John Deere LA145 Secret Safety Switch, Also How To Test Seat Switch, Brake Switch and More.

Diagnose any lawnmower using the information in this video. We show how to test safety switches the right way and what to look for when diagnosing a lawn tractor or mower. This easy to follow DIY electrical video will make repairing your machine easy.
John Deere LA145 Secret Safety Switch, Also How To Test Seat Switch, Brake Switch and More.
Edited by YouCut:youcutapp.page.link/BestEditor
#johndeere
#electrical
#switch
Lawnmower No Start / won't crank Just Clicks Easy DIY Fix Works On Most Mowers. Battery, Solenoid or Starter?
This repair works on riding mowers, zero turns, brands like.... Cub Cadet John Deere MTD AYP Husqvarna Poulan Pro Murray Troy Bilt Craftsman Honda Toro Snapper and many more.

[@matthewmoilanen787]

Actually as a 35 yr Senior Master ASE I find that most of my electrical fixes are bad connectors or bad grounds. Some have a high or low current flow and when corroded will not work. It's actually saved my customers allot of money and me time. It also has made me a bit of money and my customers quite happy.

[@louislandi938]

BIG SALUTE T-Bone! That would have stumped 99% of homeowners and a LOT of Pro’s. Personal pride kept you at it.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you 😊 we don't quit until it's right

[@dharley189]

Excellent information. The 12 volt test light trick on positive is the trick to finding ground faults. The digital ohm meter has the drawback of using an extremely small current to test continuity. It probably would have not caught that ground problem as there are paths to ground thru other components. Test light was the way to go. Also a headlight with test leads can be better in many test because it puts a proper current load on the circuit. Headlight can be used in place of a fuse looking for a short to ground. You are spot on with your diagnostic procedures. I’m a retired 50 year career car tech fixing mowers part time now. Your videos are helping me transition to this field. Thanks so much.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you

[@maunalapier4939]

Glory Hallelujah 💥 I’m 73 and just found you trying to find the best oil filter for my LA 145 JD and found you I’m a old farm girl and my Dad’s right hand man at age 2yrs old. So I so appreciate your knowledge I’m going back to all your videos you are my new encyclopedia 💖 My Dad would have been proud of you sharing that was amazing find a wire nodded off. My hat is off and I salute you Sir🇺🇸

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you for your kind words my friend.

[@SF-fm7ov]

I find it easiest to bypass all the safety switches by jumping the solenoid with a screwdriver. If it cranks then battery, starter, cables, and grounds are good. This saves a lot of time going down rabbit holes.

[@rickmungal7049]

Technicians like you are hard to find. You did an amazing job. Great tips with the meter. Thank you!

[@mechanicmike2858]

i am a automotive technician and mouse /rodent damage is very prevalent in cars. it is both a blessing and a curse

[@bubbabubba2013]

Rabbits love car wiring also.

[@WestsideCritters]

How is a rodent in a car a blessing????

[@mechanicmike2858]

​@WestsideCritters well it helps me pay my bills as a automobile mechanic

[@timothy8742]

Very much impressed with your tenacity and calm demeanor to find the problem. You have a teachers ability to patiently explain things. I'm off to buy a voltage and ohm tester and a basic circuit tester. Happy I bumped into this video.

[@Mumwaldee]

Nice detective work, seems your customer is twice blessed...with a great price on this lawnmower and a great mechanic to troubleshoot it for him.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you, and thanks for your kind words.

[@TLMD]

I think he is an honorary Donut Deputy.......lol

[@houstontaylor4206]

Well done and easy to follow your instructions.

[@ronroberts7297]

I love your straight on approach to your work. Easy to understand and I always learn something!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you

[@bubbabubba2013]

My exact model, bought it brand new at Deere dealer. No problems so far, but it's inevitable that I'll eventually run into one of these problems. I'm downloading this video. Thank you so much for showing me how to trouble shoot possible future problems.

[@michellealms3238]

U are amazing sir!! Very informative. Thanks.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

So nice of you

[@zdavidzz]

Well I'm impressed. I still think a con man designed these tractors.

[@mark-wn5ek]

Me and you are buds already! You got more sense than 90% of these guys on KZbin. You did good.

[@philliphall5198]

I don’t own a pair of shorts and tennis shoes but at 72 I think I will try mec small engine repair this summer

[@46GarageUSA]

GREAT VIDEO , you are the only one to teach us how to use a test light and ohm meter while fixing stuff.. Thank You..

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thanks my friend

[@Repo8971]

I love watching videos to hopefully learn something I didn’t know before. It’s all about troubleshooting. Luckily I was blessed to be able to troubleshoot.

[@Auguur]

Personally, I would not have known that switch was bad after merely looking at it. Maybe after trying to depress the button, I may have known🤪. Thanks for the awesome video, T-bone!

[@Tildog59]

I've got the same problem on my X165.Going to work through it as you described.A very helpful no nonsense video thanks

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you

[@Tildog59]

Followed your tutorial and found the fault,repaired it at no cost.Thanks from England

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Awesome!!

[@kirstiesubry7300]

Your the man! The secret switch. Watched a million videos, checks all the switches and connections, battery, etc.. but no one mentions the secret mother f&#kin switch. Your the master!

[@MandrakeRoots]

Thanks for the info...do not have a rider, but thi video was entertaining.👍

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Glad you liked it my friend

[@chrisandberitingermany7341]

very good explainations, thank you for your time. regards from Christian

[@T-ShirtMagic]

New Subscriber From Vancouver Island Canada - Simple, Clear, Humorous and Helpful - Thanks!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Awesome, thank you!!

[@stevophillips4121]

My buddy was given a fairly new JD mower. The sprite 85 year old lady just bought a new 1... She was still riding her old Harley at her age. So it didn't run we drove down to trailer it home. I've been a mechanic 45+ years on anything with an engine lol. 1st I found the battery cables loose and dang near falling off. Fixed cables, still no crank so I looked around and found that same switch, hanging loose. Squeezed it as I turned the key, SHAZZAM !! There she goes, fired right up. So I showed him where it was in case it happened ever again... As I've retired and moved to SE Asia lol can't work on all his cars etc 8500 miles away.

[@chadhelvey7827]

Persistence and determination. Well done T-bone! As a homeowner and a former mechanic I would have been pulling my hair out. Great job and great video editing, you are fantastic at both!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Wow, thank you!

[@TheLawnmowerLady]

Great tutorial on the fundamental testing procedures. It's mighty intimidating to lots of folks. Cheers!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you, yes it is

[@edswain114]

😅😮 For

[@matthewcaldwell6763]

Yep it is Stella. Push mower coil easy. But a rider...it will test me

[@groverwoody9464]

Very helpful video, thanks.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

You're welcome

[@ernieclark9211]

I work on a good many mowers, this video was on point. Thanks

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you, glad you liked it 😊

[@gordbaker896]

Good One. Just watched it again a year later. Very well done Sir. An Excellent Model for $100. Keep it!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you

[@davidleblanc7445]

Thanks for putting this on helps me out a lot.Thank you Now maybe I'll quit pulling my hair out

[@MichaelBenninger]

Great job T Bone

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you

[@kentowens2179]

Great video! I have 2 John Deere's, and have been thru most of the switches already! LOL I like 'em, but they can be a pain sometimes.

[@adnacraigo6590]

Perseverance paid off. That looked like mouse damage.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you. Yes I agree 👍🏻 💯

[@ldwldw1993]

Great info T-Bone. Thx

[@butler386]

Great job of actually showing how to check those safety switches. All in all the customer should be very happy with what he paid for the mower and parts. Plus your bill. Thanks for showing us all the good stuff and the videos.

[@jayjudd6518]

❤ Ho Lee Chit I saw John Deere so I stopped by. Lucky me now I’m subscribed. Like your way of training us.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thanks for the sub!

[@cove53]

Hello T-Bone! Best video I’ve seen in a long time. You showed me things I never would have guessed - whole new appreciation for test lights and multi-meters. I have a JD Model 170, 1986. I can’t wait to poke around with the “T-Bone Method” of serious, slow, tenacious Visual Inspection 🧐 😂😊US Navy (Ret.) Happy Memorial Day!

[@cantstopwalkingbutlovemowing]

New friend of the channel I just learned something I saved this video

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Awesome

[@timcsmedic2162]

I followed your video and found an issue with my brake switch. Close visual inspection... and now its up and running. Thank you!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

That's great Tim. Thanks for watching and commenting my friend

[@markk3652]

Another thing to be aware of with these v twin briggs and stratton engines is mice building nests under the engine cover. I got my LA145 for free, previous owner said the motor was seized. Turned out that it had a giant mouse nest under the cover, mouse urine infiltrated the starter, and the nest was preventing the flywheel from turning at all. Starter was locked up as well. Those rodents ruined both coils as well between chewing the wires and rusting the laminations of the pickups. The urine even corroded the aluminum on the heads, making it so the intake manifolds couldn't seal at the o ring gaskets. It took a while to go thru it and diagnose and fix everything, but it's a great mower again, and I've wanted a John Deere for a while. This one came to me for free.

[@nodsib]

I had this problem intermittently on a couple units we bought for landscaping crews, took me a reaaalllly long time to figure it out on my own, turned out to be that stupid switch by the transmission was sometimes sticking in and then not allowing it to start. Drove me crazy lol

[@stephenmccool8127]

Perhaps the most comprehensive and simple videos I've seen on the subject. I have a 12 yo D110 and 9yo D170. I have yet to replace any safety switch. However I have had to do extensive troubleshooting and watched several other videos on this same subject and while helpful not as problem solving as yours. I'd like to suggest this. Before checking any safety switches but after making sure you have good battery...check the two wire connections on the solenoid. In every instance for me, these connections were dirty and needed a good cleaning and the machine cranked right up. Just a week ago I had to change the connections as the thes became to loose to maintain good contact. Just my thoughts. Thanks

[@edsomers7814]

Can’t thank you enough for this video.god bless.☮️

[@matthewcaldwell6763]

I gotta fix my 1st riding mower soon..I've done hundreds of push mowers all fixed. But I will do my best

[@FJBsaidcornpop]

You can look at persons shop and tell whether they know what they are talking about or well rounded in numerous fields, this guy is one of them.

[@williamburris3878]

T-Bone, it's always a pleasure and ultra, down to earth informative. You're the Man! Thanks again

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you

[@RenegadesGarage]

Raley's Small Engines.. I already knew everything you said in the video and I still feel like I learned something.. Nice job sir.

[@outboardfixer]

Continuity and Ohms are two different setting....they just happened to be combined on THAT particular meter....you might have mentioned that.....

[@DebGood]

Well I just bought a John Deere s140 and I after I buy something I always like to advance my education into troubleshooting future problems and I'll tell you what you are a brother from another mother I thank you so much cuz this girl is not strange to working on mechanics on anything and I found your video very educational and enlightening so thank you again I hope you have a fantastic Labor Day weekend September 2nd 3rd and 4th 2023.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Awesome, thank you for watching and commenting!!!

[@hettro-cv6082]

Great advice!

[@HawksDiesel]

Thanks for posting. this is great info!!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kenstockton7793]

That's crazy, there's too many safety switches, which makes more wires for the mice to chew on or rust & break off and can cause a ground or no ground, im glad you found it, I was given a LA145, won't start, will try & eye ball about all what you taught, thanks

[@autopeep24]

Great stuff, one more thing you left out. Make sure your PTO switch is not engaged. Went through all these academic exercises and that's what was the problem. Learned a lot thank you!😊

[@mikemurphy67]

Awsome diagnostic. Short and sweet. I'm sharing this with my shop guys. Thank you!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Great, glad it was helpful my friend. Thanks for sharing.

[@rickhoyt7398]

Great Video - Just bought a used John Deere - no problems with it yet, but this video will be very helpful when I eventually do!!

[@tjcoll011]

After years of replacing expensive batteries and lots of letting my dead rider sit while I push-mowed the yard, I finally went all-in on fixing this thing and with the help of a multimeter found a bad starter relay. 10 dollars later this 18 year old mower is like a new toy.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Awesome

[@chadfield376]

You don’t have to push mow your yard too many times when you own a broke down rider before you get out there and start doing some DIY diagnosing:-)

[@JEFFQUICKLE9]

Where is the starter relay?

[@jamesacarey1178]

thankyou very much T BONE. Finally some one that can explain it in a way i can understand .you are now my # 1 source when i run into mower problems. most times i can find the issues but my troy bilt bronco was kicking my ass had to run a hot wire from battery switch to finish mowing last season now i can tackle it with a better range of knowledge.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thanks so much for your support and kind words my friend.

[@AodhMacRaynall-dr1sf]

t-bone, thank ye. that was great. you taught me stuff i didn't know. the "wallerin-out" phenomenon is one I'm familiar with but you brought it to everbody's attention.

[@alberteller7286]

T Bone you the man . Love your video’s you have a lot of knowledge . 🙏🏻👍🏻

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you

[@koolkevin2357]

I like your diagnostic ideas - Stop replacing parts - till you KNOW what part to replace! Great info - Got a new Subscriber! Thank You for sharing.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you.

[@martineastburn3679]

I lasted. Sr. Scientist in Electronics and Physics. I enjoyed and agreed with your discussion. Well Done and worth my while to see JD tractor. X300 here. And larger tractors. 🙂

[@liljoeii6091]

Well thank you very much like learning's news Stuff Thank you for the video

[@stevepearson6316]

I used to buy the tractor style mowers like the one in the video ....then I got a 0 turn mower yes I paid a little bit more but I will never go back to the tractor style...the 0 turn mowers are that much better and faster easier to use

[@valeriemacrae8441]

Thank you for this It is very helpful. When my dad passed away I have his 585 and went to start today and didn’t Thank you taking the time and your excellent direction in what to do.

[@andretraversy9391]

Tank's verry interesting

[@mrclean146]

Glad you found it. I have to look at a buddy’s same tractor and I figured it was something like that. Hopefully it’s the same. The electrical lesson was great also.

[@nodak81]

I've got a Deere e140 mower and it's had starting issues since it was a month old. Three years old now but only has 8 hours on it because I couldn't ever start the damn thing. Finally just ran a jumper from the start terminal on the ignition switch down to the purple wire on the solenoid. Starts like a champ now. Eventually I'll probe the safety switches to find the culprit (suspect the brake switch) but I'm lazy so it'll be a while. At least I can mow in the meantime.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

That's making progress. Check out my Just clicks videos, I have 2 of them. They may help you.

[@walterbeaver6365]

Supreme informational video. Thankyou Sir.

[@JungleBobRepair]

I hate chasing down electrical,but that's the only way to learn.Great video

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Me too. You are correct my friend. Thanks so much for watching and commenting brother.

[@hughkaplan5128]

Thanks helps me out for future use.

[@glenmiller7294]

A short tutorial on what the switch does when it's pressed, or not..would have been greatly beneficia...

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Yes, I agree. It simply has continuity or not, open or closed.

[@CatCrazyFamily]

Always great to watch an artist at work!! Thanks for sharing!

[@parktondc]

Great video

[@ocgabe]

Wonderful video. I am currently scratching my head with my lawn tractor; this video has given me new confidence that I am going to figure this out...or die tryin'! Thank you!!

[@chrischiampo7647]

Great Diagnosis T Bone 😀😀😀

[@russl4294]

Good 👍 one

[@josephdauzat7885]

Tbone you did a very good job explaining everything and making it simple.i work on everything I own.most of the time I fix it. Thank you.

[@markcwynar6394]

T- Bone, Thank You VERY much on this video. You Spelled it out. I am ready to tackle my JD.

[@douggillock]

I'm glad I found this I tried this on my troybuilt tractor and it fixed it

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Awesome!!

[@sayheymj]

OMG! TBONE you saved me so much time! Great video. Wish I lived closer, I'd volunteer to work for you just for the education alone. Thank you!, Thank you!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Awesome!!

[@WreckDiver99]

"There's the big boy from the 80's". Last payment coming up in 2025. LOL... Another thing to consider when you get a "No Crank / No Start" is the battery connection. Everything tested good on my JD, but it wouldn't crank. Had everything going. Figured, well, starter relay isn't tripping, gotta be that since I had power to it. Replaced it...same thing. Went through all the switches and such...everything solid. Tested the battery, solid. Decide, let me just charge it again. Pulled it and charged it (I pull my battery every winter and place it where it can't freeze). Put the battery in, and I saw an ARC at the positive terminal. HUH? Tightened the positive lead more, nope, still "Pop" and no start. Well, the plating on the Positive lead was corroding, but it wasn't that green/blue puss...it wasn't white either, just yea. So I wire brushed it, and re-attached. FIRED RIGHT UP. So watch that positive lead y'all.

[@randypeddycoart5786]

Awesome Video!

[@davidparnell1893]

The only reason Henry Ford and John Deere were able to build their mechanical empires was because they built their companies on guys like you with pragmatic, anaytical, mechanical minds. You inspire the "patience to learn" in your audience of viewers and I learn something immediately usable from each video. Your narratives woven with great camera detail and good old humor show an intelligence for video production which attracts folks like me.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Wow, thank you 😊

[@JEFFQUICKLE9]

LOL you want to give this guy the Nobel Prize or what?

[@thomassciurba5323]

Thumbs up the great white north simply for how many times you said “mash the button”.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

😁

[@davidstark8894]

Another great troubleshooting video. Thanks for posting!

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you 😊

[@joelfortin9856]

Great job, very informative, thank you

[@darrellblair5818]

Enjoyed this video. Great info.

[@TSargeant]

Thanks for the information! Good job bro!

[@billpuller4364]

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and creating this video! 👍🏻

[@sawsquaresinetube]

Thanks Tbone! I still didn’t find my problem but will keep watching! I figure by the end I’ll have a brand new mower of replacement parts

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Bring it here, lets film it and fix it. Let's diagnose it and not be a parts replacer.

[@jamesbowden5306]

I've found crap like that once in a while. It takes time for sure. The one that got me was the small red wire going into the fuse holder was bad. Couldn't find power for hours.

[@breeze787]

Broken wires force you to test everything till it crosses your path. Nice hunt.

[@61lugnut]

I found this helpful about using the multimedia and location of some switches.

[@CHOWDRYFARMS]

thanks again about that wire being broken .never woulda seen it

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

I almost didn't either. 😆

[@paule.maurice1521]

Thanks for the tip ... Slow primer bulb return = clogged line or filter

[@shep6123]

That is awesome. What I did with my craftsman lawnmower. I took a wire to the negative I think no the positive positive and connected to start push button. Somehow I pushed it put it. I gotta push button on it. I’ll start it every time. Turn the key push the button and start, but I never thought about checking the wire like that Because when they put things together, they slap them in there sometimes to get pinched but thank you. I’m gonna go through mine again and I’m gonna go through all that what you just showed me. I didn’t understand the horseshoe on the meter. I’m not an electrician I’m a pipe welder, but anyhow, I like to work on little things like that I got bunch a lot more right now. I have our time starting. I got a right now push mower you push it and I’ll start I’ll die and it won’t start again before all I had just push and he starts every time one pool one pool give it to my daughter, cause her lawnmower quit I had to work on it and give her mine. She got broke and it won’t start. She maybe had bad gas so she put new gas in it and it won’t start so only thing I think of it could be maybe the carburetter is dirty to rebuild it, take it off and clean it or something, but it does smell like it’s getting gas so then then the spark plug wouldn’t get fire so I hope it’s not the coil out yet

[@4svqktywkt]

Good job

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thanks

[@kingtut5923]

mr wonderful

[@Big_Johns]

Very nice work T-Bone, you stuck with it and solved the problem. I bet the customer will be very happy. 👍👊 Tell Mrs T-Bone hey for us, you two have a great weekend brother. 👋

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Thank you my friend, yes customer is very happy. Yes I will tell Mrs T

[@Big_Johns]

Thanks brother