I have a 19.5 hps. briggs engine and it will not crank by the key switch. I can hit the sealnoid with a screw driver and cranks fine and turns off with key switch. So if I can turn it off by the key switch than that means the switch is good right? Just want crank by using the key but key will turn it off Please help caan I bypass any switches or relays that may cause this to happen?

Patrick, February 2006

Fixed the problem guys it was a bad safety switch under the seat eveything works great now thanks for all the help.

Patrick, February 2006

Trace the small wires from the solinoid back to the key switch.
Unplug them. With the key in the On position, Clutch pedal depressed, PTO disengaged, and weight on the seat. Touch those wires together. If the engine cranks, the key switch is bad. Also, there should be a fuse in there somewhere. Make sure it's tight in it's holder, and not blown.

Rick, February 2006

Thanks Rick and bg. Took the wires out of key switch to see if I could hot wire it so if I went with the toggle switch I would know if it would work . Hit the wires together nothing happened, really strange that I have to turn key to On position then hit solenoid with screw driver to crank it and in order to turn it off have to do this by key aas well, Do you think its just in my key switch checked seat and brake switch seem to be ok. This is very hard to figure out for me, mower is only 5 years old Thanks for the help.

Patrick, February 2006

Sounds like it may be another saftey switch issue.
If the PTO switch is engaged it will not allow power to go to the solinoid. If the seat switch or brake/clutch switch are open there will be no power to the solinoid.

Rick, February 2006

No .......when trying to crank use a test light at the solenoid to see if you are getting voltage ....my switch messed up so I just put a push button in place of it or just replace switch ..

bg, February 2006