lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

I have a Murray 12hp, when I turn the key it clicks. I did the
troubleshooting suggested in other threads, but the solenoid is hidden
so it was difficult to short the posts. So instead, I used a heavy
cable, attached one end with a spade terminal to the positive post on
the battery, and touched the other end to the large post with the red
wire on the starter. Current was definately flowing thru the cable,
which got warm. I could see a little sparking when the wire initially
touched, and the point of contact would glow if I left it on there for
more than a quick touch. The starter didn't move or make a sound.

Electrically, that's the same as shorting the solenoid posts right?
Or is there anything else inline betw. the solenoid and starter? I
dont think so, therefore I beleive the starter is fried. Correct? I
just want to verify my results before I spend the $ on a new starter..

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

On May 13, 8:07*am, mfreak wrote:
I have a Murray 12hp, when I turn the key it clicks. *I did the
troubleshooting suggested in other threads, but the solenoid is hidden
so it was difficult to short the posts. *So instead, I used a heavy
cable, attached one end with a spade terminal to the positive post on
the battery, and touched the other end to the large post with the red
wire on the starter. *Current was definately flowing thru the cable,
which got warm. *I could see a little sparking when the wire initially
touched, and the point of contact would glow if I left it on there for
more than a quick touch. *The starter didn't move or make a sound.

Electrically, that's the same as shorting the solenoid posts right?
Or is there anything else inline betw. the solenoid and starter? *I
dont think so, therefore I beleive the starter is fried. *Correct? I
just want to verify my results before I spend the $ on a new starter..

Its 12v? Battery reads about 12.8v so its fully charged? try jumping
it with your car battery, You could hit the starter while trying to
start it if nothing remove it and see if it works before buying a new
one.

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

Its 12v? Battery reads about 12.8v so its fully charged? try jumping
it with your car battery, You could hit the starter while trying to
start it if nothing remove it and see if it works before buying a new
one.

It is 12v, a multimeter shows 12.5 or so. When I turn the key it
drops to about 7v. I have a new battery already, the guy at the shop
was all-too-eager to sell me anything he could, my battery was getting
old anyway so I bought a new one just to rule it out. Same results
with the new battery.

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

Its 12v? Battery reads about 12.8v so its fully charged? try jumping
it with your car battery, You could hit the starter while trying to
start it if nothing remove it and see if it works before buying a new
one.

Oh, and I did try to jump it with the car as well, same results. as
everything else.

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

mfreak,

Certainly sounds like you did the correct test. The way I do this is with
the "jumper cables" from my car. I know that those cables are thick enough
to handle the current. I also connect the battery's negative terminal to the
engine block with the cables since a bad ground can also cause these
symptoms.

Dave M.

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

On May 13, 8:31*am, mfreak wrote:
Its 12v? Battery reads about 12.8v so its fully charged? try jumping
it with your car battery, You could hit the starter while trying to
start it if nothing remove it and see if it works before buying a new
one.

It is 12v, a multimeter shows 12.5 or so. *When I turn the key it
drops to about 7v. *I have a new battery already, the guy at the shop
was all-too-eager to sell me anything he could, my battery was getting
old anyway so I bought a new one just to rule it out. *Same results
with the new battery.

Dropping to 7v is concerning, maybe pull the starter and see what it
does off the tractor.

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

Dropping to 7v is concerning, maybe pull the starter and see what it
does off the tractor.

Let me clarify - The OLD battery dropped to 7v when turning the key.
I replaced the battery with a brand new one, I didn't check it to see
if the voltage drops under load.

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

On May 13, 12:43*pm, mfreak wrote:
Dropping to 7v is concerning, maybe pull the starter and see what it
does off the tractor.

Let me clarify - The OLD battery dropped to 7v when turning the key.
I replaced the battery with a brand new one, I didn't check it to see
if the voltage drops under load.

I didn't check it to see if the voltage drops under load.

Just throwing in a standard troubleshooting technique...

If you perform a test that leads you to suspect a component is bad and
you then replace that component, you should *immediately* perform the
same test again.

If you make any other changes before performing the test, you'll never
know which changes had what impact. Slow and steady wins the race.

Good luck!

(P.S. I've got a rider wthat won't start either, so I'm feeling your
pain!)

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

On May 13, 8:07*am, mfreak wrote:
I have a Murray 12hp, when I turn the key it clicks. *I did the
troubleshooting suggested in other threads, but the solenoid is hidden
so it was difficult to short the posts. *So instead, I used a heavy
cable, attached one end with a spade terminal to the positive post on
the battery, and touched the other end to the large post with the red
wire on the starter. *Current was definately flowing thru the cable,
which got warm. *I could see a little sparking when the wire initially
touched, and the point of contact would glow if I left it on there for
more than a quick touch. *The starter didn't move or make a sound.

Electrically, that's the same as shorting the solenoid posts right?
Or is there anything else inline betw. the solenoid and starter? *I
dont think so, therefore I beleive the starter is fried. *Correct? I
just want to verify my results before I spend the $ on a new starter..

If the starter is easy to get to try jumping the starter with cables
from your car battery

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

On May 13, 2:09�pm, ransley wrote:
On May 13, 8:07�am, mfreak wrote:

I have a Murray 12hp, when I turn the key it clicks. �I did the
troubleshooting suggested in other threads, but the solenoid is hidden
so it was difficult to short the posts. �So instead, I used a heavy
cable, attached one end with a spade terminal to the positive post on
the battery, and touched the other end to the large post with the red
wire on the starter. �Current was definately flowing thru the cable,
which got warm. �I could see a little sparking when the wire initially
touched, and the point of contact would glow if I left it on there for
more than a quick touch. �The starter didn't move or make a sound.

Electrically, that's the same as shorting the solenoid posts right?
Or is there anything else inline betw. the solenoid and starter? �I
dont think so, therefore I beleive the starter is fried. �Correct? I
just want to verify my results before I spend the $ on a new starter..

If the starter is easy to get to try jumping the starter with cables
from your car battery

is OP CERTAIN new battery is fully charged? Some new batteries sit on
the shelf a long time and might be run down, batteries discharge by
just sitting.

is OP certain jumper cables are good? some today are poor quality too
thin etc to be much good for anything.

any clue if the engine is somehow locked up?

thats another possiblity

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

sounds like you need to pull the starter and possibly replace or repair it.

s


"mfreak" wrote in message
...
I have a Murray 12hp, when I turn the key it clicks. I did the
troubleshooting suggested in other threads, but the solenoid is hidden
so it was difficult to short the posts. So instead, I used a heavy
cable, attached one end with a spade terminal to the positive post on
the battery, and touched the other end to the large post with the red
wire on the starter. Current was definately flowing thru the cable,
which got warm. I could see a little sparking when the wire initially
touched, and the point of contact would glow if I left it on there for
more than a quick touch. The starter didn't move or make a sound.

Electrically, that's the same as shorting the solenoid posts right?
Or is there anything else inline betw. the solenoid and starter? I
dont think so, therefore I beleive the starter is fried. Correct? I
just want to verify my results before I spend the $ on a new starter..

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

on 5/13/2008 9:07 AM mfreak said the following:
I have a Murray 12hp, when I turn the key it clicks. I did the
troubleshooting suggested in other threads, but the solenoid is hidden
so it was difficult to short the posts. So instead, I used a heavy
cable, attached one end with a spade terminal to the positive post on
the battery, and touched the other end to the large post with the red
wire on the starter. Current was definately flowing thru the cable,
which got warm. I could see a little sparking when the wire initially
touched, and the point of contact would glow if I left it on there for
more than a quick touch. The starter didn't move or make a sound.

Electrically, that's the same as shorting the solenoid posts right?
Or is there anything else inline betw. the solenoid and starter? I
dont think so, therefore I beleive the starter is fried. Correct? I
just want to verify my results before I spend the $ on a new starter..


If it is like my Murray 1846 Garden Tractor (18 hp 46" mower deck), the
starter and generator are the same unit. I had to replace mine a few
years ago.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

They're STILL doing that?? I remember an old cub cadet lawn tractor that
had such a setup.

s

"willshak" wrote in message
m...


If it is like my Murray 1846 Garden Tractor (18 hp 46" mower deck), the
starter and generator are the same unit. I had to replace mine a few years
ago.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

on 5/13/2008 6:21 PM S. Barker said the following:
They're STILL doing that?? I remember an old cub cadet lawn tractor that
had such a setup.

s

"willshak" wrote in message
m...

If it is like my Murray 1846 Garden Tractor (18 hp 46" mower deck), the
starter and generator are the same unit. I had to replace mine a few years
ago.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

I don't know if they are still doing it. My Murray tractor is about 10
years old.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

lawn tractor w/ bad starter?
 

I don't know if they are still doing it. My Murray tractor is about 10
years old.

I pulled the starter and connected it directly to a new battery. It
crackled and sparked but nothing else, deader than a doornail...... At
least it has a part# sticker right on it! This tractor is 14 years
old, but ive only had it for 3 so idk if thats the orig. starter..
Whatever, ez fix, wont break the bank.

Thanks all!