starting problems on scotts 1642s

[toohott7718]

can I bypass all the safety switches to make sure that it is a bad ignition switch? Is it just a matter of put a wire from one terminal to the other on each safety switch? How about on the one safety switch that has four terminals? thank you everyone for all your help

 

[sox3]

yes you can bypass the safety switches, on the 4 wire switch you have to test to see which wires are connected when the switch is operated, use a volt ohm meter. then jumper accordingly. The best and easiest way, it to get a wiring diagram of the unit and follow the circuits with a test light. If your power drops out when you turn the key switch, (you said earlier) then jumping the safety switches probably wont help.

 

[toohott7718]

yes you can bypass the safety switches, on the 4 wire switch you have to test to see which wires are connected when the switch is operated, use a volt ohm meter. then jumper accordingly. The best and easiest way, it to get a wiring diagram of the unit and follow the circuits with a test light. If your power drops out when you turn the key switch, (you said earlier) then jumping the safety switches probably wont help.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "on the 4 wire switch you have to test to see which wires are connected when the switch is operated, use a volt ohm meter. then jumper accordingly"
Also if the safety switches are bypassed and it starts that means it would be a safety switch problem correct? But if it doesn't the only thing left would be the ignition.
I'm trying to understand how this system works.. when you turn the key does it make sure all safety switches are engaged then engage the solenoid then engage the starter and start the mower?

 

[hawkeye08]

Yes, you have 3 safety switches, the two mentioned above (seat and brake), the third is the mower engagement. Is the mower disengaged? The yellow handled lever by the steering wheel should be pointed to the right (3 o'clock position). IIRC, the actual switch for the blades is down on the deck perhaps?

 

[toohott7718]

Yes, you have 3 safety switches, the two mentioned above (seat and brake), the third is the mower engagement. Is the mower disengaged? The yellow handled lever by the steering wheel should be pointed to the right (3 o'clock position). IIRC, the actual switch for the blades is down on the deck perhaps?

the mower engagement isn't engaged, I even tried pressing in the yellow bypass button just to see if that would work and still nothing

 

[sox3]

OK, if you want to by pass all the stuff heres what to do. remove the 2 small wires from the solenoid.
run a new wire from one of the small terminals (either one)on the solenoid to a ground point(frame, battery etc)
fron the ignition switch find the wire that has power out when key is turned to the start position.Then run a wire from that point to the other small solenoid terminal. The unit should crank over then. All safty systems will be bypassed. I dont know if it will start as there may be a safety system killing the spark, but it should crank.

 

[toohott7718]

I just put a jumper from the +battery to the purple wire on the solenoid and it cranks over, it also cranks over when I put a jumper from the battery+ to the purple wire on starter (I assume it is the same wire). Does this rule anything out??

 

[sox3]

No, it just bypasses the Ignition switch and all the safety systems. As has been said here before, to find the problem you have to trace the flow of current through the system. A wiring diagram would be good as you can follow the path from key switch to solenoid.

 

[toohott7718]

No, it just bypasses the Ignition switch and all the safety systems. As has been said here before, to find the problem you have to trace the flow of current through the system. A wiring diagram would be good as you can follow the path from key switch to solenoid.

I noticed that there was a relay (it looks like one anyway) is there a way to test it? I looked over the wires on the mower and from what I can see all the wires look intact. Does that purple wire go directly from the solenoid to the ignition, if so I can try running a new wire to see if it is bad
Also do you know where I can find a wiring diagram?

 

[cgutenschwager]

I noticed that there was a relay (it looks like one anyway) is there a way to test it? I looked over the wires on the mower and from what I can see all the wires look intact. Does that purple wire go directly from the solenoid to the ignition, if so I can try running a new wire to see if it is bad
Also do you know where I can find a wiring diagram?

If you are handy with your multimeter, you can check the continuity... that would tell you 1) if its the same wire 2) if its broken or not.