How to Change the Igniter on a Yard Machine Riding Lawn Mower

Turn off your Yard Machine riding lawn mower and open the hood over its engine.

Check the Yard Machine riding lawn mower's spark plug. Ensure the thin, black ignition wire is inserted into its rear. If it is not, reinsert it. The spark plug is an ignition part crucial to allowing your engine to ignite.

Disconnect the spark plug from the ignition wire if the wire was already successfully connected. Replace the spark plug by sliding a new spark plug in and connecting the Yard Machine's ignition wire into the rear of it.

Check the old, removed spark plug as a precaution. If it has white deposit build up on it, you have likely been using old or low quality oil. Unscrew the oil plug from the base of the Briggs & Stratton engine and drain the oil out into an oil pan for disposal. Set the plug back into position.

Ensure the red positive terminal wire and black negative terminal wire are connected to the battery, and then follow the red wire back to the engine's solenoid. The solenoid is key to the mower's ignition system. Ensure the red wire is attached to the solenoid's side bolt. Reattach and tighten it with a socket wrench if necessary.

Disconnect the terminal wires from the battery if ignition problems persist. Use your socket wrench.

Disconnect both wires from the bolts on the side of the solenoid with your wrench.

Remove the solenoid's wire harness. Push a knife or similar tool under the retainer clip on the harness and push the tool upward to disengage the retainer clip. Pull off the wire harness.

Detach the solenoid's mounting bolts by rotating the bolts clockwise with your socket wrench. Pull out the solenoid.

Mount the replacement solenoid in the spot vacated by the old.

Follow the previous solenoid steps in reverse to reattach the solenoid and finish installation.

Reconnect the terminal wires to the battery using your socket wrench.