Well, I hope they work it out so that I'm not the bad guy. I know both the manager and the head mechanic. They are good people. I'll be happy if they fix it and I'm ready to move on.
Speaking of lawn mower problems. I'm not a mechanic, as I said. But my good old Snapper riding mower up and refused to start for me the other day. All I got was a clicking noise when I turned the key. The shop I would normally take the mower into for repairs and maintenance is currently backed up 3 weeks. So, I talked to the head mechanic and he suggested I replace the solenoid, which he thought was probably the problem.
In theory, replacing the solenoid should not be a problem. However, the solenoid on this Snapper mower was positioned under the seat and the screws bolting the solenoid to the frame were next to impossible to reach. After much effort, I finally got the solenoid out, but I broke off one of the terminals in the process. So, if the solenoid was good before, it was certainly broken now.
I bought a replacement solenoid at the Fleet store when I went there to talk to the shop manager. Less than $12.00 for a new solenoid, but I knew it was not the cost of the part that was going to be the problem on this repair.
I had a few other errands to run in town, so I also ended up going to an Auto Electric shop and had them test the old solenoid. They said it tested out good, but with the broken terminal, it would have to be replaced. Since the solenoid was good, they said I needed to check out the starter motor and make sure that was working.
Seems like I always break 2 things trying to fix one.I was pretty discouraged at this point, knowing that I broke a good solenoid and thinking that I was going to have to replace the starter next. I took off the starter, which was pretty easy, and it tested out fine. So, I put it back on the engine. Next was to replace the solenoid and hope that the mower would start, or at least have everything back together before I hauled it into the shop.
It took me nearly another 2 hours to put in the new solenoid! I just could not reach the screw head to bolt it down way back under the seat. I had half my garage tools out trying to get something to work. Finally, after much effort, I finished the job. It only took me 3 hours to perform a 15 minute job! I was completely soaked from the heat and humidity, and dead tired, mostly from all the frustration.
Well, I turned the key and the mower started right up! So, my 3 hours spent working on the machine was well worth it considering it would have been sitting in the shop for 3 weeks, or longer, waiting to get serviced.
I mainly use the old Snapper to tow my garden cart full of tools and such for gardening. I need to break down some more pallets to build another raised garden bed but had no good way to move all the lumber without my garden cart. Tomorrow, if it does not rain, I'll be able to start on another pallet wood raised bed build. So, I'm hiting the bed tonight completely tired out from the repair job but looking forward to doing something productive tomorrow.
