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rider mower starter

4K views 20 replies 7 participants last post by  noquacks 
#1 · (Edited)
People,

Have a Yard Machines, 13HP sit down mower. 11 yrs old. When I turn the key on, nothing happens unless I hold the key in the start position for say, 20-30 seconds. What could this be? Battery is like new. Does it just about every time. Once the starter turns, it does so at a good rate/speed, meaning, is not slugish. Not sure if that hhelps....

Im thinking its th starter- maybe brushes(?)

Thanks!
 
#4 ·
Before I would go taking anything loose, I would check ALL cable connections. Remove them one-at-the-time, use a small wire brush to clean the mating surfaces of the cable and what it attaches to. Do this for both the positive and negative cables. If this does not solve the problem, then YES I would jump the solenoid to see if that may be it. Most likely your starter if not the culprit in this case, as you state that when it does engage it turns really well.
 
#9 ·
The usual path for the starter circuit is from the key to the seat switch, the clutch/brake and then to the solenoid.
If you aren't seated, with the clutch/brake engaged the solenoid won't operate.

If you are seated with the clutch/brake depressed and you can hear the solenoid click when the key is operated, a starter motor problem is indicated.
To test the motor, run a battery jumper cable from the + terminal on the battery to the starter motor terminal.
MAKE SURE THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER IS IN NEUTRAL, AS THE MOTOR MAY START AND HAVE THE MACHINE TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN.
 
#10 ·
Good tip, wildie. Yeah, come to think of it, it does have a clutch safety switch. And, I do NOT hear that click when key is turned. Yes, I of course depress the clutch pedal to activate the switch, but then, I dont hear any "click". I just wait those 20-30 seconds. So what does that mean?
 
#12 ·
do you have an automotive test light??

before jumpering anything, a test light will quickly tell you what is going on..

connect the clamp end to the neg post of your battery. Touch the pointed end to the pos post and notice the light.

take the pointed end now and touch each large side of the solenoid, one should light all the time, the other not. no touch the small terminal on the solenoid and have someone sit in the seat and try to start the motor normally (clutch in, turn key). do you immediately get power to the small terminal?? if no, try a jumper directly from battery pos terminal to small terminal on solenoid, if yes, touch the large terminal that did not light before, do you have power?? if no, faulty solenoid, if yes, move to large terminal on starter.

rod
 
#17 ·
Sounds like your solenoid is working. That is the clicking noise. That also means your safety switches are also working.

I would get a volt meter and measure the voltage at the starter when you turn the key. If you are getting 12v, then you may need a new starter. If you are getting less, then the cable may be bad.
 
#20 ·
Not normally. Unless cleaning the motor cleaned the connection and allowed some of the wire to make better contact or the gunk was binding the starter somehow. Either way, it's a rare occurrence. I would expect the problem to return at some point.

I rewired my mower a few years ago. I bought a new starter switch, solenoid and 10 ga. wire. Once I finished, it went from sluggish cranking to fast. It's probably something to consider if this keeps up. I think all of the parts cost me around $100 from JD.
 
#6 ·
#13 ·
Tanks, guys. More good points. Been rainy all day here. Too wet. Would like to try that test light thing (yes, I have a test light), but need to coerce one of the kids to sit on the seat...LOL

May be a week or so before it dries up here......

By them grass will be too high!!
 
#15 ·
I had the same problem and it turned out to be the ignition switch. They run about $15 and are all pretty much the same on riders. I've only seen 2 or three different types in my day and have some old equipment so I pretty much stay under the hood a lot.

They are not very well waterproofed in my opinion and if you leave your mower out sometimes, water gets in the switch and all the contacts get rusty. Try www.mytractorforum.com for rider information and tips. They are a helpful bunch of guys. If you don't have your manual you will probably find it here or someone will scan theirs and send it to you. They saved my butt a couple of times.

Once you get the wiring schematics for your switch hook up a 9 volt battery to your power leads on your switch and a 12 volt automotive light to the respective terminals and test out the switch. Most ignition switched come with 5 to 6 leads. Positive, negative, starter hot lead, safety switch (clutch), alternator and kill switch.
 
#16 ·
update: cleaned everything. Its been 2 months, but finally got around to it (other DIY stuff- read my posts......LOL)

Now, just tonight, turned key, clicked every time! I kept turning ket on/off, and every time I hear a CLICK. Finally, agter doing this for 3-4 minutes (a long time), starter turned, and I cut grass. Now, no more playing around- I understand if theres a click, it indicated the starter, right? But when the starter DID engage, it turned very well. vigorously........

I got about 10 days max to fix before grass grows too high again.
 
#19 ·
Now, thing is acting just fine!!! Geez, whats going on??

I did spray engine with cleaner, as it was all crudded up, including the starter hot wire. After cleaning/washing/drying, thats when It started just perfectly! Could the crud all over that starter have insulated and prevented the starter from a good voltage ?

Thanks!
 
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