How to voltage drop test the battery connections on a riding mower

[@delbertrohrbach4734]

Wow, happy to see you are still posting videos! It's been quite some time but I have found your earlier post very helpful. Thanks and hope to see more.

[@dart451kad]

How are you getting a voltage at all with both terminals on the positive side??

[@jeffiroth8899]

I know this is an old comment, but anywho... A voltmeter simply tells you the difference (drop) between the amount of voltage at each test lead, you don't have to have one on positive and one on negative to get a voltage reading. If the starter circuit is closed and operating properly, you should expect close to zero volts dropped from the positive battery post all the way to the starter, let alone the positive cable. When he turns the key and gets 10.6V between the post and the cable, that means there was a drop of 10.6V between those two points, and with the battery at 12.3V, the starter solenoid is only getting a max of 1.7V, which obviously isn't enough to energize it.

[@jw8406]

@@jeffiroth8899: I think the word "obviously" is too often used. If you'd thought about dart451kad question it might have been obvious to you that dart451kad didn't understand voltage drop and simply wanted to gain an understanding. You, jeffiroth88898, provided a very good answer; however when you state "which obviously isn't enough to energize it." you could have not used the word "obviously". You just had to make a dig at dart451kad's lack of knowledge and your superior knowledge.

[@scottg674]

I have a 1987 JD316 with a new Vanguard 23hp engine. I have a JD TY6192 battery. When it runs the battery charges to over 13 volts and I have no problem starting it once I initially get it started and the battery is charged. But if it sits the voltage drops to 12.33 - 12.45 or so. When I try to start it I always get the solenoid to click, but it may or may not crank the starter. My question is, is it normal for the battery to drain a little while it isn’t running like this?

[@cammm15yt74]

scottg674 sounds like a voltage regulator problem