I have a Toro Recycler Electric start that will start fine with the pull rope, but will not turn over with the key. I have traced power back to the microswitch right before the starter. I have power coming from the key into the switch, but no power going out of switch to the starter. I have not been able to find another switch (Honeywell V3 1080 D979). Does anyone know if I can safely bypass the switch?
Did you check the 40 amp (I think) fuse located in the battery compartment? Got me last week when the mower was choked with clippings.
Yes. Everything is good and I can trace power up to the microswitch that is right before the starter.
Whether it’s safe to bypass the switch largely depends on what the switch is actuated by. A microswitch is a mechanical switch typically triggered by the position of an external mechanical element, like a lever. I would imagine in this application it’s a safety switch, designed to make sure the starter doesn’t engage unless some other mechanical element is positioned correctly (like, the blade brake is off, or the blade clutch (if there is one) is disengaged).
My general instinct is “bypass only at your extreme peril, because is probably a safety device.”
That gives me something to look for. I will take a look and try to find anything that might be triggering the switch.
I would by-pass it temporally just to be absolutely sure that it is the problem. If it is the culprit, I would figure out what triggers it & why it is there. If the triggering mechanism is not working properly, I would fix that issue.
If the micro-switch is bad, & if it is a “safety device” that I find insane, I would permanently by-pass it.
If I feel that it is good to have, I would find a replacement micro-switch from some other manufacturer. The new switch needs to match or exceed the amp rating of the old one. It is nice if it mounts the same way as the old one.
An example of a micro-switch that I have by-passed is the one on the seat on my riding lawn mower. I disabled it so I can hop on & off the machine without it killing the engine every time I open & close gates. We have a lot of gates.