Murray mower will not start with new solenoid & switch
I have a 14hp OHV Murray riding mower. When I turn the key I got no response. Battery is new and voltmeter reads 12.4. I first tested the solenoid by jumping the terminals. (Meter reads 12.4 at battery side of solenoid as well) This made the starter turn sluggishly or just bump the flywheel, and only once out of ten did it turn enough to crank but did not.
I then took a jumper cable from the battery straight to the post on the starter. I got some response but still sluggish and random bump then nothing like when I jumped the solenoid. Thinking I have a bad starter I took to an auto parts store and let them test. The starter spun like a top??
To be certain I have replaced the solenoid and switch and cleaned all connections. Now when I turn the switch I got the same sluggish response (like a dead battery) and then absolutely nothing. When I try to jump the new solenoid I got a slight turn at first and now nothing either. I thought maybe a bad safety switch but wouldn't it start just jumping the terminals on the solenoid if that was the case?
I have heard that these OHV models sometime need adjustment that can cause starting problems? I pulled the starter off the flywheel to see if it might be too much load from the engine and might turn freely. Starter would not turn at all. When I pulled from the block did I remove the ground or does this mean I do have a bad starter? Please help
I also just jumped my truck to the starter to make sure it was getting enough juice. At first nothing just some sparking, On the fourth try the engine turn like normal enough to start