C-120 Dead Starter

[C120-Lars 3]

Hi Folks,

I'm a newbie here. Went to start the C-120 today and the starter is dead. Battery is good and I typically short the solenoid with a screwdriver because the key switch only works 1/4 of the time. No current draw from starter (no sparks shorting solenoid). Any words of wisdom or experience before I take it apart?

 

Thanks in advance!

[oliver2-44 10,579]

Check that your starter has a good ground using a jumper cable.

 

If you end up pulling the starter here's a thread to help you with it.

 

Edited April 12, 2022 by oliver2-44

[OutdoorEnvy 1,763]

Check solenoid ground and if the switch seems iffy I would verify it's sending 12v to the solenoid as well.  A few things still in play here but process of elimination will get you to the right part that's in error, assuming the grounds all are good.  No need to do the parts cannon at this point.  Stay with it though and you'll get it. 

[953 nut 59,243]

10 hours ago, C120-Lars said:

Battery is good

Have you had the battery load tested to confirm your belief that it is good? What about the wires to and from the solenoid as well as grounds?

 

Why won’t my starter turn over from the key switch?

Lets take a logical step by step inspection of your starter problem.

Is your PTO in the ON position, a wheel horse will not start with the PTO on.

Have you had the battery load tested at an auto parts store?

Have you cleaned and tightened all electrical connections including grounds?

Are all fuses good and fuse holders cleaned?

If these have all been done, we can check components of the starting system as follows; don’t skip a step or you may miss the problem.

Be sure the transmission is in neutral and the parking brake is set.

Take a pair of automotive jumper cables and connect the black cable to your battery  "-" and a good clean spot on the engine. Now connect the other cable to the large post on the starter and touch the other end to the battery "+" terminal, does the starter turn over? If the starter turns over the battery and starter are good. If it didn't turn over try the same steps with the battery in your car/truck, if that cures the problem then the "good" battery wasn't so good.

Presuming the starter turned over move the jumper wire from the starter post to the other end of the wire going to the starter which is one of the large posts on the solenoid. If the starter turns over when the battery is touched by the jumper as before then that cable is good, if not you have found your problem.

Presuming the starter turned over move that jumper to the other terminal of the solenoid, connect the other end to the battery and use a small piece of wire to temporarily connect the battery "+" terminal to the small terminal on the solenoid, this should cause the solenoid to close and the starter to turn over. If not, the solenoid is probably the problem.

If this was successful remove the large jumper cable and use the small jumper wire to the small terminal of the solenoid, the solenoid should close and the starter turn over. If not the cable to the battery is the problem.

Presuming all of these have been successful remove the black jumper wire and repeat the small jumper to small terminal, if the starter turns over the ground is good.

If all of these components test good then remove your ignition switch, be sure the transmission is in neutral, parking brake on, clutch depressed and PTO off. Use a small jumper to connect the terminals that were connected to the “B” and “S” terminals of the ignition switch. If the starter turns over then the PTO switch and other safety switches are operating properly and your ignition switch may be bad

Edited April 12, 2022 by 953 nut
fat finger

[peter lena 9,188]

@C120-Lars   have any of these ?  https://www.amazon.com/KAIWEETS-Electrical-Alligator-Connection-  regularly use these to find out what's going on , would bet there is a shorted, frayed , corroded ,connection in your issue .test and verify every step , agree with others on the testing route . just don't tear it apart  , have a separate  clip on starter button?  we have been there , good luck , pete  

[C120-Lars 3]

Problem solved! It was a bad connection of the positive cable from the solenoid at the starter. I checked with an ohmmeter and found no connection between wire and post on starter. cleaned up the connections and she started right up. Thank you folks for all your help!