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MTD riding mower won't start

Jeff
15 years ago

I was able to start the mower w/no problems the first time I tried it this season but after that, the battery died (or I think it died). I jump started the mower using my car battery and it worked. But I can't get the mower to hold a charge (but it runs fine once it starts). Today I tried going into reverse w/out shutting the mower off and it stalled (because you have to turn the mower off to reverse direction). Now it won't start at all, whether I'm jumping the battery or not- I get no sound, no grinding, no clicking, no anything at all.

Yesterday I noticed that one of the wires on the seat interlock was disconnected (and I had been able to start and run the mower w/out putting any weight on the seat). I was wondering if I was draining the battery by having that wire touch the body of the mower. Connecting or disconnecting the wire makes no difference in it starting now.

Please help if you have any ideas, or write back if you need more information. Thanks.

Jeff

Comments (9)

  • rustyj14
    15 years ago

    If the battery is more than 3 years old--buy a new one! Then, clean up all of the connections, such as ends of battery cables, and especially the ground wire where it bolts to ground, i.e.tractor frame, or body of tractor. Use new bolts, nuts, and lock washers to connect the new battery! This will make sure you have a good electrical connection in the starting circuit!
    there is also, usually, a fuse in the line somewhere. It will be one of those new style flat fuses, and easy to find. See if it has blown. You'll be able to tell easily. The little curved piece of metal in it should look to be in one piece. If it has blown, there will be a gap in it, and a burnt look.
    Also, the bolted connections to the starter solenoid are known to get corroded and cut off current to the starter solenoid! And, any battery cables with a green powder coming out of the covering are ripe for replacement.
    The seat switch wires should be connected, to avoid hurting anybody who might manage to tamper with the mower if you aren't on it! Especially little kids!

  • Jeff
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    Thanks for the reply. The battery is over 3 years old and I can replace it. I also checked the fuse and it was fine. What's strange is that I had been able to jump start the mower a few times earlier even that same day, but the last time I tried to do it I got absolutely nothing. I can't imagine that this is due to any of the wires (which don't look rusted or corroded at all, by the way).

    Could I have damaged something by either jump starting the mower with the car (I kept the car off while doing this so I wouldn't blast the battery w/too many amps- if that makes sense at all)? Also as I mentioned, I tried putting the mower in reverse while it was running and that's when it stalled. Is there anything big I could have broken doing that, like a solenoid or starter motor?

    Thanks again.

  • giventake
    15 years ago

    Any damage done would be from lack of voltage/amps, a DC mtor will burn instead of work, with low voltage. If a DC volt motor isn't doing it's job STOP using it till you find out why, it burns up switch's connections, etc.

  • bill_kapaun
    15 years ago

    I don't have a schematic for that mower, but typically, if the wire to the seat switch shorted out, it would blow the fuse.
    Have you reset the PTO clutch to OFF.
    You might try jiggling the other switches some too.

    A 3 year old battery was suspect a year ago!.
    You might also try jumping 12V directly to the small terminal on the starter solenoid. That bypasses about everything and should cause the solenoid to engage and crank the engine.

  • steve2ski
    15 years ago

    Battery is probably bad, take the battery to your local auto parts store and have them check it - that costs nothing - but time - purchase a new battery from them if it checks bad.
    The battery needs to be good then you can properly troubleshoot other problems, if necessary.

  • tomplum
    15 years ago

    Unsure of what MTD you have, but most fuses for MTD riders are under the center cover ahead of the seat. (where the shift lever goes thru) Some are in the rear compartment and some are under the hood. The seat switch wire won't pop the fuse on these- just ground the ignition. If it died in reverse, the little switch that your shift lever hits could be suspect. It has 1 wire that you could disconnect and tape to test. Also, if yours is a model where your deck engage and height adjustment is all on the same lever, I would suspect that things are getting a bit worn in the lever / gate. If you can pull back the lever, and it cranks- that is your issue with the no crank and likely the kill in reverse because it thinks the deck is engaged. This could also apply to a PTO switch / lever on other types as well. Good luck.

  • lumper20
    15 years ago

    Last post was good. Lift up the seat and you will see the model number. You can go to the MTD website and download the owners manual for the model. I am no pro. I got rid of my MTD for a JD.

  • mroundabout
    14 years ago

    I've had exactly the same symtems as hji. It is an MTD 250/96 and since inheriting it last year it always had a certain reluctance to turn the engine. The clicks (or clunks) would repeat a few times, then off it would go. Then it didn't. Believing it was a flat battery, I jump started it.

    Then suddenly nothing, not a click or any sign of life anywhere - not even a jump did it. I read all the advice on here (there's a more recent thread with the same complain) and tried what I could and still nothing. Read about solenoids and things and safety switches (which I didn't understand). But tried with my foot hard on the break (or clutch or whatever it is). Turned the ignition switch and it leapt into life as though there had never been a problem!

    So I dunno!

  • mownie
    14 years ago

    From your account of the circumstances, I would guess that the brake pedal/clutch pedal interlock switch is out of adjustment, or the mounting bracket for the switch is loose, bent, or otherwise.....not in the position it needs to be in. This switch is there to prevent the starter from engaging (and causing the engine to start and run) when the brake pedal is released (because if it were "in gear", it would take off spontaneously when started". If the switch is out of adjustment or loose, or the switch bracket bent.....it inhibits the starter form operating even though the pedal may actually be "down". Pressing even harder on the pedal pretty much determined that the switch and starter are functional.....but the switch is out of specified adjustment.

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