Going insane trying to get Troy-Bilt 7 Speed Pony to Start

---

I was forced to purchase a used troy-bilt pony 7 speed 42 inch riding lawn tractor. I was unable to find an affordable tractor, considering a NEW troy bilt is 3 grand. Despite the high cost of a lawn mower, the lawn still has to get mowed at my second property. The tractor has a Briggs and Stratton engine on it which I am impressed with.

I originally thought it was a solenoid fault, whenever I turned on the key it simply clicked. I went on amazon and purchased what looked like the correct part, however after a month it never arrived. In the mean time the grass is still growing and I am thinking the solenoid is bad.

The funny thing is, I happened to have a used solenoid on hand and swapped out the solenoid and the tractor still did the same thing. However, when I jumped the two posts on the solenoid the tractor would start. Not at the turn of the key. Volts are getting to the starter, amps are not.

Once "the right" solenoid finally arrived from amazon, I hooked it up, bolted everything into place and the tractor did the same thing. It simply clicked when you turned they key. ERRR! LOL.

By this time the grass is 3 foot tall so I figured it was the starter since the new solenoid did not fix the problem and at this point jumping the two posts was no longer kicking the starter on. Little did I know, just like the solenoid is in a bad spot the starter is mounted inconveniently, requires a T40 star bit and/or a 1/2 inch socket with an extension. The entire plastic shroud has to come off.

Briggs and Stratton Engine Starters

It just so happened to be that the starters on both of my lawn mowers are cross-compatible. At one property I have the troy-bilt and at the other a Poulan with the same deck size. Both tractors have briggs and stratton engines, both engines perform well.

It just so happened to be my poulan is out of commission, waiting on parts, so I decided to try swapping the starter out.

Briggs and Stratton Engine Starter Removal Requirements

• The plastic cover on the top of the engine has to be completely removed. It has 4 bolts that are hard to reach, only reachable with a 10 mm wrench.
• T40 Star Bit (1/2 drive size works).
• 1/2 socket + extension. Deep well or short well socket works.
• Be very careful with the star bit and socket or the bolts will strip. The one bolt is very hard to reach so start with the bolt you can reach. Then, you can move the starter enough to access the bitch bolt.