Mower Need a New Starter Motor? Try this Simple Fix First
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Your mower may not need a new starter motor. Try this simple fix first. It could save you money.I'm not turning into MrMower, but this is another easy tip to help keep your mower running properly.
Tip of my awesome hat to .cotton68spc for reminding me to mention to check the solenoid too if this tip doesn't work. It's cheaper than a starter motor.
You just saved me money, I took everything apart and the starter was turning but wouldn't lift to engage the mower. I googled the part to purchase a new one and saw this video and it was that dumb terminal, now to cut this grass riding my mower not pushing for the next two hours lol, thanks brother...
craftsman dlt3000 fuel tank removal
It is so insulting to have to fix something, for somebody else, that you don't even actually want to use...yeah...work! Next up...the flipping weed eater that needs the carb cleaned, then the jacked up blower! Hooray!
Same mower, same problem. Fixed it in 2 min. Thank you!
Thank you! Your advice fixed my problem. I was ready to go buy a new starter...you saved we. I owe you a cold one.
Thanks a lot, this help fix mine. The easy fix was to thighten the wire bolt on the starter !
Glad it helped
All that just to say the negative was loose???
He's had a bad day. Let the man live a little
Yep. About 2 minutes+ too long.
If you haven't already checked the cables B4 looking for internet help you don't need to be working on a lawnmower to begin with! Duh. 😀
M.A.G.A
Thanks so much for the advice, by the way I love your intro
Did ya get any sleep though ?
This guy looks like he is having a horrible day and did not sleep well last night.
lost
i swear if this is the problem I'm gonna kick myself.
edit: nop, wasn't the problem... the starter is just starting to stick like I thought.
This isn't always the answer but I'm surprised how many people say it fixed their problem.
@@MrBulletpoints definitely worth checking anyways :)
I found that when I heard that clicking sound I could bounce on the seat a few times and eventually it would crank. I figured it was a loose wire or something wrong with the seat safety. Didn't think to just check the terminal. Lol. Two years of bouncing on my lawnmower and all I needed was to turn a wrench a quarter inch. Lol
Thank you, sir! My lawnmower would always start when turning the key, but it really struggled which led me to believe that something would eventually need to be replaced. Since my battery was relatively new and fully charged, I eliminated that as a potential cause of the problem. I had already begun researching how to replace the solenoid switch and the starter....and then I ran across this video! Sure enough, the nut on the negative terminal wasn't fully tightened...it was just about finger tight. I disconnected and cleaned both battery terminals really well with a wire brush (just in case) even though they were already relatively clean. I then hooked everything back up and this time, making certain that both terminals were securely tight. Sure enough, the mower fired up immediately after turning the key! Problem solved!
Glad it helped.
Nice and thoughtful video; alas I think mine is the starter. I tightened negative cable but when I crank it still makes a grinding motor on motor sound. No clicking. Grinding.
So what was the problem?
It’s not a starter mower it’s a solenoid you know nothing about small engines for it to click it could be solenoid or starter
He said starter motor but hes hearing the ignition solenoid from were he was pointing that's it the clicking Is him draining the battery he means the ignition solenoid
Their is starter solenoids to
grease on the bolts on the battery so can get them off when the time comes. dielectric grease wud be best, but any grease will work. same with the lug on the starter motor... other electrical connections to seal out some of the water/moisture in the air. also can oil the starter ends with oil/grease so the thing spins freely. the click click is the starter RELAY that is trying, is closing the switch in the relay with low current to deal with the HIGH CURRENT of the starter motor amp draw
You done fixed it? Well I'll be damned. Scooter told me it couldn't be fixed. 'Course Scooter is about as shiftless as one poor son of a bitch can be. You done fixed it. I'll just be damned.
Lol could be worse you could keep repeating yourself in the introduction. Appreciate your video.
1:46 your welcome.
Are you for real? Your mower and you leave the cable loose, boy I don't know what if.
I have had MANY horrible nights and days but I just move on and get past them. I am too stubborn to dwell on that crap.
Here is the Video: th-cam.com/video/UEZ5bARCws8/w-d-xo.html :)))............................................................................................. 1st. Here is how you BY-PASS your Starter easily and FAST :)))).... Ignore the Solenoid, Carburetor, Fuse, Mower Deck Switch, Seat Switch, ANY Safety Switch ETC... Just get your 12V Car Charger / Starter, set at 12V 50Amps Boost, or a Good Battery or your Car / Truck... Hook the NEGATIVE Clamp to your Motor Chassis or a BIG Metal Screw close the Motor that you can find. Then Hook the POSITIVE Clamp to your STARTER Positive directly and see if your Engine will turn. If YES, then you will know your Starter is AOK, but if NO then you will need to check for other things I mentioned above, but at least you know your Starter is AOK :))). Most of the time, get a Multi-meter and TEST your Battery first. I found out that most Lawn Tractor Batteries DO NOT last long :(((. Trickle Charge them or Charge them every 3 Months if you could, to save you lots of headaches later. 2nd. You can easily Start your Engine this way as well... Just turn your Key to Run and make sure your Brake Locked, Deck Switch, Seat Switch, ANY Safety Switch ETC in the NORMAL / RUN position.... NOTE: Some older Models do not have ALL these features and some will NOT start if SAFETY features are NOT in the correct position like Seat / Brakes ETC... I hope that this will help someone :)))............................................................................................. Here is the Video: th-cam.com/video/UEZ5bARCws8/w-d-xo.html
Kiss always works but if your tip doesn't work always check the solenoid before buying more expensive items
Cotton68spc Thanks, I was going to mention that too but I forgot to say it...
Cotton68spc Thanks Cotton, I put that suggestion in the video description.
Not just battery wires but chassis connections, power + connections to starter solonoid both sides and to the starter, ground to the stater via the chassis or directly from the battery to the starter.
Also ive notices most of the high current wires on a lawn tractor are 12 or 10 ga wires a good qulity system done with all 8ga wires will let more current flow or you can get really nuts about it and use 4ga wires. 10ga is whats put on at the factory-installed but lawn mower manufacturers use the bare minimum parts upgrade bennfits you in so many ways its going to let more current flow wires and components won't get as hot and they will last longer.
A factory replacement starter motor for my cub cadet is 270.00 usd bucks I dont need to spend
For 50 to 75 bucks I can extend the life of my equipment far past what it would do with cheap cables.
Let's say my lawn tractor used
6' of black 10ga wire. @ .37cents a foot. 8 ga. 1.20 a foot
8' of red 10ga wire
14' 10 ga. 5.18 total cost
14' 8ga wire. 16.80
Cost
Conectors. 10ga. 1.00
Conectors 8ga 4 bucks
For about 20 bucks you made 350 dollars worth of tractor parts last years and years longer just by upgrade the power wires.
Power - and + and the ground connections from battery to motor
And battery to chassis.
And you can go to almost any car audio shop and pull the wire lengths you need out of the scrap pile. Its too short to use in a car.
"Hey here's the problem. It just needed 24 volts to make it start working again"
When you talk about the starter motor clicking. You are pointing near the gas tank. The starter motor is attached to the engine! The thing beside the gas tank would be the"Starter Solenoid" that is the thing that is clicking.
Yeah but the loise ground is making the starter click or it won't let the Bendix kick up all the way
Thank you for this video MrBulletpoints!!! Fortunately, this is the first remedy I tried for my Craftsman (25 year old ) lawn tractor. I had a full charge on the battery but just got a click when I turned the key. The battery terminals looked, I repeat looked, secure but I was able to tighten each post several rotations each with a wrench. It then started right-up!!
Thanks to your tip I don't have to go tractor shopping yet.
Thanks, I learned it the hard way.
2:37 video. 2:20 waste of time. I mean really bro - you talked about your mood/sleep more than you talked about the actual solution. and then we had to see your logo graphic TWICE! on a 2 min video! not judging. constructive criticism.
I appreciate the input. This is an old video and I have made a lot of changes based on constructive comments. Thanks, I always appreciate the feedback.
Thank you! That was exactly my problem too. I don't think I would have figured it out without your video. The negative post on my tractor battery "appeared" tight but I was able to make a few more turns. Since then, it starts the first time, all the time!
Cool, glad it helped.
Look out lawn he's back :)
fepowson This time it's personal!...
Failing Campaign? I don't think so.
Starter wasn't making a clicking noise. It was the starter solenoid that was clicking.
You are correct. I misspoke in the video. Thanks for the correction.
I had a really horrible day and didn't sleep all night but this video made the next day soooo much better! After I saw this video I thought, no frkn way! I'm not even gonna try it! It can't be that simple! Well it was just that simple hahaha! THANK YOU!
I get a lot of grief from mechanics about this video but most average people wouldn't think to check the battery cables if they seem snug. Thanks.
A helpful tip but... you can just skip to 1:40 if you want the answer.
MORE ADVICE....... Don't go out and buy a new starter either. Take the time to disassemble the starter and clean it. Use brake cleaner to take off the dirt and oil from the inside coils. Carefully put it back together and enjoy a few more years of service before the next time you need to clean it.
Thanks for the tips!
You look like you have been up all night
Damn straight, I'm too cheap to replace the starter also. Check the tire pressure if you think it'll help lol.
NWIPrepper19113 I almost did that today too but I was too impatient...
Tire pressure is always low...
Sorry you had a crappy night. How often does that happen? I've got horrible insomnia sometimes, got a couple utube clips about part of my story if you're interested. take care man
i thought i had a bad started,but it was the battery 😂 i was able to jump start 😊 thank you
Demeanor is horrible. Sleep
I need a new battery and starter
decided to change the spark plug "should have left it alone" so I put in the new one and no start just click click click so I changed the ignition with key nope didn't work changed the sylinoid started right up went back the next day say issue.
now if I turn the key a bunch of times I can get it to start.
any help would be fine.
Sorry, I really don't know. It almost sounds like there might be a loose connection somewhere.
This is me exactly, Paul. Did you get it figured out?
My starter is locked up, so that is the problem. Where to find one is the next problem. (maybe you should not make a video after you have been up all night and had a really shitty night).
And if that don't work, check for a loose starter. Seriously, mine had to loose mounting bolts and had a weak ground, so was doing the clicking thing.
Found this after troubleshooting for 2 hrs and AFTER I pulled engine from mower!. Anyway, did the sump gasket and governor seal while it was out. What a day!!
So I was shopping for a new starter for the lawn mower when this video came up, so I clicked it first. Thank you, I was mowing the new lawn 5 minutes later.
Cool. Glad it helped.
My starter won't even click, I checked all the connections to ensure good tight fit also checked the in-line fuse to the starter. I have a know good battery cleaned all connections. I had a good solenoid so I replaced that in case that was the problem but didn't fix it. Ignition switch is also functional. I'm stumped, what could it be? (Toro 8-82 Electric Start Rider mower)
+Kienfee I don't really know but if everything else is known to be good it might be the starter motor.
+MrBulletpoints Thanks for replying, I found the problem right after I wrote you, it was a defective blade engage/disengage switch. Boy that thing is $64.00 plus shipping so I'm going to see if I can repair it.
Joaquin Chea Cool, glad you figured it out.
Thanks for saving me time and money. I do feel pretty stupid though.
Bloody hell! Yes. Thanks. All the videos with the testing and the new parts etc, waste of time. You were right. Thank you Mr Bulletpoints!
🙄🙄🙄🙄
I wonder Who put the new battery in, in the first place?
No I'm joking: Lawn mowers have a tendency to vibrate bolts , nuts and screws loose you should inspect them a few times a season when you sharpen the blades even push mowers will vibrate bolts loose.
Lawn tractor battery cables are notorious for coming loose due to the constant vibrations. That should be your very 1st investigation!
Check the muffler bearing and the blinker fluid
While I used to know this, and even noticed the battery terminals looked pretty grungy, it took this video to snap me out of overthinking the issue, so thanks!
Man, thank you for this tip! I was actually in the process of looking up the info fore a new motor starter when I cam across your video. Sure enough battery was charged at over 12 volts but the hot lead was loose. Tightened it up and off she started! It is nice to have simple answers to problems sometimes! A nice reminder to stat with the simple first.
Cool, glad it helped. You wouldn't think tightening the connections a little would make a difference but it can.
And don't tap on the starter hoping it will start. I took one apart that I tapped on and there are magnets in it, they where all shattered. Learned my lesson the hard way! :)
I have a craftsman that's making a clicking noise also and on top of that, the motors fan isn't spinning
You don't need a new starter motor, what you needed was a 1988 Crapsman that you just have to give a swift kick to the exhaust and they start every time. This newer shit is made to break.
Oh the simple things in life as you have to just embrace and love em...On top of that a crap day to boot is always fun to deal with as hopefully some better days ahead...
Scott F. Thanks Scott. I'll get over it (I hope!).
Take a long length of wire, attach one end to + side of the battery, the other end tap the + side of the starter mower. Should see it turn as normal. If nothing, take the starter apart and clean the contacts on the armature and while it is apart replace the brushes. If still dead, the wiring in the armature is shot and replace the starter.
Just wasted 2 minutes of my life....................................
I'm sure it's not the first time you've done that.
I just looked at your two videos.... WOW!
you made me look at his vids, now I wasted another 39 seconds of my life I can't get back. BTW go with the 'check tire pressure' recommendation as well. I have my best problem solving moments when checking tire pressure.
Not sure why, but my MTD Yardman has a loose negative post all the time. If it doesn't start I tighten the neg post and off she goes.
Try putting an anti-vibration washer on the screw or a nylon lock nut or even a bit of loctite on it!
Thank you good sir saved my dads lawn mower from 1990
My Dad's Huskee is cranking really slowly and won't start. Could it be the Starter?
Could be but it's probably the battery. Could need charging or to old to hold a charge.
Horrible day? You need to drink more Keystone Ice and smoke some nug.
Ford tractor wouldn't start, no spind nothing. About to replace ignition switch but I came across this video first. Wiggled the ground wire on the battery and then the tractor fired up. Thanks!
Thanks, glad it helped. People give me crap about this being "obvious" but it's not really. Most people won't think to check something they think is good and not related to the problem.
When I turn the key, I get NOTHING...no crank, no starter motor click...silence! I put in a new pos battery cable, replaced the solenoid and all connections are secure...I had the battery tested and it is fine. Any suggestions on where to look next? Starter? Not sure of it's the actual starter or if the issue is no juice getting to starter...HELP!!!
It could be the starter motor if all the connections to the battery and the starter are good. You might have to bite the bullet and have a mechanic check it out., or you could take a chance and replace the starter motor if you think you've narrowed it down to that. Good luck, hope you get it sorted out.
Had a friend take a look...after checking all connections, he looked at the ignition switch, cleaned the contacts -- boom! Runs like a champ. I got so locked in to the "battery to starter" routing that I overlooked a basic variable.
MrBulletpoints
work from back to front for continuity, battery first, the solenoid, then starter, etc. I am having issues myself. I had to change the cable from the solenoid to battery.
I had a seized starter. Took it completely apart, whacked it until it unseized and put it all back in, with most of the parts even. Started up!
Thank god for you. My new cub Cadet, It has a AGM battery in it.When the guys installed the battery they used a Phillips screwdriver to tighten the nuts instead of a wrench. They did seem tight, but I put a wrench on them both and my tractor is starting again. Thank you.
Thanks, I appreciate it. Glad it helped!
thanks Mr Bullet Points- saved me a trailer ride to the mower shop to be told I didn't reconnect the battery properly.
I have the exact mower. Yesterday I took a break from cutting and got caught in the rain. I waited until the deluge had calmed a bit to go back out and put it in the barn. When I tried to start it I saw a spark, NO sound at all from the ignition and then tried it again and a POP! and some smoke fluffed out from under the hood. Could this be from it being completely soaked or did I fry out my starter somehow? MY battery is good and it was all rewired last year. Any help/suggestions would be good. I will try to check these wires as you did in the video but beyond that I am out of my league. Thanks!
Sorry, I don't really know. It might just need to dry out for a couple of days. Spraying starting fluid into the carb might help it start.
That's crazy the same thing happened to my truck after I had the oil changed . The Chevrolet dealer said I needed a new starter but after beating it with a hammer I was going to pull it off . Went to undo the battery and found the problem !!
knucklemack33 You would think if the terminal is making metal to metal contact the battery would work but sometimes you have to really tighten it down. Thanks Knuckle.
I know this is old. Thank you so much for this information and I hope to be able to refer back to it. It saved me today. I am an old woman and know nothing about any of this. hubby always did the man things. Thankfully it was only the battery and it took a charge with my trickle charger and all is good again. I will probably have to get a new one. Such a relief cause I HATE grease on my hands. But I will have to change the oil soon. WHY would they put the oil drain right flat to the body . Torro Time cutter. What a mess it will be . And then on to try and sharpen the blade. I wish I had help.
Glad it helped. Oil changes are a pain in the butt sometimes.
That did the trick ! U d man!!
Thanks, I appreciate it when someone tells me that. I get a lot of hate from people saying everybody knows this. It is still surprising to me that tightening the lugs makes a huge difference even when they feel tight,
@@MrBulletpoints too many haters out there. Thanks are definately deserved here sir. That was the right call for sure
Man I was reading the comments and thought wow everyone should know that the battery cables are tight. I am on this page because I thought my starter was shot. Went to look at the negative battery cable and guess what. My dumbass hadn’t ensured my negative terminal cable was loose. Tightened with a wrench and it started up. Mr Bulletpoints is on point! Thanks bro
Thanks. I appreciate the comment. It's amazing how tightening the connections can make a difference even when you think they are already tight.
Hey nice video. It turned out to be a bad battery for my mower. I did everything. Cleaned up all connections, replace solenoid and check system with test light and battery tester. Not sure why but battery even charged would just take a dive and not send enough current to starter. When i replaced battery no problems.
Thanks for the comment. 😉
I have a 2015 T3200 Craftsman riding mower. Ran great last fall. stored in the garage for winter, pull it out today and added fresh gas to about 1/4 tank of gas already in it. Mower will turn over but not firing or trying to start.. I took the fairly new plugs out and cleaned them up with a little sand paper on both ends of the plug, it still will not fire. Any ideas what I could check for to help diagnose the problem. Thank you ahead of time for any advice you can give me. Ric
You might try to fill the tank with good gas in case the old gas gummed up. You can also remove the air filter and spray starter fluid directly into the carburetor. Wouldn't hurt to replace the spark plug even though you cleaned the old one.
Looks like your having a better day.
Thanx!!! After a week of rain and high humidity....my lawn looked like a forest...lol...I go to start my riding mower and all I kept getting was that gurgling sound! In the mean time my neighbors grass has been cut for about 3 days since the last rain drop....I do a search and came across your video....I tiighten the loose negative terminal & BAM!! It turn right over!!!
Cool, glad it helped.
Been there, done that. I get pissed quickly! :)
MyHollowpoint Thanks MHP!
Thank you! Thank U!
I just replaced the solonoid it cranked right up and clicking back in three days. I must check the ground maybe loose thank you.
Mines been clicking from the old ass starter and old battery i been jumping with a battery charger for years but this year its had enough so I'm gonna get what its needing then it'll be all good
Hey buddy! I was surfing some site, and this video came up. And I have the same mower LOL.
If everything is tight then it's the starter. When these starters go bad they'll act like its a low battery and loose their oomph to turn the motor over. Just ask me how I know. I'm sharing to save ya a few hrs. :)
yep. there right now after all my fingers and hands are chewed up by taking everything apart and putting back together. crossing fingers it's actually the starter that died
@@PaulJWong-yk8uw well...how'd it go?
Got a new starter and she fired right up
Then tried a few hrs later and it engages and acts like a weak battery again...
@@PaulJWong-yk8uw that's gotta be frustrating.... maybe the battery is bad. My craftsman would.go through a battery every year
@@Ty_N_KC just hooked up a more juiced battery. the battery screamed and then a wire started to smoke. im ready to leave this to someone who knows more about these things than me so i dont set my barn on fire
Wow you could have started the video, tighten battery cables... video over 4 seconds
Where's the fun in that?
when I first watch this video I was like no shit who the hell does not fighting down the battery all the way and then I'll walk over to my lawn mower just for shits and giggles and tightened it the little bit more that it could be tightened and she cranks right up
That's why I did the video. It doesn't seem to make sense. You'd think if the cables aren't noticeably loose the connection would be ok but sometimes tightening them up just a little bit makes all the difference.
Semper fi from Tennessee thanks! My mechanic skills got rusty while I was in the Marines! I appreciate it
Thanks for your service. I catch a lot of crap from some people saying this is obvious or too simple but I get even more people saying it helped fix their problem. I appreciate the comment.
Mark Hamill 🤔
I'm hoping when Mark Hamill dies I can pick up some Star Wars gigs. I've had a few people make that comment.
Nice video... Just could of been 15sec
Thanks !!!!!!
You're welcome!
Thank you for posting this. This helped me troubleshoot why my Cub Cadet walk behind mower would not start with a new, good and charged battery and tight connections. It clicked and made a soft squeal sound. I saw that the bolt for the ground connection to the engine block was covered with a heavy layer of accumulated dirt. Brushed some of it off and it still didn't start, but the click was much stronger and without the squeal. Cleaned the ground bolt thoroughly and all around the engine block. The mower started very strongly. I will make sure I clean the mower as often as possible.
Thanks. Glad it helped.
my toro mower starts, but has weird symptoms...takes up to three seconds for it to crank after turning key...or struggles to turn the starter at all until i turn the key back and forth up to three times before it cranks. the battery is brand new and in perfect charge and load tested. can anyone suggest what i should check or replace? thanks!
@Edin i sold that mower and i dont remember it. however, i learn new stuff all the time. if i had this problem today, i would take the shroud cover off and make sure the starter and starter gear is functioning properly. hope this helps
This literally just saved my day. Wow. Thank you!
Thanks, Glad it helped.
Got tired of messing with a well worn already smoked starter so I put 24 volts to it .
Cranked right up .
Had my mower flywheel turn but not start, then minutes later heard click at solenoid and GRIND sound from starter and no more anything. Any ideas ?
Did you get this resolved? I know this was 2 years ago. Just thought I’d ask. I’m having similar issues.
nice catch ! good tip
***** Thanks Willy!
great advice keep thinking my starter was bad came up that the battery was bad put a new one in started right up thanks saved my but some money
Thanks. Glad it helped.
Hey, seriously, how do I check for spark to my plugs?
Good tip bro
Gun Enthusiast Thanks GE!
Thanks dude I am going out soon this am to do just that I hope that is all she ran fine until I shut her off to mow out side fence then I got nothing..
Even if the connections seem tight, try it. Might be all it needs.
Before you know anything you must test the component in question !
Simple as that !
Bad Battery ??? Test it ! And Test more than just Voltage ! Test Capacity !
Same all the way down the line !
Key switch . Solenoid . Starter motor !
Of course troubleshooting will get you closer to the problem sooner !
My battery is completely dead and the starter is on it's way that way to on my cv16s Kohler pro
I did test it
Very money saving idea thanks again.