Troy bilt horse won’t turn off

[Joshborosewicz]

Hello everyone, I have a Troy bilt horse pto with the Kohler magnum 8 and electric start. Recently after washing it I noticed that it starts up fine, but when the key is turned to the off position the engine does not shut off. I bought a replacement ignition switch with the correct 3 poles and had to move the wires in the harness plug since they are arranged different. Again it will start but not kill the engine.
I then manually took the red hot wires from the plug and started it, and then touched the green ground wire to the red hot wire and it killed the engine just fine. I believe this shows my ground is good, maybe I have the wrong plug? Help would be appreciated

 

[RandyT]

If you put 12 volts to the ignition system I am surprized that you didn't let out the factory smoke, and kill the ignition permanently. You should be able to touch the green ground wire to any metal and kill the engine.

 

[Joshborosewicz]

That’s good to know, do you have any ideas why the engine isn’t grounding when the key is turned to off?

 

[bcp]

Maybe the replacement switch doesn't ground when off?

I've seen small engines with a momentary push button or a toggle on-off switch to ground and stop the engine.

Others had a flexible metal strap that could be pushed to touch the spark plug for grounding.

Bruce

 

[2manyrocks]

Did the force of the water break the shut off switch or the wiring to it? Have you tried using a continuity meter to see if the switch and wiring is actually working?

 

[Joshborosewicz]

It’s possible the water did, I was being careful when washing it, I have not tried a meter yet, that will be my next course of action

 

[Joshborosewicz]

Ok so I take the green ground and touch it to bare metal and the engine dies. Whats that a symptom of? At this point I don’t think it’s the ignition switch, how does the key ground the engine? Does the ignition switch housing ground it?

 

[Joshborosewicz]

I feel this must be a simple issue,

 

[Richard001]

Can you give us the model and year of manufacture of your Troy Built ?

Richard

 

[Joshborosewicz]

Thank you all for your replies, it dawned on my after hooking up the new switch I never actually installed it in the metal housing and let it hang down, I didn’t even consider that the ignition switch might need to be on bare metal to ground. Long story short I installed it properly, and it now kills the engine as it should. The old ignition switch was the issue. The model of mine is a horse 2 pto made in 1985ish