90% of eX-Mark z turn mowers have a Kohler Command engine. So I will go with that for now. On the right (when sitting on the mower) of the engine. Look for the Rectifier/Voltage regulator. It will have two same colored wires and one of another color plugged into it. Like in the photo. The rectifier will have two screws that hold it to the engine shroud. Loosen one of the screws and attach a 14 or 16 GA wire to the screw. Ground the other end of the wire to the frame. Do not know how it works. But doing it will fix 99% of the charging problems on a Kohler Command engine. I have been running three of mine mine like that for 6 to 8 years and have yet to find a dead battery or experience any other electrical problems.

With the new solenoid and a new key switch that pretty much leaves the PTO switch and the brake/clutch switch to test. You can test the white wires at the clutch/brake switch for the presence of 12 volts while the key is held in the start position and the PTO switch is in the engaged (blades ON) position and the clutch.brake pedal in the up position. With the PTO switch and the brake/clutch switch set as described...........only one white wire at the brake/clutch switch should be showing 12 volts (while key is in start position). If you do have 12 volts on 1 white wire at clutch/brake switch, press and hold the brake/clutch pedal down and check the other white wire for 12 volts. If no 12 volts, clutch/brake switch is defective. If you do have 12 volts on both white wires, the trouble is in the wiring that leads from the clutch/brake switch to the starter solenoid. If neither white wire at clutch/brake switch is showing 12 volts, you need to back track to the PTO switch and check the white wires on it. At the PTO switch, with the key in the start position, and PTO switch engaged as before, BOTH white wires should show 12 volts. If only 1 white wire shows 12 volts, defective PTO switch. If neither white wire on PTO switch shows 12 volts, the trouble is in the white wire between the key switch and the PTO switch.

Oleanders make a great privacy hedge. I grew up in South Texas where they are a very common part of the public and private landscape. My parent's house had a privacy hedge of oleanders between their house and the neighbors when I was growing up. They do require some heavy pruning every so often because they can become very large. They also live forever....those oleanders are still at my mom's house and looking good (and my kids are in their 20's. Yes, they are poisonous.....but so are many other common plants...just teach the kids that if it isn't food it doesn't go in their mouth.

I'm very happy to report that the new chooks are settling in incredibly well. They are all now laying in the nesting boxes. Their feathers are growing back pretty well, too. They are extremely friendly. They run towards us as soon as they see us. Then they stay around your feet and start pecking, scratching, and clucking. They are quite happy to have pats, too. They are now outside the shed and enclosure the whole day and have the run of the whole place (except the vegie patch, of course). They seem to be a very happy lot. :) Only new thing at the moment which they haven't worked out yet is the rooster. When he makes his advances they either step aside elegantly or fluff up their feathers and tell him in no uncertain terms to bugger off. He keeps his distance now most of the times.