If your riding mower will not start (most of these tips are applicable to push mowers also):
I am trying to fix my MTD/Powercraft riding mower. It has an 18 HP I/C B+S motor, twin cylinder. 42a707 series. It has a hydrostatic transmission. The starter will not turn the motor to start it. I have put on a brand new starter and it still will not turn the motor. Even when I jump past all of the switches and solenoids and jumper straight from the pos (+) battery terminal to the starter, the starter still will not turn the engine.
The battery is fully charged and tested so I have ruled that out. My question is could it be that the transmission belts/blade belts are too tight? Should the transmission belts be disengaged when trying to start somehow? Right now the belts are very tight all the time and the engine is VERY hard to turn, even by hand. I know it is not a compression problem, I have taken the spark plugs out and the problem persists.
It is not an OHV engine so I am not inclined to believe that it is a valve problem. Should the clutch be disengaging the transmission belt? What exactly does the clutch do on these machines? This may be a very vague question, but I have been fooling with this tractor for a week now and I am at my wits end. If more info is needed, or questions arise please let me know. Help me if you can! Thanks.
By michael garrett from Peoria, IL
Fixed it. Please disregard this message. Apparently one of the safety switches was malfunctioning. I rewired the mower to bypass all of the safety switches and it cranked perfectly.
I have a 2002 Wheelhorse mower, model ch15s-44533, 315-8. I cannot get it to start. I replaced the ignition module (magnetic), spark plug, battery, and carb kit. It will turn over, but won't start. It was my dad's tractor and he's no longer here for me to ask. Please help.
Hardiness Zone: 7b
By jeff bashor from Centerton, AR
I have a Briggs and Stratton T1600 Twin engine on a riding mower. The mower is going okay. I replaced a newish coil with an older spare to see if it was working. There was no spark. I replaced it with a good coil, still no spark. I tried magnets on the flywheel VG, coil gaps 0.005 to 0.010" between coil "horns" and flywheel. I disconnected the coil earth lead to the switch and there was no spark. Any ideas please.
By phil kempthorne from Plymouth, England
I have riding lawn mower Ford R8 using Briggs and Stratton engine 8HP. After I replaced the gas line, I am having problems trying to start the engine. Anyone have an idea what should I do next? Thanks.
By joe sudirgo from Canton
I have a riding mower that won't start. It acts like it wants to, but won't. I shot some starting fluid in it and it will start for a few seconds then dies again. Any suggestions?
By Mike Koczan
I have a Columbia riding mover with a 12hp with I/C (industrial/commercial) engine; there is no spark. Do you have any ideas what the problem could be?
By HC
I have a riding mower with a Kohler engine. My starter is good, there is a new coil. It's getting gas through both lines on the pump, but won't run unless we keep spraying gas in the carburetor. Any idea why the gas is not getting into the carburetor?
By Richard
I have a riding mower with a Kohler engine. My starter is good, there is a new coil, it's getting gas thru both lines on the pump, but won't run unless we keep spraying gas in the carburetor. Any idea why the gas is not getting into the carburetor?
By Richard
I have replaced the head gasket on the Briggs and Stratton engine, model #313777-0134-E1, on my riding mower. It is breaking the fly wheel key and does not start. When we move the engine it moves smoothly and is not hitting anything. The push-pull rods are not bent. The valve tappet setting is also correct to specifications. Can you please advise?
By Singh from Victoria, Australia
What should I do if my riding lawn mow want start?
By Mykeba
I have a Briggs engine, 18 hp, on a riding mower. The engine will turn over, but will not not start. It seems to turn easily and then hard as you are trying to start the engine. I was told that a compression valve is not releasing properly.
By Thomas
I have a Toro riding mower. The battery is OK. It had a loose connection which had interfered with getting power to the solenoid. I wriggled the wire a bit and the solenoid began clicking. After a few tries the starter engaged briefly (a second) and disengaged immediately.
Is the starter motor connected directly from the solenoid to the starter motor? Could the loose connection which stopped the solenoid operating cause the starter problem as well? Is the starter mounted on the outside of the engine and does it look like an auto generator but smaller? The gear from that "generator-looking" item is under a small cover and when I took a look the small gear was disengaged from the fly-wheel.
By Art
When I turn over it just clicks loudly or nothing. It tries to turn over.
By David E.
It won't start with the key, but if you short out the solenoid, it will start and run. If you turn the key off it won't do anything. It has a new battery, new key switch, and a new solenoid on it.
By Robert
I have a Toro Wheel Horse 15-38 hxl riding mower and it won't start. I took it in to get serviced and was told it was needing a new battery. I got the battery and still nothing. It doesn't do anything, no noise, nothing. I turn the key switch and nothing, but if I bypass to the starter it turns on when I jump start it and it works just fine. If I turn it off and on again I get nothing; it only turns on when I jump it. Any suggestions?
By leo98935 from Mabton, WA
I have an old Montgomery Ward riding mower with a 14hp B&S that won't start. It has needed a new battery and I've been nursing the old one. It started after a dragging turnover and I let it idle while I trimmed the weeds. I shut it off while I push mowed the hard to get to places and came back to mow with it and it wouldn't start.
It was like the battery was almost dead. It would turn slowly until it hit the compression stroke then drag. I tried to jump it with the charger/starter and nothing. I went out and bought a brand new battery and same thing! It won't turn over fast enough. I pulled the spark plug and it looks good, and turned the engine without the plug and it spun really fast. Is this a starter going bad? I figure that once it meets resistance with the compression stroke, it just gives up. This mower is old, but just keeps going.
By Rick C from Mansfield, TX
My Troy-Bilt mower will not start; only the headlights come on. I mowed my front yard turned the mower of, then tried to restart. It acted like it was going to turn over and then just clicked. Now there is nothing but headights.
By Mike W from Albertville, AL
I have an riding mower and the battery is newer, but just recently had a full charge put to it. When I try to start my mower it is dead, no spark, no nothing. What do I look for to track down the problem?
By April J.
