wiring a 418-A 3 prong solonoid

[Scotsman 46]

I am stumped,I have done so much getting this ready for the snowblowing season.

Replaced both bearings in the snowblower.

Cleaned up the whole machine,

changed oil,

tune up

new seat

installed cast iron wheel weights,

put chains on.

now I forgot to take a pic of solonoid before i disconnected it.

 

its a 3 prong

1 wire from ground

1 thick wire from starter

1 thin to 20 amp fuse

1 thick to pos battery

[TT-(Moderator) 1,127]

As you have shown in the picture you posted, the wire with the push connector goes on the trigger terminal.

 

The main power feed wire to the fuse holder and the positive battery cable go on one large post.

The starter motor cable goes on the other large post.

[Scotsman 46]

The picture is before I unhooked what I had done.

My whole problem is I dont know which wires to put on which posts.

I had hooked it up wrong,

and the ground wire to the frame started to smoke and melt

so I unhooked everything.

Thanks for your help Terry

Edited December 31, 2014 by Scotsman

[19richie66 16,942]

ground to the base of the solenoid or frame, thick wire from starter to one side of solenoid , thick wire from battery and thin wire to 20 amp fuse to other side of solenoid, and wire from "s" terminal on ignition switch to small post on solenoid. I think that's it if I understood you correctly. you should have no ground wire going to any terminal on the 3 post solenoid.

[km3h 543]

A three pronged solenoid does not have a wire going to ground. The solenoid gets ground by being bolted to the frame. Cable from positive side of battery to one side of solenoid. Cable to starter on other side of solenoid. Center post gets wire from the key switch marked S. The fourth wire with the fuse is attached to the post coming from the battery and carries power to the switch marked B. 

[Scotsman 46]

Now that you guys are explaining it,

I think I know what I might have done.

I always unhook my battery before doing anything with the starter,

And this is how this project began,replacing my starter.

I also replaced the solonoid because I haven't been able to get it to start since I bought it.

When I bought it it ran.

I drove it onto the trailer.

Then drove an hour in a driving rainstorm.

When I attempted to start it ,it wouldn't start.

It so happened that my starter was bad.

But when I unhooked the battery ,I think I am attempting to hook the ground wire from the battery to my solonoid.

Thanks for the help.

I wish I was home now so i could go hook it up,and it would probably fire right up.

I'll post my results.

Thanks everyone.

[Scotsman 46]

There is a small gauge black ground wire that runs from near the bottom of the battery tray,

that hooks to the negative terminal on the battery, correct?

[Save Old Iron 1,563]

maybe this will help

 

 

[Scotsman 46]

Yeah it does,

I think I added the ground from my battery,

That's what caused that ground to bubble and smoke.........oops.

I'm lucky I didn't fry something.

Well actually I did,

but no permanent damage.

[Scotsman 46]

Well,thanks everyone for the help.

I had inadvertently hooked up an extra ground that I don't understand what it was meant for.

It is secured to the frame at the corner of the battery tray by the same bolt that secures the negative battery cable.

I could have sworn it was connected to the solonoid before I took off the old solonoid.

But it didn't.

I had completely taken apart the carb apart an given it a good cleaning.

I had trouble starting it because I could not find the exact factory settings for the 2 adjustments screws.

So I did what I did when I had rebuilt my Carter carb on my 67 Plymouth.

I went in all the way,then backed it off 1 1/2 turns.

Well,it was not the correct settings.

So after getting something that sounded like it wanted to run with a little starting fluid,

I turned then a few more full turns,and suddenly it came to life!!

I was so pleased with how it had turned out,

that it took me 15-20 seconds before I noticed a strange click click click noise which I knew was not part of the sweet sound a nice running Kohler 18 HP has.

So I shut it down,and noticed slightly nicked up magneto steel on the flywheel.

So I had to adjust it without a gapper,because I haven't seen mine for years.

I used a thin putty knife for my spacing,and got it done.

Then restarted,and tweaked my carb screws until I got it running nice and smooth.

Then I dove right into hooking up my flag to the hydro lift.

And as a first time user of the hydro lift feature,I was very pleased!

I took it for a victory lap around my block a few times to cheers from my neighbors and a tickertape parade,which was more than I expected.

But seriously,thanks for everyones help.

That is why I will be sending in my yearly contribution to the forum,

Because I could not have gotten it done otherwise.

[Save Old Iron 1,563]

I could have sworn it was connected to the solonoid before I took off the old solonoid.

.

The ground wire may have been secured at one of the mounting bolts {ground) for the starter relay. If the wire was in fact connected at the relay, this would be a plausible explanation.

[Scotsman 46]

Yes,maybe that was it!

It could have been a redundant ground,

Since it is grounded by bolting it to the frame.

Wiring is not one of my strong skills,

So I readily accept an answer that seems plausible,

and I'll give something a shot if it seems realistic.

My last issue now is my rear marker lights.

I put new red covers on,

because the old ones where missing.

And I installed new white lights,but they are not lighting up.

I'll have to see they are getting power,but I ran out of daylight,

So it will have to be in the morning.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[km3h 543]

It is always good to hear about successful conclusion to a problem. The folks on this forum are always willing to pitch in and lend a helping hand when needed.

 

The ground wire may have been secured at one of the mounting bolts {ground) for the starter relay. If the wire was in fact connected at the relay, this would be a plausible explanation.

 

I have often added a ground wire to one of the bolts holding the solenoid to the frame.