New tractor! Just got this Craftsman GT

I recently picked up this Craftsman GT. My plan is to turn it in to a utility vehicle/trail rig. So far these are the mods I'm planning to do.
25×10×12 Kenda Bearclaws
18×7×8 SunFs
Front bumper with tow pins
Rear rack
And of course lots more but I am having a wiring issue and the starter is not engaging when I turn the key. If anyone has a suggestions please let me no.
Thanks!

Cool build plan.

Basically 12v needs to get from the keyswitch to the small terminal for the coil on the solenoid.  You might be having a problem with a seat switch, PTO switch, or safety relay that some machines have.  Sounds like now is a good time to re-wire the tractor.

Nice tractor! Is that Magnum an 18hp unit? I have the horizontal shaft version in my GT6000 off-roader and it's a fantastic engine. Looking forward to seeing what you do with 'er.

About the no cranking, does the solenoid click when you run the key? If so the solenoid might be bad. These tractors have a clutch safety switch too so the clutch pedal has to be pushed in to crank the engine.

AllisKidD21 wrote:

Nice tractor! Is that Magnum an 18hp unit? I have the horizontal shaft version in my GT6000 off-roader and it's a fantastic engine. Looking forward to seeing what you do with 'er.

About the no cranking, does the solenoid click when you run the key? If so the solenoid might be bad. These tractors have a clutch safety switch too so the clutch pedal has to be pushed in to crank the engine.

Thanks. Yes it is a 18hp magnum. And the solenoid does click. I would have changed it out already but its a 4 pole and I don't have any of those laying around.

You can replace it with a 3 pole

Crazy_Carl wrote:

You can replace it with a 3 pole

Okay but which wire should I leave unhooked? I also am going to bypass the safety switches and see if that works.

You could run a wire from the battery, to a light switch, then to the starter.... no dont do that...


Nice tractor at any rate. Dual exhaust would get some awesome points.

@mowerjunkie03 whichever wire goes to ground, but you could put a ring terminal on the wire and ground it to one on the mounting bolts on the 3 pole solenoid, makesure you have a good ground for that

Rewiring it would be a good idea, Fearless Front has a good, simple tutorial on it. Cheap too, I did mine for like $12.

Okay I trouble shooted the issue. The clutch relay was bad so I bypassed it. I still need a rewire but this will work for now.

Great I love to hear success stories and if we here at the ATLTF community were of assistance, then that's great too.

Thank you everyone for your imput. It is much appreciated

Does anyone know how to rename a thread? Or delete one?

You can go back to your first post and hit the "Edit" button, that'll let you change the title.

delete is an Mod and Admin function. but like Allis mentioned, go back to the first post to change title.

Its not allowing me to change the title.

I now have a project name and a official plan so I should prabably just start a new thread.