riding mower problem

[donaldb]

I have a Scotts lawn and garden tractor--belly mower. It has a 25 hp kohler engine and a hydrostatic trans and a 54" deck. This begins my 5th mowing season with this mower. I replaced the battery for the first time a couple weeks ago. I did this because the original battery had gotten weak. I noticed that when I turned the ignition on I would hear a single click regardless of how long I held the key on------then nothing else, release the key, twist again and get another single click, do it again, same single click, and again, and again--------then the mower would crank, sometimes I would repeat this dance several times and other times it would only take a couple clicks before the mower roars to life. The new battery I bought just a couple weeks ago is now weak---When I bought it I hooked it up to my battery tender to make sure it had a full charge before I used it for the first time. When I put it in, connected it up tight, twist the key and vvvvvrrrrooooooommmmm, mower cranked right up, yea baby, brought a grin to my ole face, just what the old mower needed, a fresh new battery!! Now I am already back doing the same twist and click dance all over again. You think I have a short? a cylanoid [sic.] problem? starter works great when it gets a full kick so I don't think anything is wrong w/the starter---seems to be between the ignition and the starter---also draining a new battery---you guys got any good guesses??????

 

[ionbeam]

seems to be between the ignition and the starter---also draining a new battery---you guys got any good guesses??????

I would guess that it isn't charging. Do you have an amp meter on the mower? Do you have a volt meter? Just like Feejer or a car you should be seeing >13.6 volts when the engine is running. Put your weak battery back on the charger and then see what happens.

Don't they have some kind of mower forum you could write to? :lol:

 

[donaldb]

seems to be between the ignition and the starter---also draining a new battery---you guys got any good guesses??????

I would guess that it isn't charging. Do you have an amp meter on the mower? Do you have a volt meter? Just like Feejer or a car you should be seeing >13.6 volts when the engine is running. Put your weak battery back on the charger and then see what happens.

Don't they have some kind of mower forum you could write to? :lol:

Nope no volt or amp meter on the mower, but I have a portable digital one, I have not checked it w/the meter/tester. I have it hooked up to the battery tender as we speak, it has charged back up. I do not know how far down it drained

 

[radman]

Look for a bad/tired starter relay. Several safety relays also in line, seat relay etc. Bad/corroded connections also. They don't exactly spend a whole lotta dough on electrics quality in these things. Don't know about a drain, unless alternator regulator is sticking, allowing a back drain through the field. What else could stay energized key off? Power seat? Air suspension compressor? A/C blower motor?

 

[Diesel6.6]

Sounds like a bad starter solenoid to me. Depending on the configuration the solenoid is separate and mounted to the tractor frame or is integrated in the starter motor. If the solenoid is seperate it is a $12-$15 dollar item and can be bought just about anywhere. Also clean the ground cable where it mounts to the frame. If the solenoid is mounted into the starter the starter must be disassembled and requires knowledge of starter motors.

Hope this helps.

 

[twowheelnut]

Hmmm, I dunno, but let me go holler at Pedro. He's out mowing my lawn now. I'll get back to you...

¿Hola Señor? ¿Señor Pedro? ¡Venido aquí, por favor!