Craftsman YTS 3000 Starting Issue

9 years ago

Went out to mow today and mower wouldn't start. It's about 6 years old. Everything is still original equipment.

When I turned the key I got nothing. I assumed a dead battery. I charged it for about 30 minutes. When I then tried to start it it got a steady click click click from the solenoid as long as I turned the key. The starter gear was only jumping like a quarter of an inch or so every 5 clicks or so.

I then checked the voltage at the battery with a multimeter and it read 12v. I figured it may be a bad solenoid and went and grabbed one. After I installed the new solenoid I got the same clicking. When I measure the battery voltage this time it read a little over 9V. I checked voltage on the solenoid battery side and it read the same at 9V. However, when I turned the key and got the clicking the starter side of solenoid was only showing like .220mV so super low which was it seems causing the clicking. Not enough crank to turn it.

Am I correct in assuming a mower battery can show 12v but not have the cranking amp to turn the starter?

Comments (4)

bill_kapaun
9 years ago
Yes! 8 penlight batteries will generate 12v, but not come close to cranking your engine.

12.2V is considered too low to test.12.6V is fully charged.

Most likely, your battery is toast, but I'd still get it charged and load tested.
6 years is quite long for a OPE battery though.
AmericanFight
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the confirmation. Replaced the battery and it fired right up.
Related Professionals
Parole Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Manchester Landscape Contractors · Maple Valley Landscape Contractors · Dallas Landscape Contractors · Lady Lake Landscape Contractors · Longmont Landscape Contractors · Mahwah Landscape Contractors · Muttontown Landscape Contractors · Painesville Landscape Contractors · Roseville Landscape Contractors · San Antonio Landscape Contractors · San Bruno Landscape Contractors · San Francisco Window Contractors · Montgomery Village Window Contractors · Pacifica Window Contractors
huskee1
9 years ago
2004 HUSQVARNA YTH2148 NEW 26 HP ENGINE INSTALLED 2008. my problem: pulley bearings came loose, belt broke and wrapped around clutch ogura. cleaned clutch.reconnected electrical wires. I am able to turn clutch manually.installed new pulley, belt. now will not turn over. have checked and charged battery reads over 12.6. checked solenoid battery side show s12.6 v starter side -0-. gauges respond to switch,lights work. Will not turn over.ordered new solenoid
tomplum
9 years ago
If the whole clutch turns rather than just the pulley, then you have a locator issue for the clutch and possibly a bad clutch. If your pulley in question that had the bearings fail is the clutch, then it is bad.
If you feel you can safely (it will spark) jump across the 2 large solenoid terminals, and it wants to crank- then check the following. One of the small wires on the solenoid will have a ground present if all the safety switches are correct and the other will have 12 VDC when the key is activated. Report back as concisely as you can if you need further help.