Not car related

[drc409]

‘Just have to vent!

I have a 17 year old Cub Cadet lawn tractor. Other than replacing a couple of normal wear related mechanical items, belts, blades …. I’ve had 0 problems. So last week I finished mowing my lawn. Shut the (Kohler) engine off to blow off lawn clippings. Turned the key and nothing. Bypassed started solenoid and nothing.

Took solenoid off and bench tested; it’s bad. Bench tested starter; it’s bad. After 17 years, I thought Oh Well. I ordered new “oem” replacements (from 2 different sellers). Received solenoid first and bench tested—-it’s bad

Contacted seller who refunded my money and told me to just pitch part. I received starter which didn’t look anything like part # I ordered Contacted seller who apologized and shipped (hopefully the correct part) the same day without waiting for me to return first one.

I ordered another solenoid from another seller. I received today and bench tested —-it’s bad

The “manufacturer” of both replacement solenoids is the same as my original. Only difference is original one was made in Mexico and the two replacements were made in China

 

[La Hot Rods]

Rat's

 

[blkblk63ss]

‘Just have to vent!

I have a 17 year old Cub Cadet lawn tractor. Other than replacing a couple of normal wear related mechanical items, belts, blades …. I’ve had 0 problems. So last week I finished mowing my lawn. Shut the (Kohler) engine off to blow off lawn clippings. Turned the key and nothing. Bypassed started solenoid and nothing.

Took solenoid off and bench tested; it’s bad. Bench tested starter; it’s bad. After 17 years, I thought Oh Well. I ordered new “oem” replacements (from 2 different sellers). Received solenoid first and bench tested—-it’s bad

Contacted seller who refunded my money and told me to just pitch part. I received starter which didn’t look anything like part # I ordered Contacted seller who apologized and shipped (hopefully the correct part) the same day without waiting for me to return first one.

I ordered another solenoid from another seller. I received today and bench tested —-it’s bad

The “manufacturer” of both replacement solenoids is the same as my original. Only difference is original one was made in Mexico and the two replacements were made in China

Get your mower going again???

 

[drc409]

Yep. What a PITA!

You’ll be sorry you asked.

Old starter had froze up; which probably took out the solenoid and, as I also discovered, probably took out the battery.

Bought new (3rd) solenoid at Lowe’s; it was fine. I received new starter. It was the wrong part #. Seller apologized and shipped correct part in 3 days. New version has a Bakelite tab on top to ensure proper orientation when installing. Well, tab slips into hole on engine mount that a couple of harness wires feed through. See pic. So I had to snip and re-route wires. Installed starter; turned key; nothing!

Checked battery again with voltmeter—13.2 volts. Turned key to start—dropped to 8 volts! Battery is 2 years old. Replaced battery and —— yes, the engine fired up!

So goes most of repair jobs

 

[blkblk63ss]

Had to buy new battery for my rider went bad over winter at Walmart. It was five years old. Those only have a 30 day warranty . Price was about 20.00 higher this time it had more cranking amps.