A few years back, I bought a riding mower from Tractor supply. I don't
remember what the brand name is, but it has a tecumseh 13 1/2 HP
engine.

I won't go in to detail (long sad story), but I've got the
ignition/starter wiring goofed up. I also don't have the ignition key.
I want to just install a couple toggle switches but I'm not sure where
to wire the ignition. I have already got the starter working, but no
ignition. There's several "safety switches" on the thing, so I'll be
bypassing those as well.

Can anyone tell me where to wire the battery to for the ignition,
perhaps what wires on the ignition key I can jump?

I imagine this sounds like a pretty basic question, but I've never hot
wired a thing in my life, including a lawn tractor GRIN.

dolfantimmy

On 10 Apr 2005 16:33:30 -0700, "dolfantimmy"
wrote:

A few years back, I bought a riding mower from Tractor supply. I don't
remember what the brand name is, but it has a tecumseh 13 1/2 HP
engine.

I won't go in to detail (long sad story), but I've got the
ignition/starter wiring goofed up. I also don't have the ignition key.
I want to just install a couple toggle switches but I'm not sure where
to wire the ignition. I have already got the starter working, but no
ignition. There's several "safety switches" on the thing, so I'll be
bypassing those as well.

Can anyone tell me where to wire the battery to for the ignition,
perhaps what wires on the ignition key I can jump?

I imagine this sounds like a pretty basic question, but I've never hot
wired a thing in my life, including a lawn tractor GRIN.


First things first.

Do NOT wire the battery to the ignition.

That's a quick way to fry the coil. If you've already tried then
you've likely already fried the coil. Say bye bye to $35-$60 or more
if you've done that.

The ignition "kill wire" will be any of several places but it should
be a wire coming out from under the flywheel housing. It's likely
going to a post near the throttle linkage and the wire from the mower
hooking there but sometimes they're just hooked direct.

To wire it up hook one side of the switch to the post or wire and
the other side of the switch to ground. Turn the switch off to run and
on to kill.


Wayne Cook
Shamrock, TX
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook

On Sun, 10 Apr 2005 17:26:27 -0700, Wayne Cook wrote
(in message ):

On 10 Apr 2005 16:33:30 -0700, "dolfantimmy"
wrote:

A few years back, I bought a riding mower from Tractor supply. I don't
remember what the brand name is, but it has a tecumseh 13 1/2 HP
engine.

The ignition on these things are directly opposite to what are on cars. They
do NOT require power from the battery for ignition. These are magnetos and
will run all the time until they are grounded out. The battery merely spins
the starter motor; the ignition generates its own electricity. The ignition
switch is in reality a "kill switch". When you switch to "off" you complete
the circuit to ground the magneto coil. The safety switches on the discharge
chute and such are also kill switches. If you cut the wires (or totally
remove them) then the ignition will function. You may have an electronic
ignition module located next to the flywheel or on older machines there is a
points & condenser setup UNDER the flywheel that you have to pull the
flywheel to get too. Locate all these kill switch wires, make sure they are
not accidently grounded, and the engine should run, or at least have spark at
the spark plug...........unless the coil is boogered or some other component
is broken or out of adjustment.
Hope this helps.
Roger in Vegas

If it came equipped with an electricial starter you may also have a wire
coming from behind the flywheel that is the output from an alternator that
uses the same magnet in the flywheel.

Contact the Tecumseh or tractor supply for more information.

Hugh
"Roger Hull" wrote in message
s.net...
On Sun, 10 Apr 2005 17:26:27 -0700, Wayne Cook wrote
(in message ):

On 10 Apr 2005 16:33:30 -0700, "dolfantimmy"
wrote:

A few years back, I bought a riding mower from Tractor supply. I don't
remember what the brand name is, but it has a tecumseh 13 1/2 HP
engine.

The ignition on these things are directly opposite to what are on cars.
They
do NOT require power from the battery for ignition. These are magnetos and
will run all the time until they are grounded out. The battery merely
spins
the starter motor; the ignition generates its own electricity. The
ignition
switch is in reality a "kill switch". When you switch to "off" you
complete
the circuit to ground the magneto coil. The safety switches on the
discharge
chute and such are also kill switches. If you cut the wires (or totally
remove them) then the ignition will function. You may have an electronic
ignition module located next to the flywheel or on older machines there is
a
points & condenser setup UNDER the flywheel that you have to pull the
flywheel to get too. Locate all these kill switch wires, make sure they
are
not accidently grounded, and the engine should run, or at least have spark
at
the spark plug...........unless the coil is boogered or some other
component
is broken or out of adjustment.
Hope this helps.
Roger in Vegas

Thanks for the great help folks, I love newgroups.

Anyway, I want to be sure, so here's what I find based on your
suggestions.

There is a single wire coming from the ignition switch to the coil. Of
course the spark plug is connected to the coil as well. There are also
two wires coming from under the flywheel.

If I understand correctly, I shut cut the wires going under the fly
wheel, and wire one of them to one side of a switch, the other side to
ground, providing me a kill switch.

What do I do with the wire from the coil? Leave it alone?

Then I just need the starter switch, right?

Thanks, Tim

"dolfantimmy"
wrote in message
news:1113673489.558609.35050@z14g2000cwz
..googlegroups.com...
Thanks for the great help folks, I
love newgroups.

Anyway, I want to be sure, so here's
what I find based on your
suggestions.

There is a single wire coming from the
ignition switch to the coil. Of
course the spark plug is connected to
the coil as well. There are also
two wires coming from under the
flywheel.

If I understand correctly, I shut cut
the wires going under the fly
wheel, and wire one of them to one
side of a switch, the other side to
ground, providing me a kill switch.

What do I do with the wire from the
coil? Leave it alone?

Then I just need the starter switch,
right?

Thanks, Tim


The wire coming from the coil should be
the kill wire. I'm trying to download
the entire thread to see what you have..

"dolfantimmy"
wrote in message
news:1113673489.558609.35050@z14g2000cwz
..googlegroups.com...
Thanks for the great help folks, I
love newgroups.

Anyway, I want to be sure, so here's
what I find based on your
suggestions.

There is a single wire coming from the
ignition switch to the coil. Of
course the spark plug is connected to
the coil as well. There are also
two wires coming from under the
flywheel.

If I understand correctly, I shut cut
the wires going under the fly
wheel, and wire one of them to one
side of a switch, the other side to
ground, providing me a kill switch.

What do I do with the wire from the
coil? Leave it alone?

Then I just need the starter switch,
right?

Thanks, Tim


The two wires coming out from under the
flywheel are probably the alternator
leads. You'll need them for lights (if
any) and charging the battery. The small
wire coming from the ignition coil is
the kill wire-ground it to stop the
engine.