How to Test a Lawnmower Solenoid. What pros say

Curious about how to improve your lawnmower’s performance? Testing the solenoid is a great place to start. We’re here to provide the knowledge and guidance you need.

How to test a lawnmower solenoid:

To test a lawnmower solenoid, first remove it from the mower. Use a 12V battery to listen for a “click” and check for conductivity between terminals with a multimeter in continuity mode. If it fails, replace it. Turn the ignition to check it starts. Both tests passed mean a good solenoid.

Boost your lawnmower’s performance with our expert guide. Learn how to test a solenoid, a crucial component in your mower. With our step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to tackle this task with ease. Get started now and see the improvement in your lawnmower’s efficiency.

Steps to Test Lawn Mower Solenoid:

The procedure below explains all the necessary steps to test the solenoid and replace it with a new one if worn out to ensure the lawnmower goes up and running again.

● Step 1. Removing the solenoid from the lawnmower:

The lawnmower solenoid may get defective with time because its terminals may get rusty due to moisture in the air, or the metal plate inside the solenoid may have stopped working. To check the root cause of the solenoid’s malfunctioning, it must be removed from the lawnmower first.

– Step I: Removing the battery from the lawnmower:

The solenoid is usually located below the battery, on the bottom left of the mower. Firstly, turn the ignition switch off and remove the key. Now, lift the seat and remove the negative terminal from the battery. Similarly, remove the positive terminal from the battery.

Remove the battery from the battery box and release the seat switch wire clip from the seat bracket. Next, remove the retaining tabs and lift the battery box from the mower’s body.

– Step II: Removing the solenoid from a lawnmower:

You shall see a solenoid now attached to the lawn mower’s metal body via some screws. Remove the wires connected to the terminals of the solenoid. Also, pull the wires from the coil spades.

Next, remove the starter solenoid mounting bolt from the mower’s frame. Rotate the starter solenoid forward and pull it out from the lawnmower.

Taking a good photo from your phone before removing the solenoid’s connections is also a great option, as it may help you reconnect the solenoid correctly. Since the solenoid has been detached, it’s time to test it.

● Step 2. Test the solenoid using a multimeter and as a 12V battery source:

The testing method is carried out by using a 12V battery source and a multimeter. The 3-post and 4-post solenoid testing methods are the same, so no need to worry about that!

– Step I: The “click sound” test using a 12 V battery:

To conduct this test, you must first connect the available battery’s negative terminal to the solenoid’s negative. If the solenoid is a 3-post solenoid, no separate connection is available to attach the battery’s negative terminal.

In this case, the battery’s negative is connected to the metallic screw plate of the 3-post solenoid. However, in a 4-post solenoid, a separate connection is available, where the battery’s negative terminal is attached.

Now, when the negative terminal has been connected, as soon as the battery’s positive terminal is connected to the solenoid’s positive connection, a “click sound” shall be heard by the person performing the test. If there is no sound, the solenoid is faulty and replaced with a new one.

– Step II: The connectivity test using a multimeter:

If the solenoid passes the click sound test, the next test is the connectivity test. First, it would be best to make the positive and negative connections mentioned above.

Then, the multimeter should be switched to the connectivity test/beep test mode. The multimeter’s positive and negative terminals should be connected to the two main terminals on the solenoid’s uppermost part.

If the multimeter gives a beep sound, the solenoid is OK and doesn’t need to be replaced. But if there is no beep sound, the solenoid has failed the beep test and must be replaced by a new one.

● Step 3. Purchasing a new solenoid:

As you have witnessed the test failure on the solenoid, you finally decide that the only option now is to buy a new one and throw the old one away! In doing so, you should ensure that the new solenoid being purchased is the same as the one being replaced.

The critical thing to remember is whether the old solenoid was 3-post or 4-post, so the purchase should be made accordingly.

Consulting the lawn mower user’s manual is also a good option. Always ask the seller to provide the solenoid according to your particular model during the purchase.

● Step 4. Install the new solenoid:

Are you tired after going through such a long process of testing and shopping? Don’t worry. You are almost at the point where your lawnmower gets up and running again. Just one more last step and that is to install the new solenoid into the lawnmower.

– Step I: Making the connections with the new solenoid:

First of all, make sure that the ignition switch is off and the key has been removed. Transfer the mounting clip from the old starter solenoid to the new one.

Position the new starter solenoid on the lawnmower’s frame and install the mounting bolt. Connect the wires to the coil spades. Next, connect the wires on the terminal posts with the mounting nuts. The new solenoid has now been installed successfully.

– Step II: Installing the battery back into the lawnmower:

Position the battery box in the opening and engage the retaining tabs. Now reconnect the seat switch clip to the seat bracket. Lower the battery into the battery box and align the battery cables.

Reconnect the negative battery cable to the battery’s negative and the positive battery cable to its positive terminal. Put the insulating cover back in place. Lower the seat, and you are ready to test the lawnmower now!

● Step 5. Test the lawnmower with the new solenoid:

After all the day’s hustle, why not test the lawnmower and take it for a spin on your garden? Put the key back in and turn the ignition switch.

Guess what? The lawnmower has started and is buzzing like it’s a new one! You can enjoy your day and make your garden even more beautiful. For a hands-on demonstration of how to test a solenoid, you should watch this video:

Related Questions:

1) The solenoid has passed testing, but my lawnmower won’t start.

There are a few possibilities that cause this problem. But we are here to help you with it. Here are a few reasons why the lawnmower won’t start despite the solenoid being perfectly fine:

– Battery:

The lawnmower battery might be dead. Connect your multimeter to measure the voltage across the battery to check whether this is the issue.

Suppose the voltage across the battery is considerably less than 12 volts. In that case, the battery is dead, and you must charge it with another battery or booster.

– The Cable:

The cable connecting the solenoid to the starter in the engine may be worn out and may not supply voltage to the starter.

So, to resolve this issue, move your multimeter to continuity mode and place the multimeter terminals on each end of this wire. If a beep sound isn’t produced, the wire is faulty and needs to be replaced.

2) The solenoid is requiring a replacement every month. What shall I do?

Usually, a solenoid may do its work perfectly fine for some years before it requires a replacement. The solenoid requires a replacement because maybe the ground connection being provided to it isn’t strong enough because of some debris or dirt.

Ensure that the metal on which the solenoid is being mounted has a firm ground. Remove the solenoid and use sandpaper to clean up the metal area. The solenoid is being mounted to get good contact.

Remarks:

If you love your garden and lawn, gardening boosts your mood on a bad day. Then, the lawnmower, especially a riding lawn mower, must be maintained and well cared for. Turning your lawnmower’s key isn’t enjoyable, but it won’t start.

But the most crucial part, the lawnmower’s solenoid, can now easily be removed, tested, replaced, and reinstalled at your home by reading this article. To check a lawn mower solenoid, you must understand what kind of solenoid you’re dealing with. 

A solenoid is merely a device in its most basic form, a coil of wire longer than its diameter. This coil ring creates a magnetic field when an electric current passes through it. There are different types of solenoids, such as a pinball solenoid, a solenoid switch, and a linear actuator solenoid.

• Identifying a Faulty Solenoid in a Riding Lawn Mower

For a lawnmower, we are typically dealing with a linear actuator solenoid. Perhaps the solenoid on a riding lawn mower is faulty. If so, then you can measure its resistance with a multimeter. If the resistance is out of specification, you can measure it again after cleaning the solenoid.

If it’s still not within spec, a solenoid like that found on a riding lawn mower may need replacing. Your safety is also our top priority, so don’t forget to take certain precautions while testing.

Before starting the process, you must always wear work gloves to protect you from unnecessary cuts. Besides, the wrench set and other tools must be used carefully and kept out of children’s reach. Also, don’t forget to maintain the lawnmower’s different parts properly, such as cutting blades.