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05-23-2020, 06:15 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,372
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Lawnmower fixing advice....
K.. so I’m hopin I can get some genuine good input here.
I have to help fix a couple of riding mowers for a very senior senior citizen in my community.
Both wouldn’t start because they had ‘electrical problems.
Turns out that the batteries weren’t good on both (weak) and he’d daisy chain a rush charge battery charger to a car battery then put one clip on the positive pole of the starter.... then touch the starter housing with the negative.....
Guess this worked to start the mowers in the past.... but this year nope.
I’ve started working on one mower.... replaced the battery (they’re expensive!) and tried to fire it up.... it’s got juice.. starter won’t turn over, but the wire to the negative side of the starter ( I think ) sure as hell got hot.
So I gotta get another starter? Replace solonoid?
Any ideas?
Yes, gas is good....
__________________
"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
-HDT
"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends on the character of the user." T. Roosevelt
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05-23-2020, 06:24 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 562
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If its melting there maybe a short? Can always hook leads to starter to see if it will even turn... spitballin here
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05-23-2020, 06:44 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Leduc
Posts: 1,638
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Reversed polarity or short.
Check the relay also.
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05-23-2020, 07:01 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Spruce Grove, AB
Posts: 3,045
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Had to change the solenoid on mine once due to a no start however your situation sounds like something else. Best of luck.
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05-23-2020, 07:26 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 261
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Brake interlock switch?
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05-23-2020, 07:38 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,522
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Bench test the starter or just do like they did to see if it will crank. If so started is good move onto the solenoid. The solenoid should have 12v all the time on one side and zero on the other. When you hit the start position on the key ensure you have 12v going to the signal wire first. If not may be the ignition. If you have 12v at the signal of the solenoid and nothing on the other side to the starter probably a bad solenoid. Check all your connections for corrosion and clean them. Make sure ground is good. Sounds like a bad starter to me though.
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05-23-2020, 08:11 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A bit North o' Center...
Posts: 11,150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elk eater
Make sure ground is good.
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What Elk Eater said - Check this first. Corrosion of the ground wires and their connection points can cause decreased starting performance over time, especially as the corrosion progresses year after year.
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05-23-2020, 09:55 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Carvel
Posts: 127
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If it’s a John Deere, there is wiring harnesses that runs under the battery tray. Pull the wiring connector apart, and check the connector pins. My had corroded to dust, the tractor was only 4yrs old. I cut the wires and spliced in a flat trailer plug, cheaper than spending 300$ from JD. on new wiring harness.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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05-23-2020, 09:59 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: New Beijing, Canada
Posts: 1,470
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I had one that would jump off the starter but was a bear to get spinning.
Tightened up the valve lash to 3-4 thou. That did the trick
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05-23-2020, 10:01 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Edmonton (shudder)
Posts: 4,639
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You should insure that the engine isn’t seized too while testing the starter.
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05-24-2020, 08:47 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elk eater
Bench test the starter or just do like they did to see if it will crank. If so started is good move onto the solenoid. The solenoid should have 12v all the time on one side and zero on the other. When you hit the start position on the key ensure you have 12v going to the signal wire first. If not may be the ignition. If you have 12v at the signal of the solenoid and nothing on the other side to the starter probably a bad solenoid. Check all your connections for corrosion and clean them. Make sure ground is good. Sounds like a bad starter to me though.
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Just replaced the starter on my quad. Cranked very slowly, no power, disassembly showed a real internal mess. Starters are cheap on Amazon.
Grizz
__________________
"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
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05-24-2020, 09:16 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,043
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Clean the connections attaching the leads to the solenoid. Still doesn't work, the old and easy way to check the starter and solenoid is to take a screw driver and bridge the two terminals on the solenoid, you have to have the brake safety switch engaged on some tractors or it may not spin. If the starter spins it isn't the starter. Then you know it is likely the solenoid, or up river of that. Fastest way to eliminate the starter without pulling it out.
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05-24-2020, 10:07 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,372
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I must be getting old.....
I forgot about the screwdriver bypass trick.
Yea.... solo kids and starters are pretty easy to source... so I’m going to dig into it
Get my boy to do a little mechanics work.
__________________
"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
-HDT
"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends on the character of the user." T. Roosevelt
"I don't always troll, only on days that end in Y."
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05-24-2020, 02:00 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,372
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Yup!!!! Got er goin!!
Cleaned the contacts
Cleaned and reattached ground
She fired up nice... works good
Was also runnin with no oil... we fixed that too.... eeesh.
Now the other one... 27h husqvarna Delux lookin motor.
Pulled the battery .... just puttin the trickle charger on it
Battery was made in ‘16... water was good
We’ll start there.....
__________________
"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
-HDT
"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends on the character of the user." T. Roosevelt
"I don't always troll, only on days that end in Y."
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05-24-2020, 03:55 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,043
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bessiedog
Yup!!!! Got er goin!!
Cleaned the contacts
Cleaned and reattached ground
She fired up nice... works good
Was also runnin with no oil... we fixed that too.... eeesh.
Now the other one... 27h husqvarna Delux lookin motor.
Pulled the battery .... just puttin the trickle charger on it
Battery was made in ‘16... water was good
We’ll start there.....
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Kind of amazing what clean contacts and a little oil can do, isn't it.
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05-24-2020, 04:03 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,372
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Yup
I made an assumption that the machine was up kept ok.
This fellow has maintained all his vehicles and equipment impeccably for his entire life.
Until now I guess.
__________________
"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
-HDT
"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends on the character of the user." T. Roosevelt
"I don't always troll, only on days that end in Y."
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05-24-2020, 08:01 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,522
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05-25-2020, 09:58 AM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A bit North o' Center...
Posts: 11,150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bessiedog
Yup
I made an assumption that the machine was up kept ok.
This fellow has maintained all his vehicles and equipment impeccably for his entire life.
Until now I guess.
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Awesome that you could get it going again!
Sometimes those sorts of things get overlooked or forgotten about over time.
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05-25-2020, 10:06 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,372
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the next one is a real real nice looking high end Husqvarna riding mower.
Gas has been sitting in the tank for 4 years now...... yuk.
Probably gummed up the carb. We'll see.
__________________
"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
-HDT
"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends on the character of the user." T. Roosevelt
"I don't always troll, only on days that end in Y."
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05-25-2020, 10:51 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,043
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bessiedog
the next one is a real real nice looking high end Husqvarna riding mower.
Gas has been sitting in the tank for 4 years now...... yuk.
Probably gummed up the carb. We'll see.
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Drain tank with the fuel hose to the carb, drain float bowl if it has a drain screw and you don't have to remove the carb,, fill with fresh premium and half a can of seafoam, turn gas on so it flows to carb. Let sit for a day. My bet is it will fire right up.
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05-25-2020, 10:56 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 8,311
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bessiedog
Yup!!!! Got er goin!!
Cleaned the contacts
Cleaned and reattached ground
She fired up nice... works good
Was also runnin with no oil... we fixed that too.... eeesh.
Now the other one... 27h husqvarna Delux lookin motor.
Pulled the battery .... just puttin the trickle charger on it
Battery was made in ‘16... water was good
We’ll start there.....
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If you haven't greased up the connections it would be a good idea to do so. Keeps them free(er) of corrosion.
BW
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05-25-2020, 11:19 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,543
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dean2
Drain tank with the fuel hose to the carb, drain float bowl if it has a drain screw and you don't have to remove the carb,, fill with fresh premium and half a can of seafoam, turn gas on so it flows to carb. Let sit for a day. My bet is it will fire right up.
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Seafoam is magic in a can. I just love the stuff.
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