riding mower wont start

[JacobSlabach]

i know this isnt an atv but same type of thing.  I have a riding mower im fixing and selling for my aunt and it has a dead battery.  i jumped it off my atv and when i turn the key nothing at all happens.  i tried jumping the relay still nothing.  this is with the seat down.  you wouldnt think this mower would have issues as its a top-of-the-line brand and almost brand new (aunt found it for a good price, still got tits on tires, just sat for a couple months in a mechanic shop

[Frank Angerano]

Sounds like the fuseable link is bad.  I would try to run a thick wire from the battery to the starter and see if it cranks but only bump it for a second. If it does then the line going to the starter is bad or the in line fuseable link.

I would start there.  If not then maybe the motor is seized or the starter is bad.   

 

[JacobSlabach]

ok.  the last it was started, it ran great.  the other thing is the battery is dead- ive been jumping it so i was thinking i could just hook the neg lead from the jumper cables to the mower battery and the pos to the starter

[Frank Angerano]

I’m so confused 😐 

[JacobSlabach]

same here.  never had one do this.  it doesnt click or make any noise when you turn the key or anything

[Frank Angerano]

Ok so treat it as you would your bike.  Figure out the wiring and safety’s and go from there. And yes you can jump right to the starter to make sure the starter and motor turns etc.  

If so then it’s just process of elimination. The safety switch on the seat may be bad, the ignition switch, fuse, grounds, dirty plugs and connections etc. Usual suspects first and dig deeper if it’s more involved.   

[Will Hallz]

Check safety switch in seat

[WPW]

Like Frank was saying lots of safety lock outs, parking brake, blade rotation, etc etc. Everything manufactured since the mid 80's is idiot proofed. Even the Troy Built rototiller. Most use a common wire color on the switches. So disconnecting that lead disables that particular switch. There will be some switches that need to be closed like the seat to operate. It's tedious but you'll get there.

[mrfartsalot]

it is probably a case of bad connections in the jumper cables if you jumped the 2 posts on the solenoid it should have turned over unless the starter is bad but by what you said it is a bad connection to the battery i would still check the main fuse though as that could cause the key not to work.

[JacobSlabach]

believe it or not im still fiddling with this piece of junk😆.  got the wiring figured out- you had to push the parking break in ALL THE WAY.. like as hard as i could.  2 or 3in past where the parking break held it.  haha i hate riding mowers so much.  have had 4 gottem all for free and had nothing but trouble out of all of them.  had a troybilt, this poulan pro, a craftsman, and a simplicity that im modifying into a mud tractor.

but this ones gotta sell for my aunt:

so replaced the battery, carb and starter relay and now it starts- but smokes blue bad and coughs and sputters.  thinking its a head gasket but compression is 125psi closed throttle so im hoping it isnt the oil rings.  case in point- this is literally a brand spanking new mower that sat for a couple months and a blown head gasket?  for real?  older lady owned it so i know it wasnt beat on- she passed and my aunt picked it up in the yard sale.

Edited April 2, 2020 by JacobSlabach

[bodon]

I had a 2 week old new mower do that. The safety switch on the seat went bad. By passed it and away it went. Never bothered to take it in.

[quadmaniac]

2 minutes ago, bodon said:

I had a 2 week old new mower do that. The safety switch on the seat went bad. By passed it and away it went. Never bothered to take it in.

I had that happen on a Kubota one time, all of a sudden it wouldn't start. Found the switch under the seat was loose and causing the no start issue.