Thanks WM75Guy:Many of the old solenoids grounded through the body, hence only a positive wire going to it. Problem was when corrosion built up where the solenoid contacted the mounting surface, you lost the ground and the solenoid quit working. Newer solenoids have a dedicated ground wire to alleviate that problem.
You might try to ask your local Rehilko (Kohler) repair shop or use this website.
Have Small Engine questions?
Thanks for responding. I held off inserting the wire harness into the solenoid receptacle because the locking clips would have made it nearly impossible to remove if I had the wires reversed. After I read your quote, I tried to make the connection and the 2 locking clips hit on the edge of the receptacle and that's as far as it would go. I filed off the 2 clips and made the connection. I tested the solenoid by doing the plus red/ black minus on a 12 volt battery. Low and behold the piston retracted. After the weather warms up (now+15 degrees in my garage) I'll put it all together and see if it starts. THANKS AGAIN! FredThe old solenoid did not have a internal suppression diode inside so it just grounded to carb body. The new one does have a diode so has separate grounding. Red is positive and black is to ground on these.