Ranch King 10.5 horse mower. Replaced the starter. New battery. Turn the key and starter will engage but, is unable to turn over the engine. Battery terminals are clean. All safety switches are good. Seems like it is not getting enough electric to the starter. Any thoughts on what might be wrong. Any help is appreciated, trying to get this to run for nephew.

Thanks

Lets start with some basics. Is the new starter ground good?

Is the starter the right one and the starter isn't jambed into the flywheel. Does the starter need shimmed?

How about the solenoid? That may be going bad and could cause this.

Does the motor turn freely with the plugs out?

Is the flywheel jamed/rubbing the coil?

Did the mower back fire bad and the timing chain may have jumped and now valves or off?

Just going through some check lits to check out.

Also just because it's a "New Battery" doesn't mean its fully charged. It happens.

How do I know if the solenoid is bad?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 21boat

lets start with some basics. Is the new starter ground good?

Is the starter the right one and the starter isn't jambed into the flywheel. Does the starter need shimmed?

How about the solenoid? That may be going bad and could cause this.

Does the motor turn freely with the plugs out?

Is the flywheel jamed/rubbing the coil?

Did the mower back fire bad and the timing chain may have jumped and now valves or off?

Just going through some check lits to check out.

Also just because its a "New Battery" doesn't mean its fully charged. It happens.

---

How do I know if the starter solenoid is bad?

Basic solenoids for a mower or car is a wire form the ignition switch to the solenoid which is an electro magnet that trips a connection in the solenoid and then completes that circuit to the starter.

Lets 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 Since the starter does turn but slow check voltage off solenoid to make sure its 12 volts and not a weak connection to starter and an amp draw / slow starter. Also check the volts off the actual ignition switch to solenoid so it gets 12 volts.

Did this mower sit for a long time??

I was alll set to answer this one but see too many great answers here, oh well, I'll go to plumbing

21Boat, thank you for the help. I replaced the starter solenoid and shimmed the starter. The motor turned right over and started. Runs perfect. Once again THANK YOU for the help.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 21boat

Basic solenoids for a mower or car is a wire form the ignition switch to the solenoid which is an electro magnet that trips a connection in the solenoid and then completes that circuit to the starter.

Lets 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 Since the starter does turn but slow check voltage off of solenoid to make sure its 12 volts and not a weak connection to starter and an amp draw / slow starter. Also check the volts off of the actual ignition switch to solenoid so it gets 12 volts.

Did this mower sit for a long time???

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hiker8553

Ranch King 10.5 horse mower. Replaced the starter. New battery. Turn the key and starter will engage but, is unable to turn over the engine. Battery terminals are clean. All safety switches are good. Seems like it is not getting enough electric to the starter. Any thoughts on what might be wrong. Any help is appreciated, trying to get this to run for nephew.

Thanks

---

If this is an L type briggs motor you need your valves adjusted or posibly a new fly wheel key ,Iwork on these and lots of other lawn care equipment dayly