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Started By
Message
Riding mower won't start
Posted on 6/10/19 at 9:24 pm
Posted on 6/10/19 at 9:24 pm
Need some help. Went to cut grass yesterday and all my lawn mower would do is click, not crank. Just bought the battery a few months back, and tested it today with my multimeter, it read good. Tested battery to starter solenoid and it was getting power also. Today went to fool around with it again and it wont even click now.
What do you think is wrong with it? Do i need to replace starter solenoid or starter itself?
What do you think is wrong with it? Do i need to replace starter solenoid or starter itself?
11
Posted on 6/10/19 at 9:26 pm to Relham10
Clean the battery terminals.
Posted on 6/10/19 at 9:32 pm to BiggerBear
Possible because its an old mower but if its not that whats your next thoughts?
Posted on 6/11/19 at 12:02 am to Relham10
I replaced a John Deere starter for about $40 from Amazon. Try that, if it doesn't work just return it.
Had the same sort of problem this year before my first cut. Dad came out and fooled around with it and somehow figured out it was the starter. He took the old starter out and sparked it, which it still spun but somehow he determined i needed a new starter. I guess being an auto mechanic for 40 years, you learn a little.
Had the same sort of problem this year before my first cut. Dad came out and fooled around with it and somehow figured out it was the starter. He took the old starter out and sparked it, which it still spun but somehow he determined i needed a new starter. I guess being an auto mechanic for 40 years, you learn a little.
Posted on 6/11/19 at 12:14 am to Relham10
use jumper cables, ground to starter or engine body, positive to the power wire lug, now tap the other positive end to battery positive and it should turn over, if not starter is bad, if it turns over check power supply to the solenoid, if thats good jump the solenoid to confirm its the problem
Posted on 6/11/19 at 5:06 am to Relham10
Could be the safety system, too. Most mowers have a sensor that makes sure you are seated for the engine to run/start. It's possible you have a bad connection there.
Posted on 6/11/19 at 6:02 am to sosaysmorvant
Also, make sure the mower blades aren't engaged.
Posted on 6/11/19 at 6:03 am to Relham10
Trust me: throw that battery back on the charger. It may read good, but it ain’t good I don’t care what the multi-meter says. Have had this happen to me plenty of times.
Posted on 6/11/19 at 6:14 am to Relham10
Starter could be hung up on the flywheel. Tap the side of the starter a few times with a hammer and see if it starts.
Posted on 6/11/19 at 7:26 am to Pvt Hudson
quote:
Tap the side of the starter a few times with a hammer
This is how you break up the magnet inside a starter, be gentle if it is hung up.
Charge the battery first then if that doesn’t work try to jump the starter with cables as mentioned.
Posted on 6/11/19 at 8:12 am to Relham10
Your battery is not fine, or it would have started the engine.
Hook up jumper cables and try to start it. If it starts, you need a new battery (or a good charge - if it will take it).
If it doesn't, jump the solenoid with a screwdriver. If it starts, you need a battery (if it won't take a charge) and a solenoid.
My guess is the solenoid is going bad, and drew your battery down, and you should replace both (if the drained battery won't take a charge).
Hook up jumper cables and try to start it. If it starts, you need a new battery (or a good charge - if it will take it).
If it doesn't, jump the solenoid with a screwdriver. If it starts, you need a battery (if it won't take a charge) and a solenoid.
My guess is the solenoid is going bad, and drew your battery down, and you should replace both (if the drained battery won't take a charge).
Posted on 6/11/19 at 11:39 am to browl
Try this. Remove spark plug and hand pull a couple of times. If gasoline spays out you have a carburetor float problem. You will also have to change your oil. Too much compression will cause the motor to not turn over.
I installed a valve on my fuel line to stop gas from entering the piston cylinder when I'm not mowing.
I installed a valve on my fuel line to stop gas from entering the piston cylinder when I'm not mowing.
This post was edited on 6/11/19 at 11:41 am
Posted on 6/11/19 at 12:00 pm to sosaysmorvant
quote:
Could be the safety system, too. Most mowers have a sensor that makes sure you are seated for the engine to run/start. It's possible you have a bad connection there.
its activating the solenoid so that eliminates everything except the battery, solenoid, or starter itself as the issue
This post was edited on 6/11/19 at 12:14 pm
Posted on 6/11/19 at 12:05 pm to Warfox
quote:
Trust me: throw that battery back on the charger. It may read good, but it ain’t good I don’t care what the multi-meter says. Have had this happen to me plenty of times.
that wont help if it has a dead cell it will read a full charge and still put out no power
those batteries are hit and miss, i have seen brand new ones only last a month or two and read full power on a charger yet they are bad. never trust them, always check with another battery by jump cables to your car with the engine not running because lawn mower cant handle power from the cars alternator without burning up its charging circuit.
when batteries get a dead cell they read voltage power but dont allow any amperage to flow
This post was edited on 6/11/19 at 12:12 pm
Posted on 6/11/19 at 12:10 pm to nuwaydawg
quote:
Try this. Remove spark plug and hand pull a couple of times. If gasoline spays out you have a carburetor float problem. You will also have to change your oil. Too much compression will cause the motor to not turn over.
I installed a valve on my fuel line to stop gas from entering the piston cylinder when I'm not mowing.
very good call here, it could be hydro locked
most riding mowers dont have pull ropes and are electric start only, but you have the right idea. if carb flooded the engine its hydro locked so you pull the plug and it should then start cranking, if not rotate the engine by hand turning the flywheel and gas will squirt out if the carb has issues.
so far everyone has suggested the most likely causes to look at, lawn mowers arent rocket science so its a simple process of elimination to fix them.
This post was edited on 6/11/19 at 12:15 pm
Posted on 6/11/19 at 12:14 pm to Relham10
1. You can check to make sure the ignition switch is providing voltage to the solenoid coil with a multimeter. Pull one of the small leads off the solenoid and check it to make sure there is 12V there. You might need to have someone sit on the seat to trip the seat sensor. If it has 2 leads on the solenoid...you might have to connect a meter to both. If it reads negative...it doesn't matter (just means your positive meter lead was on the negative solenoid lead and vice versa). Just make sure you get both small leads in the right place on the solenoid.
2. If you are getting voltage to the solenoid on the main battery cable and the ignition switch line(s) then you could try to cross the main poles on the solenoid with a screwdriver if you're not concerned...it it turns over..then your battery is good, your starter is good..your solenoid is suspect. Could just need a cleaning.
3. None of what I've said above is OSHA or recommended by anyone..but it works. Try at your own risk.
2. If you are getting voltage to the solenoid on the main battery cable and the ignition switch line(s) then you could try to cross the main poles on the solenoid with a screwdriver if you're not concerned...it it turns over..then your battery is good, your starter is good..your solenoid is suspect. Could just need a cleaning.
3. None of what I've said above is OSHA or recommended by anyone..but it works. Try at your own risk.
Posted on 6/11/19 at 1:27 pm to NASA_ISS_Tiger
Similar issue here:
No click or crank:
-Replaced Battery
-Repacked Solenoid
-Replaced ignition switch because my dumb arse opened it and all of the springs flew out
-Tested all safety switches for continuity and all are good it seems.
I can jump by the screwdriver method easily....
No click or crank:
-Replaced Battery
-Repacked Solenoid
-Replaced ignition switch because my dumb arse opened it and all of the springs flew out
-Tested all safety switches for continuity and all are good it seems.
I can jump by the screwdriver method easily....
Posted on 6/11/19 at 1:36 pm to SATNIGHTS
bad ground?
Posted on 6/11/19 at 1:45 pm to Relham10
quote:
Just bought the battery a few months back, and tested it today with my multimeter, it read good
What did it read and was it under load when you tested it?
Connect your meter leads to your battery terminals and check the voltage while you turn the key or, better yet, turn on the headlights if so equipped. See what the voltage drops to then. That will give you a better indication of the battery health.
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