Toro model 56145

[Chuck O]

My Toro rider (model 56145 - 1985) will not crank this season. The battery is full. When I turn the key-nothing. When I jump the cellenoid she starts like a charm. I only see

the neutral switch and seat switch as the safety features. Any ideas?

 

[Tom Schindler]

Could it be the brake? On our mower, you have to have the brack locked to get it to start. Maybe there is a switch on the brake.





Tom

 

[Gavin Allan]

Did you test the switches with a multi-meter?

 

[Todd Z]

you have to test if your getting power to the switches and from the switches...



also check all connections, maybe one corroded over the winter..



Todd Z

 

[Mike Wilson]

The connections for the starter solenoid on my Murray Rider corroded over

this past winter and when I went to remove the cables to clean them with a

small wire brush, the studs that the battery cables go on just twisted out of

the housing they were corroded so bad. Went to the mower shop and for ten

bucks, got a new one and she cranks right up! I went through the battery and

safety switch thing, too, and all those were fine. Finally traced it to high resistance

across the solenoid. I tore into it when I got the new one on, and it was all rusted

and corroded inside. Not sealed very well at all, so on the new one, I coated it

with silicone to try to seal it up!



TnB...

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Either the selinoid or the key switch. Check the back of the key switch and see if there is corrosion there. Sometimes the 12V constant connection will get corroded like the battery teminals. Either is a cheap fix.

 

[Yardsale]

My Trac didn't come with a mower :-(

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Yardsale, it was an "extra" option. Either you got the Bed Extender or a Toro mower.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Rather than jumping the solenoid, try to give the third terminal on it power. If it engauges and turns over, the problem is before the solenoid. (Bad ignition switch, seat switch, brake/clutch switch)...



If it does nothing, then it would probably be the solenoid. By jumping the two large post you bypass the solenoid all together. Yes it starts, but it tells you nothing more than you have a good battery and a good starter...

 

[shawn stonbraker 2]

Ahhh, it's been awhile since I've worked in the lawnmower shop, but Coastie is 100% correct. I knew there was something I was missing. If it does work as Coastie said, it will most likely be the key switch or a broken wire going to or from the key switch. If you want to check the safety switches, you've done that when you jumped the selinoid and it cranked. If the safety switches weren't working, it never would have cranked.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

Yeah, I opted for the bed extender instead of the mower since my lawn only takes 5 mins to mow...lol

 

[Makin Trax]

check your ground not the one on the battery but there should be another somewhere I had one do this on a cub cadet once and it was the ground that attached to the engine block, i'm assuming it came from the battery and altenator.

 

[Gerald Pierce]

If you want to check the safety switches, you've done that when you jumped the selinoid and it cranked. If the safety switches weren't working, it never would have cranked.

??? Would the safety switches be between the key and the solenoid, not the solenoid and the starter?



I would think that if it starts when jumping the solenoid large terminals, it is as Coastie says, the battery and starter is good. If you apply power straight to the 3rd terminal on the solenoid and it works , now you know the solenoid, the starter and battery are good. The only thing left would be the safetys or the key switch, and with a short piece of wire, you can jumper them to isolate.



I know my old craftsman had all the safety switches in line to the solenoid from the key. I had one on the seat, the blade, and the clutch/brake pedal.