How to Test the Solenoid on a Kohler Lawn Mower Engine
If you are having trouble starting your Kohler lawn mower, it may be due to a bad solenoid. If the solenoid is bad, it will weaken the battery and prevent the lawn mower from starting. You can test the solenoid using a volt meter. If it gives a reading less than 12 volts, it is not working properly.
Items Needed:
- Volt meter
- Park the lawn mower on flat surface. A street or level garage floor is sufficient.
- Open the hood of the lawn mower and locate the battery. Follow the positive battery cable until you come to the end of it. It will be attached to the solenoid.
- Find the small wire that is connected to the solenoid and disconnect it.
- Purchase a volt meter from your local auto parts store. Hook the red, positive wire clamps to the wire that was disconnected in the previous step. Connect the black, negative wire clamps to a ground. Any piece of metal such as a bolt or metal portion of the engine will work as a ground.
- Read the volt meter. It should said 12 Volts. If it does not display a reading, the ground could be faulty. Adjust the negative wire clamp to a new ground and read it again.
- Attach the disconnected wire back to the solenoid. Clamp the positive volt meter cable to the top right corner of the solenoid. Connect the negative cable to a ground. Read the volt meter. If it does not give a reading, it means electric is not flowing the to solenoid. If the reading is less than 12 Volts, there is not enough electric flowing to it. This means the solenoid is bad.