jonsered yth16 clicking

12 years ago

So, I got a jonsered yth 16 with briggs and Stratton 16hp v-twin.

Turn the key, there's a click, I assume it's the solenoid. So I do the following ;

I check the engine turns by hand, which it does, it has compression too.
I turn put a jump lead direct from battery positive terminal to the starter, the mower trys to start.

No idea why but I leave the negative lead off, I use voltage meter direct to battery.

I now use voltage tester, I test my battery, I then test the first terminal ofcthe solenoid, all is fine, I test the next terminal and the terminal on the starter I still get the same reading on both. So now whilst still seeing the same reading at starter to negative on battery, I connect the negative, the clickers heard and my reading on starter has gone, take lead off, it's back etc.

The click is coming from the front of the engine, not coming the starter nor the solenoid. I took top cover off engine, I see a tiny single wire vanishing behind the carb and air filter, this is where the click comes from. Next step is to take air box off?

All in all I wondered if anyone has had this problem. I have read forums after forums but their problem is always the solenoid.

Thanks in advance, sorry to have waffled on

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Comments (3)

mownie
12 years ago
The slight click you hear coming from the bottom of the carburetor is only the fuel solenoid valve (not the starter solenoid) operating normally, no need to go chasing that, it is not part of, nor symptom to, the no cranking issue.

A battery.s state of health cannot be determined with just a volt meter, voltage is only part of the necessary requirement.
To gauge the condition of a battery, the battery must first be fully charged to its correct standing voltage (something near to 13 or 13.2 VDC) and then LOAD TESTED to see if the battery CAPACITY is sufficient for the job it has to do.
Over here in the U.S., we have "auto parts stores" that will load test batteries at no cost. I will presume the U.K has similar arrangements?
Your checks with a volt meter are kind of ambiguous in that you did not state what the readings are, only that you "get the same reading".
Please post what battery voltage you read when checking across the battery terminals.
At this point, it appears you have a weak battery.
Sometimes a battery can become so weak that it will not even be able to operate the solenoid, but usually when that is the case............jumping directly to the starter will only produce some arcing without actually trying to turn the engine.
Oh, and one sentence needs clarification. You state "I turn put a jump lead direct from battery positive terminal to the starter, the mower trys to start."
Does that mean the engine tries to spin, but just can't seem to get spinning?
Or, does that mean the engine spins normally as it should when cranking, but it refuses to begin running of its own volition?
Aberdeenshire
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi, thanks for your awesome reply,

The reading was always 12.62volts
And when putting positive lead from battery to start, the starter engages and spins, therefore turns the engine nicely, but engine refused to start.

Thanks for your help and explaining what that carb solenoid was, never knew it existed haha
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Aberdeenshire
Original Author
12 years ago
Now fixed, thanks for your help, just for reference, I took the earth off the engine cleaned it and off the frame cleaned it.... Engine started fine..

Then everytime I let the brake off it stalled. This turned out to be the switch on seat wasn't getting pressed.