How to Diagnose a Bad Troy-Bilt Starter Solenoid (Step-by-Step)

To turn over the engine, the starter solenoid must be energized, and if it isn’t, you’ll hear a clicking or humming noise. This symptom can be brought on by a number of different things. The starter solenoid is a likely culprit.

When the starter motor can turn over the engine without the solenoid, you know the solenoid on your Troy-Bilt is broken.

Battery chargers can be used to check the functionality of start

If you own a lawn mower for a sufficient amount of time, you will eventually experience issues with it, such as it failing to start, not continuing to run, smoking, leaking gas, producing an uneven cut, vibrating, or another problem.

I have compiled a guide to assist you in diagnosing and fixing any future issues that may arise with your Troy-Bilt lawn mower in the interest of helping you save both time and money.

This guide can be found at the Common Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower Problems & Solutions website.

If you are not confident in your ability to safely perform diagnostics and repairs on your lawn mower, it is in your best interest to have a professional carry out the work.

By doing this, you will reduce the risk of injuring yourself or causing further damage to the mower. Your neighborhood Troy-Bilt dealership or lawn mower repair shop will be able to assist you in finding a solution to the issue that you are having.

er solenoids that are attached to the starter.

The starter solenoid is a dangerous piece of equipment. Always remember to practice safe operating procedures as outlined in your Troy-Bilt manual.

What Is a Troy-BiltLawn Mower Solenoid?

The solenoid on a Troy-Bilt lawn mower functions as a power toggle. The starter motor is activated by pressing a button on an electromagnet switch.

The solenoid for the engine’s starter is typically attached to the motor itself. However, that is not mandatory for proper operation.

Some lawn mowers have solenoids mounted on the frame near the battery instead of the starter.

Solenoids with three and four posts

This is a typical wiring diagram for solenoids with three and four posts. Remember that not all wiring diagrams for lawn mowers are the same.

Some schematics for Troy-Bilt mowers will show how to wire things like lights and 12-volt ports. These diagrams only show the bare bones of how to wire something.

How to Recognize the Solenoid on a Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower.

Solenoids can be found in numerous forms and dimensions. Perhaps some are square while others are round. Three or four posts may protrude from it. At the top of the starter, some solenoids will be fastened.

The solenoid receives power from the Troy-Bilt battery through its positive (+) terminal. You can quickly and easily locate your solenoid by following the positive cable from the battery.

Every Troy-Bilt engine with an electric starter has a solenoid.

When does a solenoid in a Troy-Bilt lawn mower start to fail?

The electrical switch known as a Troy-Bilt solenoid. Things that use electricity have a 100% failure rate.

A spring and copper plate are housed inside the solenoid.The spring or copper plate on a Troy-Bilt starter solenoid can become weak and cause the starter to malfunction.

A weak starter, faulty battery, or poor ground can also cause the solenoid to fail.

When attempting to diagnose a solenoid, it helps to have some idea of what signs to look for.

Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower Solenoid Problems and How to Fix Them

If you hear a click or hum when you turn the ignition key but the mower still won’t start, it could be the solenoid.

If a wire starts to smoke or melt at high temperatures, it could be a sign that your solenoid is malfunctioning.

How to Figure Out if a Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower Solenoid Is Bad

List Tools Needed:

• A Volt-Ohms Gauge
• Using a Continuity Light Wrench and a Screwdriver, you can test for frayed wires.
• If the screwdriver doesn’t do the trick, you might need a pair of needle-nose pliers.
• Electricity to charge batteries

There are a few options for determining the problem with your lawn mower’s solenoid.

1.Charge your Troy-Bilt battery completely before using it.

Use your voltmeter to make sure your battery has at least 12.3 volts in it. Read more about testing your battery in our article about why your Troy-Bilt battery may keep dying.

2. Fire Up That Troy-Bilt Lawnmower!

• Put on the brakes and park
• Put your lawn mower in park and give it a rest.
• Slide the switch to “on.”

3. Use a screwdriver to deactivate the Troy-Bilt starter solenoid.

To avoid using the starter, lay a long screwdriver over the solenoid and touch the two cables. You need to locate the cable leading from the battery to the starter.

When the screwdriver touches the wires, it could cause a spark. Don’t freak out; this happens frequently.

If the engine starts while you have the solenoid disconnected, it is likely broken.Needle nose pliers are an alternative to a screwdriver for jumping a solenoid.

Inspect the wiring for corrosion and slack before you replace the starter solenoid. These obstructions can cut off power to the solenoid, rendering it inoperable.

4. Check the solenoid on the Troy-Bilt starter.

Starter-mounted solenoids can be examined. Take the engine’s starter off the crank and charge the battery to check the solenoid. This is a good method for checking the starter’s solenoid connection.

After taking the starter off your lawnmower, connect the negative (-) clamp to the starter case and the positive (+) clamp to the solenoid’s large post and exciter wire.

When the starter is out, we just do a quick bench test.

Can the Starter Solenoid of a Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower Be Removed?

By placing a long screwdriver across the solenoid, you can prevent the battery cable from making contact with the solenoid and instead directly power the starter from the battery.

Take caution. It’s normal for the connection to produce a spark.Put on protective gear whenever possible.

Does Your Troy-Bilt Lawnmower Have a Good Starter Solenoid but Refuse to Crank?

If your Troy-Bilt lawnmower isn’t starting, I wrote an article to help you figure out why. Loose or corroded cables, a dead battery, a faulty safety switch, and other issues can all prevent the engine from starting.