A Cheap Battery Alternative For A Craftsman Mower
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ค. 2024
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Thanks for watching. Having key start mower sounds cool until you need to replace the battery on it. So why not use your power tool battery instead to start it?
This video is meant as entertainment, always practice safety.
Just think how many more years this mower would have been useful to the owner had they bothered to take care of it. They don't them like they used to. Awesome retrofit with that battery!
you are correct and thank you Stella!
It would probably last 200 years lol.
It is a quantum to boot!!!!! I subbed
Having a mower with electric start is great. I'm only 31 but have problems with my wrists and the electric start helps a lot
you and me both, thank you childhood sports!
I never knew that a power tool battery could be used on a mower like this. It’s a great idea and I would definitely take advantage of the cost savings!
that's what I thought too!
@brianandrews, the power tool battery may have worked because it’s a 12v battery but it doesn’t have the correct cranking amps, so in the long run it could damage the starter, and may not have enough power to get the mower started when it’s cooler outside!
Using an 18v would probably even work and spin a bit faster without hurting electronics, but that'd have to be tested lol
I like how you mimic different voices like (in a deeper voice) "so you use this mower and you don't take care of it?" (In a higher tone) "This mower has started each and everytime so why do I need to to maintainance with it?"
thanks, I'm glad you caught the deeper voice, I couldn't slow it down too much otherwise it would have sounded strange.
Those flathead briggs were great.
you got that right, I miss seeing them in the market
Good job. When my son was little I trash picked an old Power Wheels truck for him to drive around. Of course, it was missing the battery and charger. I made a connector for a DeWalt drill battery and put a fuse inline. It was a 12v motor and I was using an 18v battery, but it never overheated and I never had trouble with the motor or battery. It was way faster than stock too.
nice, that's what I'm hoping to "upgrade" to, thank you for Sharing
I fly radio controlled model airplanes. When my mower lead acid battery died, I soldered on a TX60 connector, and I use a 3 cell LiPo airplane battery to start it. Works great. Cranks right up. I cut some scrap foam to put around it in the battery box, so it doesn't rattle round. (LiPos are actually fairly tough, but if a battery gets punctured or shorted, it can start a fire. It's a good idea to protect it with padding.) Works for me because I already have batteries and chargers, but your average homeowner would not.
that works
Started second pull and runs nicely, definitely worth cleaning up
I know right, I thought it was pretty good considering it's age
Huh! I just sold an identical model that I alley picked. I wish I would have seen this vid first. I was too cheap to buy a battery for a mower I was going to sell but probably would have had I seen this. I replaced the traction cable and got a decent price for it. Besides, as you noted I was impressed with how easy it was to start.
yep it's surprising how easy these are to start.
You made a good choice with the alternative battery. You can't argue with success. I'm surprised that a charger is needed. I have a 28 y/o Craftsman 'electric' start which I didn't know was supposed to have a battery. I had a previous Craftsman 'electric' which used 110 AC and figured the same was true for the later one. Eventually, when I learned it was supposed to have a battery, I was mystified where it was located. The mower apparently was a return and didn't have the owner's manual and bag which I was assured I would receive and didn't. Now, if it wasn't self-charging, I'm glad I didn't bother.
thanks, and this engine says It has a "alternator" on it, and It should be under the flywheel but I didn't check.
Those Briggs & Stratton flatheads are great. I have one that is 25 years old. Just change the oil, air filter, and fresh gas.
very nice
Awesome repair with the electric start. The lithium battery is a great call. I’m 61 and have an HRX217 one pull start. I’m good, but that battery is cool!
I know right, any extra help I can get is greatly appreciated
great solution . i didn't know there were lithium batteries with only two terminals . opens up possibilities to get some old tools working again . i took apart a pushmower battery pack once , thinking i might replace some of the expected ni-cad cells . was surprised to find several "d" sized cells that i believe were some sort of dry cell lead acid batteries .
wow ,I've never tried looking into replacing the batteries on push mowers yet.
I have the front-wheel drive version of that Craftsman (w/o key start). Good idea to clean and lubricate the height adjustment mechanism when you removed the wheels (7:49). It makes it much easier to adjust the height of the deck, given how heavy the mower is.
you got it, the first time I had to adjust the height on a mower and the adjuster was stuck, I knew this might be a deal breaker if the buyer tries it out.
I thank you doing very well in taking care of the old mower you find on the curb
no problem and thank you
I have a mower with the Briggs & ScrapIron E-Series engine, after sitting for a week, primed it 1X, One pull of the rope and it was running. Most of the modern engines have a compression release to make starting easy.. Most of these small mowers are so neglected they need a valve job and other fuel system repairs.
wow your mower is still working great! You're doing a great job of maintaining it!
Hmmm, I had not considered using a tool battery to start a mower. Great idea. Thanks for the tips and videos.
no problem and thank you for your time
Another great video buddy. Really enjoy your channel. You've taught me alot since I've started learning about small engine repair.
Great to hear!
I like the power tool battery idea for a push mower. Whenever I try to get my Toro's electric start working, I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for the idea. My riding mower, however, uses something more like an automotive battery, so I wouldn't be able to get away with using a small battery like that.
no problem, and yes a rider would need more cranking amps.
Compressed air cleaning… Gave me flashbacks of the time I blew out a blind hole I just tapped and all the metal chips went in my eye. I was incredibly lucky and most bounced off, the one that didn’t I picked out without scratching anything. Still hurt though. Makes me shiver just thinking about it.
I've had the same experience but I was using chip chaser.
My Honda HRN 216 has an electric starter in it, and I do believe the battery is a maintenance free lead acid type. I think I will convert it to a lithium ion battery if it fails because those batteries cost almost one hundred dollars new.
yes I think that would be a great idea.
Awesome tip about the battery set up. I usually take the electric starts off since that new battery cost ruins the resale price margin. Most of these dont ever have the charger either.
you are correct. Most don't seem to care about them
Starters on push mowers can be $50-$150. Save em and trade for other parts maybe.
@@marshmower yes I do save these parts. Gotta do EBay I guess.
I’ve never come across a key start push mower. Great video
Snapper did them with Tecumseh 3 3/4 engines, self-propelled.
Last a few years. The Gates battery packs weren't the best. early Eighties.
still have that hiVac deck, third engine, B&S Quantum. Best deck, best engine.
you're not missing much.
Do a ranking on your favorite mowers 😂 I would genuinely like to know
Thanks for the idea!
I had one of these and despite being kept inside and charged over the winter the OEM battery was toast after 2 seasons. They wanted $110 Canadian to replace it. I refused to pay that and just pulled started it. I ended up giving that mower to my son in law and it still runs.
I never knew or even thought of using a tool battery.
Another great Tip.
Cheers
thanks and yes the OE batter is insanely expensive!
Very impressive on the battery fix.
thank you I appreciate it.
Thanks, sir. Very good tips.
My pleasure!
Yeah I like my key start one I have a bad shoulder I bought one used and that's the best mower i've had yet Thank you for the video
Right on, I wish I had one on my Honda
I think it's a pretty good idea to start a mower using a power tool battery, but not with that one.
Considering the price, it has to be lithium polymer type of battery, which won't last for too long if it is used that way.
I can hear that it has a hard time providing the current, needed for the starter, so it's inner components could overheat and eventually fail or the battery will puff up overtime. But it's just my opinion. I wouldn't have tried it for sure.
you make a good point
Good video !!!
Glad you enjoyed it
very innovative with the drill battery. I made a Bluetooth speaker powered by a Dewalt drill battery.
very nice!
An other awesome video. 👍🙏👍🙏have a bless 4th of July
Thank you! You too!
Hey bro what's up? That was a very good idea in replacing the battery with a cordless tool battery. It might not be the original battery for the mower but fix is fix. Good job bro 👍👍
I thought so too Thank you Ramadin Sookhoo!
Good fix. One of my friends made an adapter for his mower, so he could start it up with a power drill.
that's a very good option
I think they need to make electric start standard and have pull start too not everyone has a good pulling arm but for those that do they would have pull start there too options are very good to have I’m glad at least some companies offer that on push mowers
it's not a bad idea.
I have never had a working electric start push mower so I usually just remove everything. The next one I get is definitely getting the battery you used here.
I know right, I used to do the same a long time ago.
A lot of good work here. Like you said, the 18-volt battery would probably work better.
yep, that's what I'm going to use from now on.
As usual, I'm with you on this one too. I got all new stuff when I was trying to get the Troy-bilt going because I thought it'd be working here but after it wore me out I was just glad when it left and chalked it all up to a bad experience. I still think about why everything did like it did but grin and know that the battery and charger for the Stihl is in the closet and all is well on the mowing front...............for the time being. I can take it one day at a time and will so no worries. Sweetums also got a battery hedge trimmer, Kobalt and I'm happy to say that they have incorporated a self-check in the chargers as well as Stihl. Wished Milwaukee had done that when I was trying to get one of their saws but ended up with the Stihl instead. Have a fine weekend and Blessings
I know right, the Milwaukee stuff is a bit lacking in variety
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE I had no way to find out if the batteries or charger was bad so I had to drop the whole thing. Stihl picked it up though, right well.
Another good reason to clean the grass from under the belt Gards is becuse when alot builds up the friction between the belt and the grass could start a fire if the grass is dry.
yes you are correct
Interesting😃
Glad you think so!
Interesting
For me, since I have a battery tender, i'd probably just get a regular 12v lead acid battery. But it's good to know that I can use a lithium battery in place of lead acid battery.
yes it was just meant as an alternative and I think works well in a pinch.
Won't a 18 volt battery burn out a 12 volt starter????
I find it very strange that some machines have wheel adjustment’s on the 4 individual wheels 🤷 . Or am I miss interpreting what I’m seeing . It wouldn’t be the first time 😳 .
However if I am seeing it correctly ? What is the point of it 🤔🤷.
Could it be for the adventurous people 🤔 🤔💡 I’m feeling adventurous today , I’m going to mow my lawns - and spice it up a bit .
To give myself a Real adrenaline rush 💪🏻 I think I will adjust the hight of the front left mower wheel all the way down 🤔🤔 and the right rear wheel all the way up yippee 🥳 , Oh I’m so excited ‘’ my heart is racing just thinking about it 😁 , just incase it doesn’t work out ….I think I might try it out on my O.C.D neighbour’s front lawn while he is out shopping 😉.
Thanks for taking the time to make these Vids brother. It is genuinely appreciated .
It was entertaining listening to the stories regarding customers / family interactions on this topic . I can’t speak for anyone else - if you have any more frustrating / funny / unbelievable / encounters - I’d enjoy hearing them . Just putting it out there .
👣🦘👍
to be honest if you want to get creative, you can set the wheels in such a way to "highlight" your lines, without using a striper
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE I don’t know what a striper is - but , thinking about the use of your words / and description of the wheel settings … I was reminded of the lawn’s with a chess board Finnish .
Now I understand 😳🤦🏻♀️ . Thanks 👣🦘
I find it funny that run of the mill electric start mowers like this one have no on-board charging system but a Honda HRN216VLC is the same price but includes the charging armature.
this's interesting to know .
Some of them did, some didn't. Sears/Poulan gave you a "Wall chrgr" to hook up 24 hrs prior to use.
Hello HG, yes I would change the battery, not only do I have a bad shoulder I have two, the good thing is, my wife loves to cut the grass and my 15 year old Honda starts first pull every time, I don’t repair very many mowers but when I do I want them as clean as I can before I start any repairs, what I would like to know is what kind of sprayer you use to clean the mowers ? I use the garden hose, as you can imagine there’s water everywhere.
I enjoy listening to your videos you’re very informative
thanks , I thought it was a good idea. The sprayer is an airless paint sprayer. I'd say it was about 600-700 psi equivalent.
For a push mower, I would try that, but not for a rider. Depending on the age of the mower and the brand would determine if I get the oe battery (and if I plan on keeping it) for a push mower. for a rider, I would run to the store and pick up the battery for it.
nothing wrong with it.
There is a reason why they make low end mowers. 'They' know there are those that will not take care of it. That means either it is replaced with another mower, or the sale of after market replacement parts.
you are correct
Send makes a cable repair kit 41 of those cables that comes with different ends for different uses just gives you the inside wire or you can just buy roller the inside wire but I think the cable kit repair kit is like $6 as long as your housing on your cables are still good and they don't split and they don't like you can get away with that
thank you for letting me know
I have a question for you. What is that water line hookup on the mower deck for? Love the videos btw. Great content!
thanks, it's for your garden hose. You connect the garden hose, turn on the water and start the mower. It's supposed to help you keep your mowing deck clean. But you have to use it every time to get keep it clean.
That is brilliant, thanks for sharing! I always get the electric start working again before selling a mower but I’ve been doing it the expensive way for all these years. I always bought a $20-25 battery and a cheap $8 battery tender for a charger and include them with the mower. This is a much better idea! Is that a Harbor Freight package deal?
yes it was but the price was a regular price, it wasn't even on sale. throw in a coupon and it's even cheaper
You did an absolutely fantastic job with this machine! I recently had a Cub Cadet come into the shop and it needed an engine brake cable. The cable was a weird one, I had no aftermarket options in stock, and it had to be the OEM cable. Damn thing was $69.00 !! The customer was obviously unhappy, but we didn't have an alternate option. Remember folks, keep those cables clean and lubricated. Should you ever need a replacement, some are $15, some are nearly $100, and there are SOOOO many different cables, it's really annoying when ordering one.
thank you I appreciate that and yes most forget about the cables.
What was the part number for that brake cable?
I had a weird expensive one like that and I just made my own by reloading the existing cable sleeve with a good used cable that had a broken end. I cut the excess cable off to the proper size and put a new “Z” bend end on it, good as new and cost nothing. Everything is just a little different with those Cub Cadet mowers. It looks like (and basically is) just another MTD mower but parts like the bag, chute, blade and cables don’t interchange with the others.
Yes, abosolutely! And make sure an actual lubricant is used to perform that task.
I thought I put the information in description?
Electric start doesn't go the distance as far as running an engine for 12 years or so between mower/engine changes. My Gates powered starter Tecumseh went three/four years till it was just stripped off & left behind. Too much weight for too little utility. The packs don't last long enough & you need to leave it plugged in to the wall.
The B&S Quantum is such a quick starting engine as it is. I'd never weigh down the deck/block with that penalty. Ever again. (still got the Snapper/Tecumseh deck from '84)
thank you for sharing that
I was checking on Amazon battery and charger for a toro around $25
can you send me the link, I'd like to check it out, thanks
Question. I noticed that the blade for this mower has a 'star' shaped center. What method do you use to check the balance of the blade after you sharpen it? If it had a simple round hole, it can hang on a nail or screw drive shaft or by using one of those somewhat crappy little cone shaped balancers. Just wondering.
I only use a nail on the wall.
I have a question in regards to the oil being used?
My question is in regards to cost or just convenience , using left over oil from an old car that you no longer have that may be a 5W-30 or 10w-30 weight or real cheap $10-$15 Gallon of 20W-50 laying about in the garage.
I'd go cheap, the mower won't care too much about the viscosity but the car might.
well for me if i had a ride on mower or Lawn Tractor i,d only use what,s recommended for it and for a lawn mower probably the same topic but a different size in voltage it needs to turn over the engine by the starter motor etc.
well said and you are correct
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE yep for sure.
Nice video thank you. However, you forgot the most important link. Please link to the specific battery used for this lawn mower. Thanks and best wishes
sure I can
Is it better to let this mower's new owner open the battery box to attach the charger or leave the the charger plugged into the battery and notch the cover? I wonder if you could have a little quick-connect hanging out of the battery box? Thanks for your videos!!
the cover was missing on this battery box so there's no need to notch it.
Which mower do you use? Yesterday I used an old Sears rider from the 70's.
nice, I use an beat up, honda with a plastic deck.
I just found out you can use a Briggs filter on a Honda mower
yes you can
Yea only difference is Honda is orange and Briggs Blue!
Not asking about this project but I'm doing a carb clean on a Stihl km 90 and that meeting diagram is wrinkled should I replace the diagram. Just curious
yes I would
Okay thank you so much this will save me so much time so much. Thanks 😁
My John deere had to have a new battery, and it used an automotive style and it was about 200.00dollars
that makes sense
Great video , but only probably is that you would not be able to sale it no one wants to give you anything for mowers or at least around here in Kentucky anyways 😂
thank you and yes the market is different in other parts of the country
What cleaner are you using in the spray bottle?
the bottle is an old super clean bottle but I put a degreaser from Harbor freight in it to use.
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE thanks. I thought maybe it was simple green or similar.
And I know you care of your mowers
I try, I could do better tho.
Looks like you did a very good job cleaning up that mower, but I don't believe for a minute that little li-nmc battery is rated for the kind of amp draw it's suffering from that starter motor. That's a recipe for a battery fire.
quite possible
Have to ask, what do you use to degrease the mower
I use the only Degreaser Harbor Freight sells.
I’ve watched A LOT of your videos and I just now noticed that there are 2 channels, IHG and HG. What is the difference between the two channels?
there used to be difference a long time ago, a diagnostic channel and the other channel had the fix. And even though I said it very clearly the viewers did not like this arrangement, so instead of dumping the smaller channel they both do the same thing. short answer, not much difference
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE I get the initial concept but I can see why the audience reacted that way. I found your channel about 3 weeks ago and I watched about 50-70 videos so far.
Like another commenter mentioned on another video, we are noticing that there is a lot more commentary on customer behavior or focus on social economical issues. Of course, this is your mower, I mean channel, and you can do whatever you want with it, but I think most of us just want the repair part of this hobby. Even if it’s the same repair over and over again. It’s just so relaxing to watch and satisfying when an engine gets repaired. So maybe you can do only repair content on your main channel, and videos with personal comments on your secondary channel.
I appreciate your comment, and I've noted it.
Where do you get that battery from?
from Harbor Freight.
I don’t know about that my wife has never been able to pull start any small engine that was part of the reason I went to batteries so that she can use it if I’m not around her plus my yard small enough it works out good
interesting, I might have to do an experiment to find out.
Nice video. I am not a big fan of battery starters on push mowers. It adds parts and complexity most don't need and increases the cost of ownership.
Oh, come on and get geezerish like me and a few others!
@@lewiemcneely9143 Can't do it, nope, not gonna. 🤣
@@GuysPlayingWithTools Not till tomorrow?
@@lewiemcneely9143 Maybe. We can talk tomorrow, see how I am doing 😁
Great point!
Have you ever worked on an item from a far away TH-cam fan? What state are you from?
no and I'm not wanting to say.
Great video! At 11:46 you say you can use whatever oil you have on hand to fill the engine with. Since I've seen people fill engines with everything from fork oil to hydraulic oil, maybe you should be more clear that it has to be engine oil. Yep people are that stupid.
nah, it's their choice to use hydraulic oil, or even engine honey, it's up to them if they want to responsible for the aftermath.
Hopefully it will charge the battery while the engine is running
hopefully so
@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE that is a great video on if it is changing the battery 🔋
No they will not. That’s what the Cords are for. Plug them in as needed.
@@andyhamilton8940 okay thanks for the info on this matter young man 👍😎 I never knew that is how you change the battery on those engine s
@@robertmailhos8159 Yes Sir, the bigger riding mower have an alternator that will charge them and run the lights, PTO etc.
Sad to say that battery will be ruined in short order because the customer will not charge it often enough. Then the battery will be drained to far and will refuse to charge
yes you are correct, but I was already expecting it.
Sitting outside for 13 years. How is it even in one piece
I guess being uncovered and on a covered porch helped out
Why wouldn’t you not take care of something if you wanted to last you should take care of it and it probably will last you 10 to 15 years or longer
I know right, I've got at least a few ideas as to why,.
Very poor design
it certainly could be better
Interesting topic - but could not watch it to the end, because of the annoying, non-stop robotic narration. Sorry!
hey I appreciate your honesty