What To Do If Your Riding Mower Won’t Start
Nothing to worry about! Below is a list of items to troubleshoot for your startup issue.
If you can’t start your riding lawn mower when you turn the key, there may be a variety of factors involved. There are several things that can cause this, including loose battery connections, blown fuses, damaged ignition switches, or something more serious.
If you find out that your lawn mower doesn’t work when you turn the key, you can go through some troubleshooting before calling a mechanic What To Do If Your Riding Mower Won’t Start?
Find out what to do if your John Deere or Husqvarna riding lawn mower doesn’t start or any other model. By the end, even if you don’t see a click, you’ll have enough information to run through the starting procedure to check all the items that are problematic.
What to do if your riding mower won’t start
- The gas tank is empty
- The tank is full of old or incorrect gas
- You have a plugged vent on the gas cap.
- The spark plug is broken or dirty
- An air filter has been plugged
- There is a fuel pump problem
- An unplugged fuel filter
- Fuel lines are clogged with sediment
- A dirty or malfunctioning carburetor
- An unreliable battery or lose connections
- The safety switch is not working
- The ignition switch or coil may be faulty
- Inadequate starter solenoid
- Issues with the charging system
- Procedures incorrectly followed
The starter or battery is the problem?
If your lawn tractor fails to start during proper starting procedures, the battery and starter need to be checked. Batteries should be the first place to look. Diagnosis of an engine starter problem is impossible without enough electricity. Check to make sure that all connections are properly connected to the battery. It may also be necessary to jump-start the lawn tractor if it still fails to start. You can rule out a weak battery by jumping-starting your lawn tractor. A voltmeter will also help you evaluate your battery.
The problem is not with the battery. The starter may be your problem if it makes a clicking sound when you begin the lawn tractor. A service appointment will be needed to diagnose this problem properly, so you may need to replace the starter.
Your starter could be the problem after you confirm the battery is not the problem. The starter is easy to diagnose if you hear a clicking sound when you turn the key to start the lawn tractor. If this is the case, we may recommend replacing the starter, but the diagnosis requires a service appointment.
Fresh Gasoline for Riding Lawn Mowers
Within 30 days, fuel has the most efficient combustion properties. Gas breaks down when it gets so warm that it becomes less effective. Ethanol in gasoline attracts moisture, causing your riding mower to run rough or not at all.
When fuel with ethanol is mixed with old fuel, it leaves a gummy substance that can block fuel lines and cause starting problems.
Flush the fuel tank. Your fuel system needs fresh fuel with a fuel additive to stabilize and clean it. See how Sea Foam Motor Treatment works for your riding lawn mower.
The fuel line blocked on a riding mower
Clogging can occur in your fuel system and fuel lines due to old fuel. Clearly visible clogs are not visible.
Check the fuel hoses for blockages if your riding mower won’t start because it isn’t getting fuel. By using your fuel shut-off valve or clamps, you can stop and start fuel flow.
To loosen a clogged line, spray carburetor cleaner through the line to help loosen it. Blow compressed air through the line again until it is free of clogs.
A new fuel line is required if the fuel line appears dry and brittle or if the clog cannot be removed.
Sitting Riding Lawn Mower Not Starting?
The solution is here!
You can keep your yard looking neat and clean all summer long with your lawnmower.
Long winters in storage, or not maintaining your lawnmower until it’s time to use it, can make it challenging to start.
Mowers can still fail, even if well maintained. Your lawnmower won’t start, so what do you do?
No grass can grow if there is a one-size-fits-all solution. Possible fixes for a lawn mower that won’t start are listed below.
Is it the battery or the starter?
If your lawn tractor cannot start after running through the proper starting procedure, check the battery and starter. Batteries are a logical place to start. Without enough electricity, engine starter problems can’t be diagnosed. Check that all the battery connections are properly connected. To get the lawn tractor started, jump-start it. If your lawn tractor fails to start, jumping-starting it will rule out a weak battery. Voltage meters can also be used to assess the health and strength of your batteries.
Having confirmed that your battery doesn’t have a problem, you can try repairing the starter. It’s easy to tell if the problem is with the starter by its clicking sound when you turn the key to start the lawn tractor. We may recommend replacing the starter if this is the case, but a service appointment will be necessary to diagnose the problem.
If your riding mower’s safety switch is malfunctioning, you need to replace it
To ensure the safety of your riding lawn mower, safety switches are used. An operator-sensing safety switch disengages the mower deck when the operator is not present.
The parking brake switch also prevents the riding mower from starting without the parking brake being engaged.
You will find instructions in your operator’s manual about additional safety switches on your riding mower. In the event of a malfunctioning switch, your riding mower might not start.
Multimeters can be used to test the switch or bypass it temporarily to identify a malfunctioning switch. Ensure that your riding mower has a working safety switch before operating it.
Conclusions
The repetitive pulling of a lawn mower starter cord and then hearing the motor die can be extremely frustrating and backbreaking. Perhaps you will first haul the lawn mower off to a repair shop or leave it by the curb for the bulk trash pickup day. However, you may only need to fix a simple problem What To Do If Your Riding Mower Won’t Start.
Before reaching for your wallet, check out these easy and affordable fixes. Even if one of these fixes makes your mower work again, you’re no longer obligated to continue using it. Need a tune-up for summer? Get out there and do it!
