Stens solenoid failure

[Scrubcadet10]

I've had 3 failures of stens solenoids this year, same part numbers as well. and one on my own equipment just the other day.

Stens 435-864​

I keep several of these on hand as i service a few older kawasaki Mule's which use the solenoid shift starters.
anyway i replaced three total in 2021, one of which was on my Mule.
i repaired one mower back in the spring, March i think... that solenoid failed in July. i then went back with a OEM Kawasaki part.
i replaced another one in May, an it failed in October.
i replaced the on on my Mule in august and it failed last week.
Now the kicker is, they all failed the same way, you turn the key, and it doesn't retract or anything. just barely moves... i load tested the trigger wire by using a 12v30W tailight draw on it and it never dimmed. or flickered. So it appears the solenoid just gave up, and all in the same manner.
so it seems to be a stens/supplier issue.... so far the OEM kawasaki's are doing good.

 

[StarTech]

Hmmm. I don't even bother replacing the solenoid as I had good luck with the starters from DB. Beside the Kawasaki starter is only $75 from them with free shipping.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Hmmm. I don't even bother replacing the solenoid as I had good luck with the starters from DB. Beside the Kawasaki starter is only $75 from them with free shipping.

That's normally what I do, but more cases of "I need it last week" , well if you would have told me last week I could have ordered a starter... I really need to take a tally of my most used and get a few starters...

 

[StarTech]

Me too. But I did learn my lesson as I do have some from 2009 still on the shelf when I first started. Now it is most Kohler and Kawasaki starters. Those Briggs one are not failing as much around here; unless, uses a hammer.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Have you told your rep ?
While it is good to make others aware of the problem it is better to let them know so they can take actions to recall or replace

 

[StarTech]

Oh they could have a better policy than Briggs.

With Briggs you to get a local dealer to cooperate which none around will in order to get a part warrantied. I had two Briggs solenoid that fail right of the packaging. None of the local dealer would even try to get them replaced even with me having the invoice in hand from my Briggs distributor. So I was out over $100 on two defective anti after fire solenoids. It was the same with Kohler when I had an ignition coil failure which Kohler required both to be replaced. I told to get the local dealer to make them up. Again I got burned for coils.

So do I think Briggs and Kohler will honor their parts warranty well heck no.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Have you told your rep ?
While it is good to make others aware of the problem it is better to let them know so they can take actions to recall or replace

I dont have an account with stens,I buy them from a stens dealer online, but I have contacted stens and got a "we'll look into it" reply ... I also contact arrowhead since they're supposedly the mfgr for stens... I've thought about trying to dismantle one and take a look and see if there is anything obviously wrong...but that may take more time than its worth.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Depends weather you are a retail customer or a dealer .
Stens have always been good with me but I do buy direct from them
So when I showed the rep, he replaced the defective parts but shortly latter we were advised that the part ( Honda gear change spring ) would not be available for x months and we would be credited for any we had bought .Same thing happened with a load of in line petrol taps that had neoprene seals not butyl .
Another supplier basically told me to go jump so I don't use any of their products any more & if I need a brand they import, I buy it retail from the USA .
Never had a problem with any part from RGS so I guess they have better QC than Stens do

 

[bertsmobile1]

I dont have an account with stens,I buy them from a stens dealer online, but I have contacted stens and got a "we'll look into it" reply ... I also contact arrowhead since they're supposedly the mfgr for stens... I've thought about trying to dismantle one and take a look and see if there is anything obviously wrong...but that may take more time than its worth.

And unless you know what to look for you would just be wasting your time unless it was obvious like a spring or an anchoring shoulder that was too small .
Like all those 1/2 witts that cut open oil filters with can openers .

 

[StarTech]

A Stens account isn't that hard to get if you have a business license and sales tax license. I only do $500 or more purchases from them though this coming I expect the sales to much to 2K.

here is the last four years...