How to test a solenoid for a 18HP Vanguard?

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Sean2202

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• Nov 20, 2019 / How to test a solenoid for a 18HP Vanguard?

• #1

Greetings,

I was hoping that someone here could help me out. I have a Toro Greensmaster mower that uses a 18HP V-Twin vanguard engine that I believe may have a solenoid problem. I have tested these before in the past but I can not remember how to do so. I have looked in the service manual and there is no mention of how to test the solenoid. I was curious how to test in on the machine and how to test it off the machine as I have some sitting on the shelf that I do not know if they are any good. The battery test good under load and connections are good. How do I measure voltage drop?

Thanks for any help
Sean

 

Last edited: Nov 20, 2019

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mechanic mark

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• Nov 20, 2019 / How to test a solenoid for a 18HP Vanguard?

• #2

https://www.google.com/search?q=how...ome..69i57.87747j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://www.google.com/search?q=how.....69i57j33.31539j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://www.toro.com/en/customer-support/education-and-tech-reference/service-manuals

 

dougand3

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• Nov 20, 2019 / How to test a solenoid for a 18HP Vanguard?

• #3

On the bench with 3 pole solenoid: 12v battery with 2 (+) leads. Hook one +12v lead to big pole #1. Hook battery ground to metal solenoid bracket. Test voltage at big pole #1.
Hook other +12v lead to little pole...should hear CLICK. Test voltage at big pole #2. Should be the same. Tells you the plate inside is being drawn by the magnetic field to connect 2 big poles.

Sometimes the plate gets burned and chewed up or corroded and contact between poles is not as strong.

 

Fish

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• Nov 20, 2019 / How to test a solenoid for a 18HP Vanguard?

• #4

The solenoid is basically a switch that can handle a big load. It connects the battery cable to the starter to crank the engine. On your {4 pole} switch, voltage comes to the one small terminal when you turn the keyswitch to "crank" position, but on this solenoid, the other terminal must complete a connection to "ground", and both of these connections go through an assortment of switches to make a complete circuit to crank the engine.

 

Fish

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• Nov 20, 2019 / How to test a solenoid for a 18HP Vanguard?

• #5

On a 3 pole solenoid, the ground is carried out through the base of the solenoid. So that style would be easier to run down.

 

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Sean2202

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• Nov 27, 2019 / How to test a solenoid for a 18HP Vanguard?

• #6

Thank you all for the replies, for the cost and piece of mind I just replaced the solenoid. Working 100% now. I bench tested one that was on the shelf and did hear a click but did not do a voltage drop test yet.