John Deere Lawn Mower won't start | fuse keeps popping | bad solenoid

My John Deere Scotts Lawn Tractor would not start. The main fuse kept blowing every time I turned the key. In this video I diagnosed the problem by searching for shorts in the wiring, changing the battery and ultimately finding that the starter solenoid was bad. I replaced the solenoid and the tractor starts and runs fine.

[@kpwoodham]

Thanks so much - I think you just saved my Saturday

[@ZacharyPrice]

I appreciate this video man… I’m suffering the same issue and wasn’t sure where to go. Thank you.

[@danbristow7581]

I use a open end wrench that is spaced the same as the top 2 terminals on the solenoid and touch it to the top of the terminals to get the motor to crank over and there's no insulation on the wrench you will not get shocked... just thought I would throw that information out there in case someone would possibly be in need of it... Good video..Thanks.

[@davidhudson5259]

Mower does same thing, bypass will turn mower but won't crank ,do think the solenoid may be the problem

[@EveryotherKarl]

Bit late responding, but yeah, sounds like the same problem I was having.

[@catbirdfeeder]

Would a bad selionoid melt the fuse holder?

[@catbirdfeeder]

I get sparks in the fuse holder and buzzing in some area when I try to replace fuse

[@ethanrecker2833]

Hey did your lights quit working when it went bad

[@flavorfrase-bn4jq]

Mine is odd I replaced the starter solenoid when I go to crank it buzzes then after a few key turns of buzzing it blows the 20amp fuse

[@Mike-su8si]

Yours has some extra wires hang up by the back of the ignition switch to i see I still wonder if the ones on mine went to a ignition relay box then to the solenoid because there is no relay box on mine
My extra wire colors are blue yellow and black.
I cut out all the safety buttons and wiring the yellow went to one prong on the solenoid and the blue went up to the ignition switch they're all cut out now but theres still blue yellow black i already know the black is ground the blue and yellow had to of plugged onto something
Mines needing a new coil right now so that's another reason it doesn't start up but after i put in a used ignition switch then all it does is blow out the fuses so i put in a good used solenoid but am out of fuses so ill finish messing with it later on i can't find any other old gray 12/43 huskee mowers like mine to just see the wiring and if it had a ignition relay box or not so im not sure if it did

[@matthelms4167]

This is a very helpful video. Thank you!!

[@Mike-su8si]

On my craftsmen mowers what would burn out on them was the ignition relay box first then the fuse most the times only the relay would blow out while the fuse still good

[@slimvice9002]

I have to bypass the solenoid by touching the two bolts to get my husqvarna started every time because the turning the key wont do anything or I have to jump the starter from the tractor battery to get the tractor working. Just brought that ignition solenoid (4-prone) last fall and no continuity is coming from the 2 small bolts where one wire is the trigger wire and the other is the ground. If the tractor can start with the key can you still jump the ignition solenoid with the screw driver (touching the 2 big bolts) when the key is off.

[@jefmichel2302]

Going to look at my no start now...

[@jefmichel2302]

Watching your video a third time. I pulled the solenoid and tested it and it seems to work and have continuity. Ignition switch seems to check out. Pulled starter and it spins connected to battery. The one thing I did not do is simply jump the solenoid, which I will try next... After I put all this back together. I've got snow to plow! Useful video. Thanks again.

[@jefmichel2302]

Screwdriver started it fine. Looks like I will buy a new solenoid and a handful of fuses.