Lawn tractor won't start: how to fix

[@paulmcevoy226]

Thank you so much for making an informative concise video. My dads mower had the exact same problem, we were going to cut out the safety switches but you tackled it in a logical way to diagnose the fault. saved me wasting all Sunday, it only took us 15 minutes and then he cut the grass. Solenoid on order, thanks again. I think my dad was as happy as your son 😂👍

[@BigBoxDodge2020]

Fairly informative video, thank you, what bugs me the most is most of these people who do lawn tractor videos do not say or put in the description What year their lawn tractor is.

[@kgoldric]

@@BigBoxDodge2020 1996

[@BigBoxDodge2020]

@@kgoldric thanks

[@franklobo2579]

Your little man reminds me of my son (now 24) and wanted to fix everything with dad. He's a manager of a baseball training facility and when the machines go down, he takes all the young kids around and shows them how to fix it .Made me proud. You got a great little guy there !!!

[@kennyward4674]

You made that little feller happy you got his tractor going.

[@usaljm1463]

You make your cute son spin with joy. Good Daddy! ❤😊

[@felixmadison5736]

Thanks for this great and informative video!! You saved me a call and $$$ to my small engine repair shop! EXCELLENT!!!

[@timsweet4424]

I believe somebody has messed with the interlock switches ! All modern mowers have had to add safety devices to keep you from doing what you did , I saw a seat switch without you sitting on the seat , neutral ,deck height ,blade engagement ,brake on , I can not speak for , manufacturers differ but ,please do not let a bad scene develop with that handsome young man being a victim , or you , making a useful and encouraging video ! Thank You !

[@kgoldric]

Mine still does have a seat safety switch but it only kills the engine if no one is on the seat AND either its not in park OR when the deck is down. So even if its in park if I leave the deck down and stand up it shuts off. I actually hit a bump once going a little too fast and I bounced slightly off the seat and it killed the engine so it definitely works as intended. But you are correct that most the newer models are simpler and it just never lets the engine start when not on the seat even if you are in park with the deck raised. I probably should have mentioned about that safety in the video at least for people who have this newer type of safety since they will need to be in the seat to get it to start. I do also know sometimes people mess with these safety switches but usually the one people bypass is the reverse cutoff switch that prevents you from mowing while in reverse. That is very common to see modified and can be very dangerous if you have kids outside.

[@love77888]

Thank you young sir for your help ❤

[@est6360]

Amazing video. Felt like being in a cool class. Thank you for taking the time to help us!!

[@melvis2017]

Great job and appreciations for the good explanations 🙏👌🇩🇰

[@carlosgonzalez-cw2of]

Thanks a lot. I own a MTD lawn tractor . The video has good information. I live in the Republic of Panama

[@carlosgonzalez-cw2of]

@@Boudica999 Hi. Good morning. Go to Do It Center in Los Pueblos mall

[@drock4912]

Oh wow, he me be the most adorable child I've ever seen. Cute little guy

[@silver-en7kl]

Sometimes it’s as simple as the batter, leave it hooked up to a trickle charger when not in use to maintain the battery. Also if the battery is good but u get nothin when u turn the key, check your wiring to the lawn blade on off lever or pull switch I just troubleshot mine and this was the problem, it was just a lose connection. Runs like a top now.

[@kgoldric]

I'm a big fan of trickle chargers. I pull out the battery every winter and connect it up to a battery tender/trickle charger. I usually use a multimeter to test voltage but if it's lower then 11 volts I wire up a trickle charger overnight or sometimes just use a jump box to start it and then mow for an hour to charge it back up.

[@johnkennedy528]

Great video, happy kids, happy family!

[@doncook3584]

Great content best supervisor ever.

[@NoahTheFurry567]

My kid likes fixing things just like his old man

[@kgoldric]

I really just upload family videos and my son wanted to film me showing him how to fix the tractor one day. He's 8 now, and we fix things every weekend. I probably should make more videos with him. I never thought I'd get over 100k views but apparently we helped a lot of folks get thier tractor started.

[@TadashiYasahiro]

Thanks for that solenoid comment and check! I just bought a new battery for mine and it wouldn’t start so I was freaking out... my solenoid is in the front of my ariens so I used a rubber gripped wrench to bypass it (granted, DO NOT try this at home) but yes it’s just my solenoid is bad because it crunk when I did that

[@kgoldric]

Awesome! Isn't it a great feeling when you first hear it start up. Good thinking with the wrench. 👍

[@kennethdurbin3385]

Got almost the same mower. Ran fine last week. Parked it and won't start. Cranks all day til the battery died. Jumping it now with my pickup. Still nothing but cranks. Bought it used for $150, cut my 3 acres fine. Has the ignition key on one side and a push button on the other side.

[@kgoldric]

Well if it cranks then it's not anything electrical except potentially the spark plug. Probably an issue not getting fuel or air. Check fuel lines, open up the air box and see if it's clean. If it cranks but combustion just isn't happening it is spark, fuel or air. Could be a dirty carburetor preventing fuel air mix. After pulling off the air box you might need to work down into pulling out the carb. They can be cleaned but they also can just be replaced. There are Chinese replacement carburetors for about $20 bucks.

[@kgoldric]

Ever get it working? How old is the oil? Does the flywheel turn by hand? Might be an issue with the choke. Check the choke cable is engaging the lever on the carb.

[@kennethdurbin3385]

@@kgoldric nope. Wasted money on 2 new batteries. It will crank over fast with the spark plug removed, cranks over very slowly with the spark plug installed. Guess there's a compression issue so I'm gonna sell it.

[@choppergirl]

If your compression release mechanism has failed, the engine will be hard as heck to turn around. I loathe that automatic compression release so much, I wish they had just given us a pull button like on every diesal tractor out there, instead of this automatic mess that fails. If it's failed, your starter and battery even if totally good will barely be able to turn the engine over... but most likely not.

[@kgoldric]

Yeah. I really wish manufacturers, even for cars, would make things easy to work on. They are all going the opposite direction so they can sell more, built in obsolescence. I have a 2001 jeep wrangler and it is so easy to work on but newer cars you pop the hood and are looking at plastic and computer gizmos with no individual part numbers. Heck, even my foot pedal actuated lid on my trash can broke and it was a little plastic latch, I pulled it out with just two screws but no part number at all. I wrote glade, the manufacturer, and they had only one part number for the entire $200 trash can, probably 30 individual parts that easily could be all replaceable. Luckily they have a warranty so they sent an entire trash can back. Me not wanting to be wasteful, took the good part off, made a mold, used epoxy and fabricated a new part. Now I have two overly complicated trash cans. Lol

[@IamSquidword]

GREAT video! Thanks for taking the time to make it 👍👍

[@kumarbhatia6566]

Gave it thumbs up immediately after seeing the cute kid :)

[@philliphall5198]

Lololo he’s a cute mechanic 😊

[@kachiquitaito3341]

Excellent video.

[@terriemckenzie6447]

Where are the fuses? How many are there?

[@kgoldric]

It depends on your model. Usually you'll find a fuse box under the dash or under the battery. If you look under the seat you might find your tractors model number and you can find all the electric diagrams at this web site if you search your model number... www.partstree.com/models/136e450f000-yard-machines-lawn-tractor-1996/electrical-switches-2/

[@johncollins8304]

Houston, we have lift=off!! Yeh!

[@cateyesreid8743]

AWESOME HELP! THANKS 👏👏👏👍

[@raevonday4197]

Sounds like you did great. But. I do not even get the clicking sound. I used it 5 days ago after I replaced with a new battery, spark plug, new oil and gas, lubed parts and pieces that I do every year. It started right up after all that, just like every year. But ready to get the big yard all looking good again and nothing! Not even a click. HELP PLEASE.

[@raevonday4197]

I checked the 20 volt fuse and it looks good.

[@kgoldric]

No click at all sounds like it could be a safety switch issue. Is the deck all the way up, is the seat safety engaged, brake peddle all the way in, is it in park? If any of those switches are not properly engaging then power will not travel from the battery to the starter. If you have jumper cables you might want to try the trick I did in the video where I directly connected the battery to the starter. If it starts then it isolates the issue to just a handful of electronics (safety switches, ignition, solenoid, fuse) between the battery and starter. If that doesn't work you might have a bad starter.

[@raevonday4197]

@@kgoldric I will try the jumper cable trick and see if I get a spark. So no spark will mean I need a selinod or a starter?

[@raevonday4197]

Thank you so much for your quick reply, so very kind of you. I re-read your reply. Sorry. If it starts the starter is good. So either safety built in safeguards or selinod or ignition. I sit on the seat to try and start it. The parking brake is on and the blades are up and not engaged. Fuse is good. All wires seem to appear in perfect condition. Is there tests for the ignition and selinoid. I do not have a voltage tester, I may have to get one.

[@kgoldric]

@@raevonday4197a voltage tester is good to have. First thing I do is test voltage at the battery. If its good thats when I try the starter by bypassing the other electronics. Then at least you know if its an engine issue or a problem just getting power to the starter. Sometimes the safety switches need to get pushed extra hard, you can try pulling up on the mower deck handle to get it a little extra pressure on it, do the same on brake by pressing it down a little extra hard while starting. Do one at a time so if it starts you know which one is the issue. A good volt meter will tell if there is continuity (both sides connected) that is a good test for the safety switches. The ignition wires can also be checked for voltage to make sure it is sending a signal to the solenoid.

[@glockensig]

My solenoid is not even clicking ....is there a fuse before the solenoid??

[@kgoldric]

Some have a couple fuses in a box or inline on a wire. Mine is old and doesn't have any. Might be a bad battery, thats the first thing to try if no clicking. If the battery is good you might want to still try bypassing the solenoid and connect the positive directly to the starter, it might be locked open and not able to click.

[@felixmadison5736]

I tried my jumper cables from the positive post on battery to starter and got nothing but some sparks. When I turn the key I get no cranking but constant sound like you hear when turning the key in your car when battery is low. Flywheel turns, but not real easy. Could it be the battery needs charging, or would it start with low battery when hot wired from battery to starter?

[@kgoldric]

Did you check the voltage? Do you have a trickle charger? If you got a trickle charger run an extension cord and leave it charging the battery over night. If you have a jump box or good 12v car battery you could try to jump it or directly connect to starter to see if it cranks. Sounds like your issue is probably either the battery is too low or your starter is going bad. Most likely its the battery. Probably just needs a good charge.

[@felixmadison5736]

@@kgoldric Thanks. I'm going to try the trickle charger before I spend money on a new battery.

[@tazmun]

I was very taken aback when you mentioned the location of the solenoid. You also indicated most of the solenoids are in a similar location which in my experience is not true. Most of the starter solenoids are located underneath where your fuel tank is on this machine making the wiring a very short trip to the starter.

[@kgoldric]

That's good to know. I'm not a big fan of the placement on this one. Particularly since you need to remove the battery to get to it yet testing it requires a battery or voltage. So you need cables or a jump box wired up. My tractor is a 1996 model, I upgraded to a metal grill so it looks newer but it's pretty old. Still runs great though. 👍

[@felixmadison5736]

@@kgoldric My MTD Yard Man is 2009 vintage and it's been working great for 23 years with no problems...until now. I replaced the standard blades with two 19" mulching blades and I haven't raked leaves or grass since! LOL!!

[@kgoldric]

@@felixmadison5736 they are really great tractors. I got a bagger attachment to do the leaves but I found just letting the bags get full the vacuum arm will start dropping the leaves back into the deck and mulch them up real good. Saves me from having to empty a bunch of bags. I probably should just get some mulching blades.

[@felixmadison5736]

@@kgoldric The blades do a fantastic job of mulching, and feed the lawn as well. This is the second pair I've installed in the 23 years I've had my machine.

[@ziarehman4421]

Nice video.

[@jennyandrews1671]

Great that's what's wrong with my mower. I thought it was the battery.

[@ReginaBarnett]

So what does it mean when a new battery is in and clicked 1 time and no more.

[@kgoldric]

It could be a few things. It could be similar to my issue if the solenoid is restricting the voltage. It also could be the engine is getting hard to turn and your starter is struggling to turn it. It may also be the starter itself. Do you see the engine turn when it clicks/cranks? Can you turn the flywheel (top of engine) by hand like I did in the video? If its really hard to turn you might need an oil change or it could be really low on oil, the engine will cease if you don't change the oil. To check a starter just connect a jump box or run a long positive wire like I did right to the starter. Also, the engine and the starter may have a mouse nest getting it jammed up so you might want to remove covers to check for excessive dirt or debris. If you haven't started it in a long time you may want to shoot some starter fluid in the air intake to help get things moving but if the flywheel and/or starter isn't moving at all it won't help. So like in the video you may want to start just checking voltage if you can get your hands on a multimeter. Also, if you have a trickle charger you may want to connect that overnight to really make sure the battery is as strong as it can be.

[@felixmadison5736]

@@kgoldric Darn mice chewed a hole in my fuel line, and I had gas all over the floor in my shed.

[@kgoldric]

@@felixmadison5736 I had mice or squirrels chew my propane regulator hose on my grill once. I also had mice get into my lawn tractors fly wheel and make a nest in there.

[@patwitte8997]

Thankyou man

[@timrothwell9979]

Try to start one time then that’s it 26 hp Kohler

[@thomashoward9806]

Missed the fuse?

[@carlthornton3076]

Very Good...

[@nicolasdakota3446]

Thanks

[@francislang5075]

good job

[@MarkSchlagenhauf65]

What model is the lawn mower? I have one like it that was given to me but the model number on tag is not there.

[@kgoldric]

So mine had a replaced seat, model number is usually on the bottom, and it used to have an old plastic grill so it looks newer than it really is. But I found my model number (136E450F000) by locating a lot of part numbers on it and going to partstree and searching. Finally found a model number that seems to match everything, I was shocked to find out it was actually a 96. Still running great though. www.partstree.com/models/136e450f000-yard-machines-lawn-tractor-1996/

[@MarkSchlagenhauf65]

@@kgoldric there is a spring attached to the speed control just under the hood and next to the gas tank. I can't figure out how it attaches. It's come loose somehow.

[@kgoldric]

@@MarkSchlagenhauf65 try this diagram. Its probably part 145. It's not the best picture but it looks like what you're describing... www.partstree.com/models/136e450f000-yard-machines-lawn-tractor-1996/wheels-rear-pedal-assembly-frame-drive-6/

[@randystarcher2358]

You better be getting out of there then

[@felixmadison5736]

Where is the fuse located?

[@kgoldric]

To be honest, I've never found any fuses on mine. I've been in pretty much every spot of this tractor and I've even gone through the full parts list on partstree.com and looked up the model number under the seat and I didn't see any mention of a fuse or fuse box.

[@felixmadison5736]

@@kgoldric Same here.

[@josecid9986]

What part number should be lawn its sr

[@kgoldric]

www.partstree.com/models/136e450f000-yard-machines-lawn-tractor-1996 this has all the part numbers. The solenoid I bought was this one... www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AZ0PDLG/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_inactive_ship_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@paulswenson5891]

I love you

[@kgoldric]

I'm glad I could help. Thanks for the positive vibes Paul. 👍

[@edavid4734]

ADORABLE

[@TheBoringCreatr]

You gotta correct your bio its an MTD not an "MDT"

[@kgoldric]

Good catch.

[@TheBoringCreatr]

@@kgoldric 😎

[@infinitynoodles5724]

Whell the first thing I would do is get a new battery.😂

[@kgoldric]

The battery is the first thing I always check but they are getting pretty pricey these days so its good to check for voltage before replacing. Voltage meters can be cheap but it will pay for itself by saving you from buying a battery when not needed.

[@felixmadison5736]

@@kgoldric You got that right! Last battery I bought for my mower cost me around $25 at Auto Zone. Now they are $50 and higher.

[@charlienaera8671]

what.is.the.modle

[@kgoldric]

Mine is a 1996 MTD Yard Machine model number 136E450F000. I updated to a newer metal grill but it normally has a black plastic grill.

[@macd9861]

Happy dance

[@incognito8448]

I want a Tesla Lawnmower

[@kgoldric]

I have contemplated buying an all electric riding mower. Ryobi makes one that is pretty cool... www.amazon.com/Ryobi-inches-Battery-Electric-RY48111/dp/B072J8VGDD/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?crid=3CRS1IQA275WO&dchild=1&keywords=ryobi+electric+riding+mower&qid=1632063460&sprefix=ryobi+electric+r&sr=8-6

[@kgoldric]

There is also the self driving electric mower from Honda... kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2Kqn2WdqL2HbNU

[@davidbsheppard3767]

It starts and runs for a few minutes

[@kgoldric]

Sounds like a problem with your carburetor. First check the carb is getting proper fuel and air by getting a new air filter and fuel filter, Amazon has them cheap. If that doesn't fix, it may be a dirty carb, sometimes you can try spraying starting fluid in the carb, let it soak for a couple then crank it. Also people sometimes use something called seafoam to clean up dirty carbs. Also, it goes without saying, but if the oil is bad or low it could need to be changed (once a year or 2 years tops you should change the oil). If it starts and runs for a short time though it is a good sign you don't have issues with the electric, battery, safties, ignition, solenoid, fuses or starter motor. Another thing you can check that regulates the air/fuel mixture in the carb is the choke, accelerator, and idle. Choke and accelerator are cables, just make sure they are connected and don't have much play. The idle just gets adjusted by a little screw driver or turn knob on the cab. I like mine idling a little high, it buns more fuel but is easier to start and really spins the blades fast. Also it makes the tractor faster. Good luck with it!

[@ertzmail]

Tooooo much yapping

[@TheNathanScot]

It's SOOOOOO-lenoid... Not "cyl-enoid" After hearing him say it wrong 30 times, pissed me off...

[@kgoldric]

While you may be correct by the Oxford dictionary pronunciation, on further inspection as I researched on KZbin for other videos it appears that it is very common to pronounce it "sil"enoid. We are sorry for your frustration but hopefully we helped get your tractor started. Please reference this video link below as an example on how approximately 50% of internet experts pronounce solenoid. ;-D m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqTSmJqHhNR6atU

[@kevinlawson9628]

Thanks