Hello, I have a 20 HP Beta with the C Panel. WOC# K 20524
I can't determine if there is a relay in the starter circuit from looking at the diagrams in the manual, or do the brown and white/red wires just run through the harness straight to the solenoid?
The reason I ask is because I am having trouble diagnosing an intermittent short. 9 out of 10 times when I turn the key the engine starts. 1 out of 10 it does not start. No clicking, just nothing, And then the next time it starts right up, until it doesn't. Maddening. I have checked all connections and can't find anything loose.
From what I understand the power comes up from the hot post on the solenoid via the Brown wire to the ignition switch. When you turn the key it connects that power and send sit down the white /red wire to the S tab on the solenoid. Engine starts.
So it seems there are three points of potential failure. 1. the switch is bad 2. Brown wire is bad 3 .White/red wire is bad.
Since these run through the harness and the space around my engine is extremely constricted it is hard to do testing as normal.
Rather than incur the expense and trouble of replacing the harness I'd like to just add new 12 guage White/red and brown wires( with inline 40 amp fuse) outside the harness and straight to switch and solenoid. However I am wondering if there is a relay in the mix that I am unaware of.
Your engine was not supplied with a starter relay. Looking at the engine will confirm.
Remove the battery ground cable and the positive battery cable from the engine. Clean these terminals with some fine sand paper and then refit. Do the same with all the other connections and you will most likely find that the problem has gone away.
