Repairs weedeater one riding lawnmower

alex47

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Feb 17, 2013
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i have had this riding mower for almost 2.5 yrs now and now my electric ignition no longer works but the pull cord does. All wiring and fuses seem to be ok, battery good and all appropriate actions taken such as setting brake and ensuring lever in the back of mower is in the correct position. Do you have any suggestions as to what I may do next to repair the electronic ignition?
 

Rivets

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Mar 11, 2012
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Here's a troubleshooting guide LawnRanger and I put together that may help. Give it a try.



Electrical* problems can be very easy or very difficult, depending on four things.
1. * How well you understand basic electricity.
2. *What tools you have and know how to use.
3. *How well you follow directions.
4. *You don't overlook or assume anything and verify everything.

Remember we cannot see what you are doing. *You are our eyes, ears and fingers in solving this problem. *You must be as accurate as you can when you report back. *The two basic tools we will ask you to use are a test light and a multi-meter. *If you have an assistant when going through these tests it would be very helpful. *These steps work the best when done in order, so please don't jump around. *Now let's solve this problem.

First, check the fuse(s), check battery connections for corrosion (clean if necessary) and *voltage - above 12.5 volts should be good.*

Second, check for power from the battery to one of the large terminals on the solenoid. *One of the wires is connected directly to the battery and has power all the time so one of the large terminals should light a test light or show 12 volts on a meter at all times.*

Third, *check for power at the small terminal of the solenoid while depressing the clutch/brake pedal and holding the key in the start position (you may need an assistant to sit in the seat to override the safety switch). If your solenoid is a four wire solenoid, check both small wire terminals as one is ground and the other is power from the ignition switch. *If your solenoid is a three wire solenoid, make sure the solenoid body is not corroded where it bolts to the chassis of the mower as this is your ground path back to the battery. *If in doubt, remove the solenoid and clean the mounting area down to bare metal. *If there is no power to the small terminal then your problem is most likely a safety switch, ignition switch or in the wiring.*

Fourth, check for power on the other large terminal of the solenoid while holding the key in the start position (you may need an assistant to sit in the seat to override the safety switch).*

Fifth, check for power at the starter while holding the key in the start position (assistant again).*

Sixth, check your ground circuit back to the battery.

After you have gone through each of the above steps, let us know what happened when you did each step. *At that point we will have great info to tell you how to proceed. *Remember you are our eyes, ears, and fingers, so please be as accurate as possible.

Be as specific as possible with voltage readings as this will help diagnose your problem quicker. *If you do not know how to perform the above checks, just ask and I will try to guide you through it. *Youtube also has some videos and as you know a picture is worth a thousand words.
 

ILENGINE

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May 6, 2010
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If I remember correctly the WE261 Weedeater One doesn't have a starting solenoid per say. It uses a relay box that acts like a solenoid. You should have two square boxes zip tied to the round part of the frame on the left side of the mower just above where the frame turns to go under the engine. Chances are you have a bad relay box. If I remember correctly you can swap the relay boxes, which if you have a bad relay, will allow the mower to crank but not start.

Make sure that the battery is good meaning 12-13 V, also make sure it maintains that 12-13 V while trying to start the mower. If the voltage drops a lot then you have either a bad battery, or bad connection. I have seen more than one WE261 with a bad start relay.
 
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