Jason Miller 24 #1 Posted October 16 My wheelhouse 856 has a bad solenoid. I can’t seem to find the one that is currently on it online. Need some help please. This is the current one. When I turn the switch i get nothing. I replaced the battery, have spark and can jump the solenoid and it starts but nothing when I turn the switch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Miller 24 #2 Posted October 16 Forgot to say cant find this particular one one internet. All the numbers match except the -30 last 2 numbers not sure. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,474 #3 Posted October 16 That tractor didn't have a solenoid as built so don't be concerned with getting correct/ matching numbers. It's a popular conversion. Most any solenoid with 2 big terminals and 1 small one will do fine. Old fords and jeeps used them. Big box stores may have a generic tractor one too. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #4 Posted October 16 Be nice to get one simmilar so cables line up. Guessing you get 12 volts to the small terminal with the blue wire. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,739 #5 Posted October 16 Nothing special. Is easier if studs are same size and location. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Miller 24 #6 Posted October 16 Awesome! Thanks guys so much. Jason Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,319 #7 Posted October 16 Most solenoids require a GOOD ground thru the mounting lugs, otherwise the pull-in coil with one wire will NOT work. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,219 #8 Posted October 16 Many of the solenoids you will find at auto parts or big box stores will have two big terminals and two small ones, here is how they hook up. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,170 #9 Posted October 17 Jason, were you a Scout in St Johns UCC troop 35 ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,077 #10 Posted October 17 You can pick up the style Ford used just about anyplace and what I usually use. But it's wired a bit different than the two small terminal solenoid Richard is referring to. The small terminals are marked I and S. The I terminal is a bypass and sends full voltage to the coil. Just ignore it and don't use it. The mounting bracket must be grounded for the coil to operate. 3 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,474 #11 Posted October 17 @Racinbob. Neat info.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
biged77 113 #12 Posted October 17 18 hours ago, ri702bill said: Most solenoids require a GOOD ground thru the mounting lugs Twice I have suspected a bad solenoid when it turned out to be a bad ground. At least on the 300-400 series models the solenoid is mounted using bolts and nuts that may not make good contact with the (supposedly) grounded sheet metal panel. I added a separate ground wire to one of the mounting bolts to correct this issue. Any time a bad solenoid is suspected first try connecting a jumper between one of the mounting bolts and the negagive battery terminal. 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,474 #13 Posted October 17 7 minutes ago, biged77 said: . I added a separate ground wire to Excellent. When rewiring a tractor I add a separate ground wire for every circuit now. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #14 Posted October 17 7 hours ago, Racinbob said: The I terminal is a bypass and sends full voltage Here I thought that was a ground... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,077 #15 Posted October 17 1 hour ago, WHX?? said: Here I thought that was a ground... It is on some of them. But I cringe when somebody is told that if your solenoid has two small terminals one is + and the other is -. Hook up a Ford solenoid like that and it becomes a fuse tester. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EB-80/8inPA 1,641 #16 Posted October 17 Has anybody here ever tried opening one up to attempt a reconditioning? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 16,996 #17 Posted October 17 51 minutes ago, EB-80/8inPA said: Has anybody here ever tried opening one up to attempt a reconditioning? Yup, drill the rivets and open it up, clean the copper ring and contacts etc and put it back together using screws instead of rivets. If you have a bad one, open it up because you can't break it anymore than broken so there's nothing to loose (Except for a spring inside! LOL) 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EB-80/8inPA 1,641 #18 Posted October 17 53 minutes ago, wallfish said: If you have a bad one, open it up because you can't break it anymore than broken so there's nothing to loose (Except for a spring inside! That’s what I was thinking! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #19 Posted October 17 I opened one once just to check out the guts. Inquiring minds want to know. Then round filed it. I suppose if I was a strapped kid and needed to roll tho... open solenoid surgery it is... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EB-80/8inPA 1,641 #20 Posted October 18 (edited) 38 minutes ago, WHX?? said: I opened one once just to check out the guts. Inquiring minds want to know. Then round filed it. I suppose if I was a strapped kid and needed to roll tho... open solenoid surgery it is... That thought, too, had occurred to me, but I have to try it for reasons I can’t explain. Curiosity, I suppose. Or maybe I’m just that cheap lol. Edited October 18 by EB-80/8inPA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,170 #21 Posted October 18 10 hours ago, EB-80/8inPA said: Or maybe I’m just that cheap lol. Nope, just wise. I've cleaned the contacts in a couple like John described. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Miller 24 #22 Posted October 18 On 10/16/2024 at 8:17 PM, Ed Kennell said: Jason, were you a Scout in St Johns UCC troop 35 ? No I wasn’t Ed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Miller 24 #23 Posted October 18 Wow! You guys are awesome. Hopefully it is the solenoid it was $10. My uncle said it was he’s pretty sharp. My concern is I downloaded the original Manuel and there’s very few wires. Unfortunately my switch has like 6 wires coming from it and I have one its marked yellow that’s hot . I taped it off. Apparently it fell off when I took off the gas tank. Ill send pics and may need more help if this baby doesn’t start. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,170 #24 Posted October 19 12 hours ago, Jason Miller said: No I wasn’t Ed. OK, another Jason Miller. Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EB-80/8inPA 1,641 #25 Posted October 19 Well I replaced the sticky solenoid on the C-160 and I realized I should have paid closer attention to the new unit’s specs. The “Breaks & Scrappem” rated replacement came with metric studs of all things and I hadda find a 10mm socket, for crying out loud, to effectuate this replacement (along with some washers to marry the big terminals to the puny little studs); but that’s neither here nor there. The new unit works, but the old one weighs about twice as much. Yeah, I’m gonna crack that open and recondition the blessed thing. These replacement parts are kinda cheezy. Lesson learned - scrutinize the specs next time, or go to NAPA, I guess. At least I can put away the hammer now! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
