Bob999
Platinum Member
I was mowing with my 1845 and the engine quit. It would crank but not start. I checked the fuel supply, fuel strainer, and replaced the fuel filter. It would still not start. I checked for power for the fuel shutoff solenoid (pin 7) and it had 12 volts when the ignition switch was on and had no voltage with the switch off.
I call Terry. He asked if I heard the click when the ignition switch was turned on. I did not. He confirmed that I had power at pin 7. He said that apparently the solenoid had failed and I would need to replace it and directed me to Duetz for the parts. He did add that there is usually a detectable burnt smell when the solenoid fails. I have a poor sense of smell but did not detect any burnt smell.
I ordered the parts and because of some minor changes the necessary conversion pigtail. Total, including UPS and tax was $269.
I installed the replacement part and it would still not start (still no click). I confirmed with Terry that I had done the replacement correctly and then started further electrical trouble shooting.
The problem turned out to be a bad ground. The solenoid does not ground directly to the engine. Rather it is a two wire connection and grounds back through the connection box located on the right side of the engine. When I went to check the connection box on the right side of the engine I found that the tabs used to mount it had broken (from metal fatigue presumably induced by engine vibration) and the box was hanging loose. (On my tractor the connection box was mounted to a bracket attached to the engine. Terry tells me that subsequently PT has changed the design and now mounts the box on the chassis because of problems caused by engine vibration.) Once I remounted the connection box (reestablishing the ground) the engine started and ran normally.
I now have a spare fuel shutoff solenoid!
I call Terry. He asked if I heard the click when the ignition switch was turned on. I did not. He confirmed that I had power at pin 7. He said that apparently the solenoid had failed and I would need to replace it and directed me to Duetz for the parts. He did add that there is usually a detectable burnt smell when the solenoid fails. I have a poor sense of smell but did not detect any burnt smell.
I ordered the parts and because of some minor changes the necessary conversion pigtail. Total, including UPS and tax was $269.
I installed the replacement part and it would still not start (still no click). I confirmed with Terry that I had done the replacement correctly and then started further electrical trouble shooting.
The problem turned out to be a bad ground. The solenoid does not ground directly to the engine. Rather it is a two wire connection and grounds back through the connection box located on the right side of the engine. When I went to check the connection box on the right side of the engine I found that the tabs used to mount it had broken (from metal fatigue presumably induced by engine vibration) and the box was hanging loose. (On my tractor the connection box was mounted to a bracket attached to the engine. Terry tells me that subsequently PT has changed the design and now mounts the box on the chassis because of problems caused by engine vibration.) Once I remounted the connection box (reestablishing the ground) the engine started and ran normally.
I now have a spare fuel shutoff solenoid!