Jump starting an under-seat battery?

[ILENGINE]

Never saw a Craftsman or Husqvarna that required the operator to be on the seat to start. Clutch/brake switch pushed down, or parking brake applied, and control levers in neutral positions for Z turns.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

No, I didn't, but I will now. My only question would be if it bypasses the start circuit as well as the run circuit. It would be easy enough to find out.

Most mowers, both.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

Insulate the + positive terminal and jumper and you'll be good to go . Don't bother with the - negative terminal ' It will be just fine the way it sets . A little thickness of news print , shop towel or a magazine covering the positive will do that insulation / isolation . A cap screw and nut won't ever be used on a rectangle Batt terminal again terminal .

The Batt connections on mine are Heavy Duty 1" C-Clamps . Rotated 90 degrees to vertical they make real good handles to carry that batt.

 

[Elkins45]

I tried it today and it cranks with the parking brake engaged and the seat flipped up. If I ever need to jump it now I know what to do. Thanks to everyone.

 

[g-man57]

Maybe get a new, strong, battery? I have multiple items with batteries in them - two mowers, tractor, two boats (2), car, truck, wheeler, etc. I never have to jump any of them. I keep good batteries in them. And, I have a two wire extension cable (Amazon search: SAE Extension Cable 2Pin) on each battery. These cables allow me to plug in a maintenance charger without having to access the battery - my batteries are always fully charged.

 

[mpqualdie]

One of my mowers has the battery under the seat and has a safety switch that requires the seat to be down and depressed before it will start. With someone in the seat I can't see any way that a set of jumper cables would fit under there without running the very real risk of grounding the + cable. How does someone jump start a mower with the battery under the seat?

Any mower I have/had you can run it without sitting on it by locking the brake on. Does yours not have that feature where you can press the brake and latch it on? If so latch it on and the mower should start without you sitting on it.

 

[SamB]

Sounds like you need to pull the battery out and charge it and have it checked. The engine stator on a rider engine is not meant to "recharge" a battery, it is designed to maintain the battery and run the lights or the electric PTO for the deck if you have that option.

If the battery will not charge, replace it or will cost you much more trying to nurse it along by jumping it.

Never, bypass or rig any safety device. I have seen way too many injures and mishaps through the years. Accidents don't happen on purpose.

Set the parking brake and you should be able to jump it. Do not jump the rider with the vehicle running.

To add to your prudent advice, AutoDoc, as I have learned in the past, and as you have stated, the charging system isn't meant to charge a dead battery and the stator will melt down when running with a bad battery, requiring replacement parts$$. Charge the battery with a charger or replace it with a new one.