C160

[CWyatt 13]

I have a C160 that had a rat’s nest of wiring, so I replaced the harness, I have the C160 wire diagram but the wire colors are different so I am going by the letters on the switch - ignition is now white and I have it going to the coil, battery is red and I have it going to the solenoid, blue is start and I have it going to the itch interlock switch then to the solenoid, r is black and it is going to the rectifier(on the bottom pole) and a is yellow and I have it going to the lights. Lights work, I bridged the clutch interlock, which sparked, to make sure it was not a bad switch - when I turn the key to start nothing happens - can anyone help me figure this out?

[Achto 27,570]

First check I would do is to see if you are getting power to the "S" terminal on the switch with it in the start position. Check with a multi meter or test light.

 

If you are getting power at that term, then follow the blue (start) wire through all the safety switches to see if it is getting power to the small terminal on starter solenoid.

 

If you are getting power all the way to the small term on the starter solenoid, then you may have a bad solenoid, bad ground, a bad connection on the battery or battery to solenoid.

 

[CWyatt 13]

Thanks for the response - I was messing with the solenoid and actually got it to turnover back to back tries,  then got ready to put the gas tank back in and it would not work, got a new solenoid and that did not work, I have not checked to the battery ground to the frame; I did not get voltage to the blue wire on the small term on the solenoid, could it be bad contractors in the starter switch?

[ebinmaine 67,462]

1 hour ago, CWyatt said:

Thanks for the response - I was messing with the solenoid and actually got it to turnover back to back tries,  then got ready to put the gas tank back in and it would not work, got a new solenoid and that did not work, I have not checked to the battery ground to the frame; I did not get voltage to the blue wire on the small term on the solenoid, could it be bad contractors in the starter switch?

 

 

Both bad ground and faulty switch could be at fault here.

 

It's important to remember that these are DC systems. Direct Current.

A bad ground means you no longer have a complete circuit.

 

Bad switch of course would do the same.

 

If you get a replacement switch be sure to get a GOOD quality brand and make sure the part number is correct.

I've seen many times that a switch for a magneto tractor was installed where a battery ignition switch is needed and vice versa.

 

 

I see it says you have a c-160. What year and what engine?

 

 

 

[953 nut 55,212]

First thing to do is clean and tighten all electrical connections including grounds. It sounds like you have wired the components to your ignition switch properly, did you replace the terminals in your ignition switch plug? If so are you sure the tab that locks the terminal into place has latched, if not it could be making momentary contact but not be able to carry a load.

Your solenoid needs to have a good ground to work properly.

 

[CWyatt 13]

it is a 1976 with a Kohler k341;  the solenoid that is on there currently is a 3 post - battery, starter and interlock small post, do I need to go with a 4 post since it is a new harness?

[CWyatt 13]

also, I am getting 12v to the starter position on the switch; i have replaced the battery ground cable and cleaned all connections

[Blasterdad 2,692]

3 minutes ago, CWyatt said:

it is a 1976 with a Kohler k341;  the solenoid that is on there currently is a 3 post - battery, starter and interlock small post, do I need to go with a 4 post since it is a new harness?

No.

Try a jumper wire from Bat + to small post on solenoid, if it cranks you will know if the solenoid is good, which means you're not getting power to it because of the switch or wiring to it.

You said it sparked when you bypassed the clutch switch, it shouldn't have, could be that or PTO switch, BOTH will interrupt power to the solenoid.