John Deere D140 - Only Starts with Jump from Car

Our John Deere D140 tractor/mower suddenly won't start with just the battery.
If I jump it from the car, it will start.

Battery alone will turn it over fine, but won't even try to catch.

I tried a tune up (replaced plugs, filters, oil, etc.), same issue.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions?

Any help is much appreciated.

:welcome:

We need the engine make & numbers ( not Hp )
We need a proper unambigious description of exactly what you see, hear , smell & feel when you try to start the mower.

Won't catch = starter spins but engine does not
or
engine spins but does not fire
or
engine spins and fires enough to dissengage the starter but dose not continue running
or
engine fires while being cranked by the starter but stop as soon as the starter stops spinning.

We have no idea which one of these you are experiencing which makes it really hard to give you any meaningful advice.:confused2:

John Deere D140 with Briggs and Stratton engine, turn key and engine turns over, and over, and over but doesn't catch.
Eventually if you keep trying it will catch (like 1 out of 20 tries) and sputter to life. No unusual smells that I can detect.

Once it's running it's ok, and will start fairly quickly after shutting it off, if it's still hot.
But after it cools off, same issue again.

Engine details are in the pictures I provided.
Plugs, filters, oil are all new this season. Gas is fresh.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions to test?
Thank You.

Frank B.

PianoWorld said:

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John Deere D140 with Briggs and Stratton engine, turn key and engine turns over, and over, and over but doesn't catch.
Eventually if you keep trying it will catch (like 1 out of 20 tries) and sputter to life. No unusual smells that I can detect.

Once it's running it's ok, and will start fairly quickly after shutting it off, if it's still hot.
But after it cools off, same issue again.

Engine details are in the pictures I provided.
Plugs, filters, oil are all new this season. Gas is fresh.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions to test?
Thank You.

Frank B.

Click to expand...

If it turns over at a constant slow speed then clean up the contacts from the battery in particular the ground wire , both ends.
IF it turns fast then slow then fast then slow
Pull the rocker covers off and set the valve lash

Does it start easier if the choke is on? If so you might have an intake leak. Next time you get it started spray some WD-40 at the base of the carb and see if the RPMs change any. You might just put a wrench to the mounting bolts before you try to start just to double check they are tight.

Do as Bert says also as he knows what he is talking about.

Tom