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I have 1999 Statesman (MTD) Lawn Tractor. The battery went dead in it a couple of weeks ago (I could hear the starter ticking when trying to start it). It would not turn over. I have replaced the battery several times in the past with these symptoms, and bought the same model of battery from Autozone that I have purchased before. It usually just starts right on up after install. However, when installing this new battery, the tractor will not turn over. I do hear a single click when first turning the key over, but don't hear the repeating ticking from the starter anymore. I do get a high pitch noise when first turning the key over (for a second or two) and then nothing. If I turn it over enough times, I can get the + terminal to smoke, or have got it to spark. After this, I took the battery back to Autozone, and they told me the battery was good. The clerk told me it could the solenoid or a bad battery cable. I inspected the battery cables after verifying again that the battery was installed properly, and found no breaks in the installation of the wires. I hate electrical problems with anything that has wheels (it could be so many things). Anyone have any ideas? Where should I start diagnosing the problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, how many years do lawn tractors last if the oil and filters are changed regularly under normal use? I only run mine about 12 hours a year and it is kept beneath the deck of my house under a tarp year round. Thanks

Hi StatemanG, If you have a few diagnostic tools (test light, multimeter etc) you can find your problem. Since you have a new battery I think the first thing I would check is that you have proper voltage to the solenoid and starter if you do it could be the starter itself. A mower properly taken care of no matter what the brand can last a very long time, hope this helps.

At the 13 year mark, any host of things can start to go belly up on these mowers, amongst them:
Battery- in your case probably not. I assume they load tested it?
Solenoid
safety switches for seat, blade engage, neutral start, etc.
Loose terminals on starters, grounds, solenoids
Bad ignition switch itself
Disconnected wire or worn through insulation

If you can safely do it, you might try reaching down to the solenoid and feel for the click while you turn the key to the start position. No rings or watches for this trick, thank you!

from the sounds your telling us.....its spinning the starter but not engaging the flywheel......the click is your starter solenoid....so if your battery cables are good..then your starter is the problem...it could be a number of things in the starter...if its smoking....its best to take it off and have it tested...a new one is probably about $70

I wouldn't be at all surprised if reddragon is on the right track with a starter that's going in to retirement. In answer to some of the first questions posted about longevity, I've seen original motors in 52 year old pieces of equipment still chugging along, and have also seen 2 year old motors, with what must be less than 20 hrs. total on it with the rod sticking out the side of the block. A lot depends on maintenance, how highly the engine is stressed, how good the design and manufacture of the engine is, and where the engine is used.
Big items on the list for keeping it running longer: (In my opinion)
Make sure your engine is clean, and all the cooling fins are clean and the shrouds are in place.
Use a good fuel stabilizer
Use a premium synthetic oil
Check the oil level before each use.

Most of these engines have such a small oil capacity that even a couple of ounces can make a difference in the service life of the engine.

Thanks for all your posts. I just called a repair shop, and it looks as if I am going to have at least $200 to repair it....$65 to pick it up and $65 an hour for diagnostic + the part. Being currently under employed in this wonderful economy we are in, it may have to sit a while before I have that chunk of change to put into the tractor. I hoped that someone may have a simple way to try to get it started (my Dad suggested to tap the solenoid gently with a hammer to see if it did anything different happened when trying to start it-nothing new-just sit there). I have a 23 year old Craftsman push mower that my Dad gave me, so it looks as if I will be pushing it for awhile until it dies or I can do something else. Again, I appreciate everyone's help. StatemanG

i think you can get it done cheaper!....give us the model serial numbers of the motor...and we can look it up for you:smile:

Is the starter gear hung up on the flywheel? is this a briggs overhead valve engine, if so is it sitting on compresion and the starter cant turn it over? try turning the flywheel by hand clockwise if it turns hard and then releases try the starter again, this would give you the one click everytime you hit the key, if this works then the valves need to be adj, I very rarley ever repalce a starter, don't remember doing on in at least 3 years.

65 p/u del and 65 per hour labor? I guess I need to raise my prices some. I charge 40 p hr and do the repairs at thier house with a min of 25.00, no service call charge if less than 10 miles. no wonder I am as busy as I am, I also give 10% discount on spring service if I get 2 or more units at same location when neighbors get together and have thiers done together.

reddragon said:

from the sounds your telling us.....its spinning the starter but not engaging the flywheel......the click is your starter solenoid....so if your battery cables are good..then your starter is the problem...it could be a number of things in the starter...if its smoking....its best to take it off and have it tested...a new one is probably about $70

Click to expand...

I think Reddragon has you pointed in the right direction. Removing and troubleshooting the starter (clean and lubricate while you have it out) is clearly called for at this point. Double check the cable as the connector can sometimes corrode at the copper, under the insulation. You should probably just replace this (the big red wire that goes to the starter), you can get this at walmart. You just need to get the right length, so measure it before you go. I would check the ground cable too, maybe replace.
This is probably not a big deal soooooo.
Keep us informed as to what the actual fix is.

StatemanG said:

I have 1999 Statesman (MTD) Lawn Tractor. The battery went dead in it a couple of weeks ago (I could hear the starter ticking when trying to start it). It would not turn over. I have replaced the battery several times in the past with these symptoms, and bought the same model of battery from Autozone that I have purchased before. It usually just starts right on up after install. However, when installing this new battery, the tractor paint will not turn over. I do hear a single click when first turning the key over, but don't hear the repeating ticking from the starter anymore. I do get a high pitch noise when first turning the key over (for a second or two) and then nothing. If I turn it over enough times, I can get the + terminal to smoke, or have got it to spark. After this, I took the battery back to Autozone, and they told me the battery was good. The clerk told me it could the solenoid or a bad battery cable. I inspected the battery cables after verifying again that the battery was installed properly, and found no breaks in the installation of the wires. I hate electrical problems with anything that has wheels (it could be so many things). Anyone have any ideas? Where should I start diagnosing the problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, how many years do lawn tractors last if the oil and filters are changed regularly under normal use? I only run mine about 12 hours a year and it is kept beneath the deck of my house under a tarp year round. Thanks

Click to expand...

Try replacing the battery wire, there may be no visible indication that it's messed up.

If your hearing a single click - check that your blade PTO is NOT in the on position .

Folks,
Thanks for all your replies and advice. I have been really busy, and have not had time to further diagnosis the problem with my tractor. Today, I took the starter out and cleaned the top of it, and unscrewed the red wire connection to the engine (to clean it). I notice now sometimes that I get a jerk out of the engine under the rotating screen, but that is it - other than that low pitch sound that accompanies that occurs when trying to start the tractor. Red Dragon, you had asked a while back what the engine is and it is as follows: Briggs and Stratton model-28T707 Type: 1154E1 Code: 990203ZD I found the part manual for the tractor, and the part numbers for starter switch (600 thru 679 series MTD Tractor): 725-0267 (ignition switch) and 725-1426 for the solenoid. The link to the parts manual is . I tried to unloosen the both the red cables from the solenoid today (thinking of replacing the power cables), and they would not budge-might need something else other than a socket set to loosen....Does anyone know of a good place to buy parts online? Sometimes with all the wires, parts, and such, it might just easier to dig up the cash to get it fixed by someone here locally.... replacing these parts are difficult sometimes because the are hard to get to. I don't have the diagnostic equipment to find out what the problem is and might have to just start buying part. If anyone has any more thoughts, please let me know. Thanks again, StatemanG

I created an account just to respond to this hopefully help someone else out that gets stuck like me. I had the exact same issue. Checked Solinoid, starter, wires batteries, everything. Put a for sale sign on it in the front yard. after thinking at work I went home and took off the engine cover.. There was a big fat momma mouse and 4 babies all nursing. They had a big nest that had jammed the flywheel and gear off the starter. Sent them into the field and cleared out all the grass and gum and she fired right up.