How to Change a Solenoid in a Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower

Contact MTD or visit your local lawn care store in order to obtain the correct replacement solenoid part for your specific Troy-Bilt lawn mower. You must have your mower's model number with you.

Open the front hood or cover over the lawn mower's engine to locate the battery. It will have a red "positive" wire and a black "negative" wire coming out of its ends. Use a socket wrench to loosen and disconnect the red wire so you are not shocked, and then remove the black wire in the same fashion.

Find the solenoid between the lawn mower's starter and the battery. The other end of the red battery wire extends back and connects to one side of the solenoid. Use your socket wrench to twist the bolt that the wire connects to counterclockwise. Remove the other wire on the other side of the solenoid by utilizing your socket wrench the same way.

Take off the solenoid's wire harness by using a knife to pry under and lift up on the retainer clip. Lift up on the small wires that constitute the harness to remove it entirely.

Loosen the four bolts that hold the solenoid to the machine's frame by again using your socket wrench. Lift out the solenoid.

Lower the replacement solenoid into the lawn mower. Connect both of the main wires back onto the solenoid's side bolts using your wrench.

Place the wiring harness back over the solenoid, and make sure it creates contact with the solenoid's electrical connectors.

Connect the black and red battery cables onto the battery, then shut the engine hood.