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Hi Michael. I have a Craftsman 14.5 HP 42" lawn tractor thats about 5 years old that wont start. when the key is turned on, all I get is a click. some of the things i checked out were. charged the battery with no luck.(still won,t start) Tried to jump the starter on the engine. (It never turned over). Took starter off the engine it turns over when its jumped. Also I turned the engine over by hand to make sure its not seized. Do you think it.s the starter or an I missing something else i can try. Dennis
Answer -
Hi Dennis,
Since the starter turned over when removed from the tractor I would say that it is okay. It should also turn over in the tractor if you jump it the same way, with a known good battery, directly to the starter terminals. If the tractor battery is more than 3 years old it may be bad.
If starter and battery are good, then you will need to trace the entire circuit from the starter to the battery. All testing can be done with a 12 volt light or a voltmeter. 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. Most equipment has safety switches in the seat and on the blade engagement lever. Check them by temporarily bypassing with a small jumper wire.
Let me know how you make out.
Michael Thanks for your help Michael.Today I jumped the starter on the tractor it turned over once then stoped. Still getting clicking noise. also tried junping the battery in the tractor with a battery charger 75 amps start, still no luck only clicking. Also tried to put a jumper on the solenoid, battery side to one of two small terminals. Got power to the terminal and a click but no power to the cable the goes to the starter. make any sense? One other problem I noticed is I don't have power to my head lights. Could I have a problem with the key switch?
AnswerHi Dennis,
If the battery is good, it should crank the starter well, when jumped to it. (If the starter is good also.)
If you have power from the battery to the large solenoid terminal and jump power to the small solenoid terminal, the output terminal/cable that goes to the starter should have power. If not, replace the solenoid. The key switch should not affect the solenoid or starter, when jumping them directly.
Michael
Note: A battery charger may not be able to overcome a bad battery enough to crank the starter. I'd use a car/vehicle with a good battery for jumping.
