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Any small engine mechanics in the house?
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Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 16, 2020, 4:30 PM



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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 16, 2020, 4:55 PM

I would definitely think starter, but will let the actual mechanics reply.

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Starter I’d say..


Apr 16, 2020, 5:00 PM

since working on replacing mine now on jet boat.

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How old is your mower? It does sound like the starter......


Apr 16, 2020, 5:08 PM

since by process of elimination you've replaced the battery and solenoid - and you've checked the voltage and checked the safety switches.

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Re: How old is your mower? It does sound like the starter......


Apr 16, 2020, 5:09 PM



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Have you checked to make sure engine isnt


Apr 16, 2020, 5:18 PM [ in reply to How old is your mower? It does sound like the starter...... ]

locked up? Should be able it a little by hand especially if you pull the plug(s) to reduce compression. Starter might be fine, piston could have failed especially if you had a backfire when shutting down. That would be worst case. Unbolt the starter and hit the ignition to see if it will spin up. Spray to gear with WD40 and tap the side of starter firmly with a hammer if it doesn't spin up. Sometimes the gears will bind and this frees them. I would do those before buying starter.

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Re: Have you checked to make sure engine isnt


Apr 16, 2020, 5:29 PM



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Re: Have you checked to make sure engine isnt


Apr 17, 2020, 3:52 PM

On the end of the starter is sc onething called a starter bendix. It engages the flywheel to allow the starter to turn the engine over. If it sticks or goes bad nothing happens. Try tapping on the starter with a hammer while turning the key. Have started a few cars that way when stranded. Good luck!

2024 white level member flag link military_tech thumb_downthumb_up

Those are called torx screw heads


Apr 18, 2020, 10:02 AM [ in reply to Re: Have you checked to make sure engine isnt ]

You can get a set of wrenches or sockets at auto parts stores or Lowes/Home Depot. They turn as hex head bolts do.

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 16, 2020, 5:09 PM

If you have some of them french fried purtaters I might be willing to help....

all right then..

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I knew your knowledge had no limits


Apr 16, 2020, 5:13 PM



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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 16, 2020, 6:16 PM [ in reply to Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house? ]

Ummm hmmm

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....


Apr 17, 2020, 10:59 AM [ in reply to Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house? ]

....

...

IT AINT GOT NO GAS IN IT!

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Be sure to check the PTO (blade engage) and be sure......


Apr 16, 2020, 5:32 PM

it`s not on! Ask me how I know! lol

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The lever itself or down in the mower deck?


Apr 16, 2020, 5:37 PM



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Re: The lever itself or down in the mower deck?


Apr 16, 2020, 6:36 PM

The belt could be worn out, or the spring on the tension pulley is bad!!!

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 16, 2020, 5:59 PM

A few times I’ve got lucky and gave a truck and some tractor starters a good ole beating with a hammer and they worked after that. Sometimes it took several beatings. Last summer my father in laws JD riding mowers motor locked up on him. It was around the same age as yours, I’d hope that’s not the problem.

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 16, 2020, 6:34 PM

First check the inline fuse between the battery and starter solenoid, if the fuse is good, make sure the wires on the starter solenoid is tight!!! If the wires are tight, arc a screwdriver across the two poles on the starter solenoid, if it sounds like it wants to start the engine, the starter solenoid is bad, if it doesn't, check wire on starter, if they are tight, bring it to my house lol!!! But usually the starter solenoid will go out before the starter!!!

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 16, 2020, 6:38 PM

I had the seat safety switch quit in mine too. What size is your mower?

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 16, 2020, 7:02 PM



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You shouldn't hear a clicking sound if the safety switch


Apr 16, 2020, 7:51 PM

is keeping it from starting.

Can you turn the engine with your hands by turning the flywheel?

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Re: You shouldn't hear a clicking sound if the safety switch


Apr 16, 2020, 8:20 PM



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Re: You shouldn't hear a clicking sound if the safety switch


Apr 17, 2020, 5:54 PM

You have probably figured it out by now, but those are called torx head screws, just buy you a cheap set of bits from T-40 and down, I can't tell what size they are from a pic.

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Re: You shouldn't hear a clicking sound if the safety switch


Apr 17, 2020, 11:06 AM [ in reply to You shouldn't hear a clicking sound if the safety switch ]

Correct, the seat safety switches has nothing to do with the solenoid clicking!!!

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 17, 2020, 10:55 AM [ in reply to Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house? ]

Solenoid making a noise is a sign of a weak or dead battery, OR, loose, broken, corroded or frayed cable/cables. Just start at the battery and check all the cables all the way to the starter, and you will most likely find the issue!!! Or like has been mentioned, it could be a seat safety switch. The testers with the light in them that checks the current flow is pretty cheap, get one and clip it to the ground/negative side of the battery, and start checking to be sure you have current going through to all connections, it's really simple!!! And it's OK to push the point of the tester into the cables to make you have a feed to every connections!!!

Message was edited by: allinallorangeallthetime52®


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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 16, 2020, 7:04 PM

If engine is not seized, its the starter.

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 17, 2020, 11:11 AM

Hmmmm!!!;)

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 17, 2020, 12:54 AM

Assuming ALL good connections, if jumping the solenoid didn't work ( you do need to really make a good connection with the two screw drivers. if you jump when you see a spark, you're not getting a good connection ), all that is left is the starter,. But . .getting back . are you sure all connections are good? A starter draws a lot of amperage. To get that amperage to flow, connections much be good, low resistance. That not only includes battery cables and starter cable, but grounds as well. No ground,no operation of the starter.

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I farmed for years, mostly using older tractors, & connectio


Apr 17, 2020, 1:15 AM

are often the culprit. I recently started having a problem with my big zero turn mower, not starting, then just spontaneously shutting off or PTO disengaging...I finally tracked down the problem...the wire going from the switch to the starter, had broke right at the connector on that was bolted to the starter. It was still making contact, but any movement was causing it to lose contact, breaking the circuit, and shutting everything down!

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Re: I farmed for years, mostly using older tractors, & connectio


Apr 18, 2020, 4:50 PM

That is exactly why I've said, check the cables/wires from the battery all the way to the starter. Check for lose, broken, frayed, or corrosion. If any of those problems are found, fix or replace. But the problem is definitely from the key switch to the starter. Nothing else will cause the clicking sound that is being heard while attempting to start the engine, Period!!! I have a Troy-Bilt XP Mustang (50") 25HP Kohler V-Twin with steel sleeves that make the engine over haulable, Dual Hydrostatic Zero Turn.

I have had it for 10 or more years. I have had to replace the Battery twice (Duracell make the very best lawn mower battery IMO), I have replace the starter once, all the battery/starter cables once, and the solenoid once. I pressure wash it every time I use it, and I have the hose attachments that allows me to wash all the grass out from under the deck bc the acid in grass will eat holes in the cutting deck in 3-4 years, and I have had to replace all the cutting deck pulleys and belts once. I also put new grease in every grease fitting on it every time I use it. And today I believe that it is in good enough shape that I can get another 10 years of use with it!!! If you take really good care of your equipment by keeping up with the maintenance and cleaning it after use, it will last a long time. And I'm the only person that has ever turned a wrench on it. Another thing that helps in making your equipment last, don't lone it to nobody, not even your brothers or sisters, and you will never hear that it was already broke when they borrowed it!!!! I don't lone nothing that helps to make my jobs around home easier, and I am dead serious!!!!

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 17, 2020, 11:10 AM [ in reply to Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house? ]

Absolutely, he could have been sold a battery without enough cranking amps, but probably not unless he had a complete idiot salesman that was a coot :)!!!

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 17, 2020, 3:37 PM

If it is an OHV engine the rocker arm may be loose, not opening the compression release.
You tube has a good video on repairing this.

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 17, 2020, 3:55 PM

On the end of the starter is something called a starter bendix. It engages the flywheel to allow the starter to turn the engine over. If it sticks or goes bad nothing happens. Try tapping on the starter with a hammer while turning the key. Have started a few cars that way when stranded. Good luck!

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 17, 2020, 5:57 PM [ in reply to Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house? ]

OHHHH Lord, that has nothing to do with problem T3Tiger is having!!!!!!

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 17, 2020, 5:35 PM

We had the same problem on the race car and it ended up being the Starter.

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 18, 2020, 9:57 AM

Easliest long term solution......move to a town home where yard maintenance is provided.

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Class of ‘71. Went through “rat season” and glad I did.


One other thing you should check is the valve adjustment.


Apr 18, 2020, 10:14 AM

B&S engines of that age typically need to be adjusted at least every other season. I have seen worn valves produce the same issue you are describing. A valve adjustment eliminates a "hard" spot in the engine cycle. If you can turn the flywheel a half turn by hand as someone suggested above, the engine should crank if it is a valve adjustment issue.

Most folks don't adjust the valves regularly but I work on 2 riding mowers that I have to adjust the vales at least every other year to avoid hard starting problems.

I also agree with the suggestion to pull the plugs to ensure the engine will spin. That should narrow it down to the valve adjustment or the starter.

Good luck!

Go Tigers!!!

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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 18, 2020, 10:25 AM

I have an older Kubota g4200 that will not do anything when turning the key if the PTO is engaged and sometimes have to slap the PTO lever to the off direction even tho I disengaged it when I last used the mower.

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Update


Apr 18, 2020, 5:32 PM



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Re: Any small engine mechanics in the house?


Apr 18, 2020, 9:10 PM

I highly recommend that you talk kindly to it, give it some fresh water, a clump of fresh hay and two quarts of oats.

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