How to test a Starter Solenoid in a Lawn Tractor? (5 techniques)
Starter solenoids are electromagnets that are fixed with the starter motor of the internal combustion engine. In lawn tractors, it is actuated at the bottom left side below the battery.
It primarily connects the starter motor with the battery to let the tractors or other vehicles start. Sometimes, it deteriorates, and there are many reasons behind it. So, many people look for guides on how to test a starter solenoid in a lawn tractor.
It is a good activity to reshape your lawn instead of sitting idle and getting depressed over pity. When you go to do that, and your lawn tractor fails to start is a huge disappointment. But, no worries, you can easily check the starter solenoid of your lawn tractor with these expert ideas that can make you a pro at home.
Tools required to test a Starter Solenoid
Testing a tractor starter solenoid is quite an easy task that everyone can do, like a professional. But, before getting into the real work, you must have specific tools to make things easier.
In-Hand Tools
You must have:
- Battery Charger
- Every Size Wrench Set
- Screwdrivers
- Medium Sized Sand Paper
- Jumper Cable
- Voltmeter
How to test a starter solenoid in a lawn tractor?
Checking a starter solenoid is quite an easy task. These are the 5 five expert ways to check a starter solenoid in a lawn tractor.
- Checking of Battery Connections
- Checking Charging with Voltmeter
- Checking Faulty Solenoid
- Checking the Ignition Switch
- Checking the Starter Motor
- Checking the Internal Engine
Checking of Battery Connections
The very first thing is to check all the connections associated with batteries. Sometimes, the battery connections are loose, damaged, or completely broken. Wires with batteries become loose because lawn tractors vibrate a lot.
Moreover, when the battery weeps, then it becomes damaged and completely broken. The battery connections are cleaned with the help of baking soda and water paste. This thick paste is poured on the connections and cleaned after ten to fifteen minutes to get rust-free connections. That is why the batteries of lawn tractors must be checked more often to get more machine life and effective outcomes.
Checking Charging with Voltmeter
Usually, vehicles have 12V batteries that are rechargeable. So, when your lawn tractor’s starter solenoid shows some problem, you should check its charging with a voltmeter. Simply connect the voltmeter with battery wires to check either it is charged or not.
Batteries discharge if you keep the vehicle on or at standby for longer periods, and most often, if a battery completely discharged itself, it never gets back to life no matter how much you charge it. So, you should be more careful about batteries, or you have to buy a new one again and again.
Checking Faulty Solenoid
Solenoids’ job is to connect the battery with the starter motor when you turn the ignition on. When you start the vehicle, the solenoids get started and start working. If your battery is completely charged and there is no problem with wires as well, but your lawn tractor is still not turning on, then you should replace the solenoid.
The solenoids are tended to get faulty more often. So, you should buy a good quality solenoid for long-term machine life and efficient working.
Checking the Ignition Switch
Mostly, we keep on checking the wires, connections, batteries, and solenoids repeatedly, but in the end, we find the problem somewhere else. Yes, you have read it correctly; most of the time, the ignition switches are the main problem creators that cause much pain. So, it is better to just check the ignition switches before replacing the starter solenoid to stop wasting your money and to get longer machine life.
Checking the Starter Motor
The starter motor is another thing to be checked before replacing or buying a new vehicle part. It can cause problems when it is misaligned, or its gear head is worn or damaged as its gear head connects it with the flywheel when you start the engine.
That is why we hear that clinking sound. So, it is wise to check the starter motor as well before replacing any part of your vehicle as it can cause problems too.
Checking the Internal Engine
Most of the bad times, when you end up checking all possible reasons but fail to start the vehicle, are the complete engine failure. Yes, it happens that the internal engines completely fail and can be uneconomic to repair.
It takes a lot of money and time to repair the old internal engine, which has completely failed because of main bearing seizing, cylinder head failure, or con rod bending. So, you should buy a new and technologically improvised engine instead of repairing the old one.
Why do people ask to jump-start a vehicle?
Faulty and damaged batteries are more common problems than any other. So, when you jump-start your vehicles, they can tell us about the real condition of batteries. If the vehicle starts, then you must check your battery to get better and longer machine life with effective learning.
Final Verdict
You have read many guides about how to check a starter solenoid in a lawn tractor but, this is the most easy-to-read and understands guide that I have written for you. You can read it and get 5 different expert ways to check your starter solenoid in a lawn tractor without getting into the heavy vocabulary and terminologies that need to be learned and understand first. So, you can just try any of these ways yourself before visiting the mechanic.
