Simplicity won’t start

Rayamundson

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May 10, 2018
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I thought it was just a bad battery last year when I got my rider from my sister.

Replaced the battery this spring and started it a few times, and mowed the lawn last night. Was going to change oil and now won’t turn over.

What should I look to 1st?
 

Rivets

Lawn Royalty
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Mar 11, 2012
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First thing to check is to see if the charging system is working. To do that you will charge the battery and then see if it will start. If it starts and you have a volt meter, measure the voltage accross the battery terminals. You should have over 12 volts at idle and over 13.6 volts at high speed. If you don’t get these readings, post back your readings and all your engine model numbers and we will tell you how to proceed.
 

Rayamundson

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Charged the battery and when I took it off it had a charge of 82%. Charged it to 100%, and now it won’t even turn over.

Starter???

It’s a:
12.5 HP I/C
Model 289707
Type 0113 01
Code 9406304D

First thing to check is to see if the charging system is working. To do that you will charge the battery and then see if it will start. If it starts and you have a volt meter, measure the voltage accross the battery terminals. You should have over 12 volts at idle and over 13.6 volts at high speed. If you don’t get these readings, post back your readings and all your engine model numbers and we will tell you how to proceed.
 

Rivets

Lawn Royalty
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Threads
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Messages
14,681
Try this procedure and let us know what happens.








Electrical* problems can be very easy or very difficult, depending on four things.
1. * How well you understand basic electricity.
2. *What tools you have and know how to use.
3. *How well you follow directions.
4. *You don't overlook or assume anything and verify everything.


Remember we cannot see what you are doing. *You are our eyes, ears and fingers in solving this problem. *You must be as accurate as you can when you report back. *The two basic tools we will ask you to use are a test light and a multi-meter. *If you have an assistant when going through these tests it would be very helpful. *These steps work the best when done in order, so please don't jump around. *Now let's solve this problem.


First, check the fuse(s), check battery connections for corrosion (clean if necessary) and *voltage - above 12.5 volts should be good.*


Second, check for power from the battery to one of the large terminals on the solenoid. *One of the wires is connected directly to the battery and has power all the time so one of the large terminals should light a test light or show 12 volts on a meter at all times.*


Third, *check for power at the small terminal of the solenoid while depressing the clutch/brake pedal and holding the key in the start position (you may need an assistant to sit in the seat to override the safety switch). If your solenoid is a four wire solenoid, check both small wire terminals as one is ground and the other is power from the ignition switch. *If your solenoid is a three wire solenoid, make sure the solenoid body is not corroded where it bolts to the chassis of the mower as this is your ground path back to the battery. *If in doubt, remove the solenoid and clean the mounting area down to bare metal. *If there is no power to the small terminal then your problem is most likely a safety switch, ignition switch or in the wiring.*


Fourth, check for power on the other large terminal of the solenoid while holding the key in the start position q(you may need an assistant to sit in the seat to override the safety switch).*


Fifth, check for power at the starter while holding the key in the start position (assistant again).*


Sixth, check your ground circuit back to the battery.


After you have gone through each of the above steps, let us know what happened when you did each step. *At that point we will have great info to tell you how to proceed. *Remember you are our eyes, ears, and fingers, so please be as accurate as possible.


Be as specific as possible with voltage readings as this will help diagnose your problem quicker. *If you do not know how to perform the above checks, just ask and I will try to guide you through it. *Youtube also has some videos and as you know a picture is worth a thousand words.
 

enigma-2

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2012
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Messages
194
As you have a good battery, I would look next at each of the safety switches. If any are not working properly, the tractor will be dead as you described.

I had this happen a tractor or two ago, finally traced it to my seat switch (located under the seat). The plastic switch holder had weakened and didn't hold the switch in its proper place. New switch fixed it.

If all those ok, the next suspect is the ignition switch. Easy enough to test, just jumper across with a length of wire. See if you can get teh starter to crank.

After this, weak or broken wire, or corroded connection.
 
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