a fuse, a yellow wire that goes to seat safety, a large red wire that comes from (looks like) starter. I am positive of where the black female connector goes. any help would be greatly appreciated.  

Answer
Hi Randy,

There should be 2 large wires.  One that comes from the battery and one that goes to the starter.  If the small red wire has a large ring connector on it, it may attach to the same terminal that the battery wire does.  That small red wire may power an accessory.  Test the yellow seat wire with a test light.  If, when sitting in the seat, it provides power when the key switch is turned to the start position, then that wire goes to the small terminal of the solenoid.  
I have attached my No Cranking proceedure below, which may give you more info on how the power flows.

Let me know how you make out.
Michael
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I would check the starter first.  Jump the positive battery terminal to the starter and it should crank over. If so, skip to step 2.
If not, jump from a battery that you know is good, from a car.  If still nothing, the starter is bad.  If good, then the mower battery is weak.  

Step 2.
If the starter and battery are good, you will need to trace the entire circuit from the starter to the battery.   The solenoid, switches the battery power to
the starter, when power from the key switch is sent to the small terminal on the solenoid. To test the solenoid, first make sure that you have power at its large
terminal which comes from the battery. Then jump power from that terminal or the battery positive post, to its small terminal. You should hear a click and the
other large terminal that feeds the starter should be energized. If not, then the solenoid is bad. If good, then continue tracing the power through the key
switch to the battery until you find the break in the power path.   All testing can be done with a 12 volt light or a voltmeter.  Most equipment has safety
switches in  the seat and on the blade engagement lever. Check them by temporarily bypassing with a small jumper wire.