[pianogirl124]

We bought and installed a new battery. This did not help. Then we took the starter selenoid and had it tested and mechanic says its fine. Please help with any suggestions of what to check next. Thanks so much. p.s. At the recommendation of a mechanic, we bypassed the battery and jumped it off by connecting straight to the starter. This worked a couple of times but now it just doesn't seem to get enough juice.

 

[Austen]

Hello Pianogirl, welcome to MLMF.

Since you've bought the new battery, have you by any chance charged it up fully on a battery charger? If, not I would give that a shot and go from there. Sometimes new batteries will have to be charged up this way if they've been sitting a while on the shelf. Even though you might think the machine will do the trick, sometimes these small batteries still have to be charged up fully on an actual battery charger before they'll perform properly and hold a full charge on the machine.

 

[pianogirl124]

I will try that first thing in the morning. Thanks so much. The mechanic who checked the starter told my husband that it could be the valves in the engine need adjusting or are completely broken. I wondered if it could have something to do with safety features. I have always had to be sure that the lever that engages the blade is just so or it wouldnt start. But now no matter how many times I adjust it......it is to no avail.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

.... I have always had to be sure that the lever that engages the blade is just so or it wouldnt start. But now no matter how many times I adjust it......it is to no avail.

That would be the next place I would look right there. Switches are either open or closed (shorted). I would use a multimeter to check resistance across it as you move the lever. Might be able to adjust the switch position slightly were it intersects with the linkage on the lever and get it to go.

Kind of sounds like you might have more then one problem going on now. Could be repeatedly jumping out the starter popped a fuse or fusible link wire someplace keeping the battery from charging.

 

[Brad]

Also, check your battery connections, which are probably OK with a new battery. Check the black (ground) wire that runs from the battery to the frame of the machine. Where it connects to the tractor can get rusty or corroded a bit. A little sandpaper right there and on the cable itself would not hurt a thing.

Let us know!

 

[pianogirl124]

I have read several posts that talk about fuses blowing. Unfortunately I have no idea WHERE a fuse could be on this mower. Help me please. It is a Scotts 17 HP made by John Deere if that helps.

 

[pianogirl124]

Okay, tried charging battery, checked all cable connections. Still nothing. When you turn the key you do hear 1 click in the engine.

 

[Mark / Ohio]

I have read several posts that talk about fuses blowing. Unfortunately I have no idea WHERE a fuse could be on this mower. Help me please. It is a Scotts 17 HP made by John Deere if that helps.

It might not look look a fuse at all as it could be a fusible link which is essentially a piece of wire that is sized to burn in two if greater then a specified amperage flows through it. We would really need an exact model number to have a chance of looking up were they might be. Even then it can be tough as John Deere is very strict with the usage of their copyrighted material such as diagrams. So it's hit or miss finding any diagrams posted in the open on the net and generally they don't stay up too long. You can however buy a technical manual from Deere either on CD or paper here: John Deere Bookstore I your planning on keeping the tractor for awhile.

Okay, tried charging battery, checked all cable connections. Still nothing. When you turn the key you do hear 1 click in the engine.

That's a good clue as it likely rules out a safety switch issue. What your hearing is probably the starter solenoid activating. You might try tapping on the side of the starter while holding the switch in the start position. If the starter takes off or makes any attempt at all to turn when you tap on it then it is bad.

 

[Brad]

OK, try this. As long as the battery is charged, take 1 side of your jumper cable (both black or both red, doesn't matter). Be sure it is in neutral and the blades are not turned on. Put 1 side of the cable on 1 side of the solenoid (the big post) and put the other end of the cable on the other side of the solenoid (other big post). You are going to make a few sparks when you do this. The engine should immediately turn and should start. That will give some more input as to the problem.

When you turn the key to "start", that is when you are hearing the click, correct? And you will get a click every time you turn it to start?

 

[Robustabus]

When you turn the key, do you here the starter solenoid? If not, it is a safety. There is a safety for the pto that is under the left side of the tractor. If the bar doesn't line up with the safety switch and pushes it in. It won't start.