My Craftsman Mower keeps burning up solenoids. Why?

I have a Craftsman 44" cut riding mower. The engine is a Kohler 18hp. I have replaced 3 soenoids in the past 2 mowing seasons. Is this normal? If not what is causing this problem?
As far as I know my mower has only one solenoid. It is located above the engine and under the hood. It is not getting wet.

Comments

3 Responses to “My Craftsman Mower keeps burning up solenoids. Why?”
  1. bobweb says:
    April 28, 2009 at 12:34 am

    If you have excessive voltage drop from the battery to the solenoid, then excessive current will be drawn through the high current solenoid contacts to run the starter motor. Any motor needs the proper voltage to run, and it will draw more current to make up for a loss of voltage because the power (watts) it needs is the product of voltage times current. That's why the power tool manufacturers tell you to always use a big enough wire size in your AC extension cords so that you don't burn out your power tool motors. Try running another 12 gauge wire in parallel with the present wire leading from the battery, and make sure your battery is in good shape with clean terminals and connections. Also replace the battery's ground wire with a new bigger gauge wire. You may need a fuse of some sort at the battery for the new positive voltage wire. You could just replace the red positive battery cable with a new bigger wire gauge battery wire designed for an automobile.

  2. devast725 says:
    April 28, 2009 at 12:34 am

    solenoid for what? Could it be located in a place where it's getting wet?

  3. helpishere27 says:
    April 28, 2009 at 12:34 am

    Maybe its gettin to rough what ever your cutting


 
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