I have a Land Pride ZTR (ZSR54) in the shop with a starting problem. The engine is a Kawasaki FX730V-AS08-R. I diagnosed it rather quickly as a starter solenoid problem (it's a solenoid shift starter). The solenoid energizing wire was hot, but the battery voltage wasn't always getting over to the starter side of the solenoid. So I get a brand new $150 solenoid from Kawasaki today, put it on the starter...and it still does the same thing. Sometimes the starter engages, and sometimes you just hear a click. So instead of using a test light like I did the first time, I decided to get a volt meter out and take some actual readings. The solenoid energizing wire, when it's unhooked from the solenoid, gives me a reading of 12V. But when it's hooked up to the solenoid, when I turn the ignition key and the solenoid "clicks" but the starter doesn't engage, I get a reading of only 6V at the solenoid energizing terminal.
I feel like I'm missing something elementary from those voltage drop classes I took from Briggs & Stratton 2 or 3 years ago. Seems to me that if I check the circuit without the starter and get 12V, and then check the circuit with the starter and get 6V, the problem has to be in the starter, right? But I feel like I'm not remembering something. If so, I'm sure you guys here will be able to set me straight.