Lawnmower help - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

ShitOnWheels · 04-20-2005, 11:05 AM

Ok, way off topic, but I'm getting a tan and trying to get the lawnmower started so the brat (my brother) can cut the grass later. When we turn the key, it makes a clicking noise. So we figure it's the battery. So today I take baking soda and water and dissolve the corrosion. Wipe it up and make sure it's all dry. We have a couple of different chargers...1 we use for our boat. Started with that, got it mostly charged, and with the leads still on got it to start. So I took the leads off and let it run for 10 minutes or so. I stop it, and try to start it again, and back to the clicking noise. Ok, wasn't fully charged. But I got it fully charged before starting it this time, and it still won't start. And it doesn't matter if I leave the leads on or take 'em off, it still won't start.

I'm now trying with a different charger, and I'm waiting for it to charge. But, is there anything else I can do to try to get it to start? It started once, so I'm going to guess it's not a spark plug issue. Could there be more corrosion that's getting in the way? I mean I know I didn't get it all, but maybe not enough? Also, could it just be the battery is completely dead? Wouldn't it start with the charger hooked up if the battery was ok? It did once, but now it won't.

j0n · 04-20-2005, 11:35 AM

battery was probably "alive" enough to get the engine running once...now it's probably completely dead...try a new battery

BigAls87Z28 · 04-20-2005, 11:37 AM

How old is the battery? Garden tractor batteries only last 3 seasons or so. If you act now, the Die Hard Gold garden tractor batteries at Sears are on sale for 35.99. 8)
Sounds to me as if the battery is not holding the charge for too long.

ShitOnWheels · 04-20-2005, 11:54 AM

I couldn't tell ya how old the battery is. I don't normally do this ****. But I dfigured, instead of being bored while just laying out and tanning, I'd actually do something productive. Course now that I'm just waiting for thebatter to fully charge I keep comin right back in side, lol. Oh well.

I'm assuming the battery is dead. But my dad's an ******* (as any of the Ewing peeps will tell you, or if you read MySpace you'll see, lol), so I'm gonna exhaust all possibilities that I can. won't matter, he'll try to do it all again, but oh well. and I"m not about to go out and buy him a battery, lol. I'm tryin to move out, can't go spending anymore money than I already do.

HardcoreZ28 · 04-20-2005, 12:32 PM

Wow a girl that works on her lawn mower instead of just tanning....I need one of those!

Either the battery is shot of you're having a problem with the electrical system not recharging the battery.

ShitOnWheels · 04-20-2005, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardcoreZ28

Wow a girl that works on her lawn mower instead of just tanning....I need one of those!

Either the battery is shot of you're having a problem with the electrical system not recharging the battery.

Lol, I don't normally do this.

I'm betting it's the battery itself. Â*I've had a charger on it for the past hour and it's still not fully charged. Â*and it still won't start even with the leads. Â*Oh well, guess my brother can't cut the grass and guess dad will be spending money

Koll · 04-20-2005, 01:09 PM

I think im gonna go tan............

HardcoreZ28 · 04-20-2005, 01:18 PM

I think you should get a real job and work all day like the rest of us!

ShitOnWheels · 04-20-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardcoreZ28

I think you should get a real job and work all day like the rest of us!

I know this wasn't directed at me, but...I'm Trying!!!

Koll · 04-20-2005, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardcoreZ28

I think you should get a real job and work all day like the rest of us!

Well, when I start working, ill atleast look good 8)

12secondv6 · 04-20-2005, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardcoreZ28

Wow a girl that works on her lawn mower instead of just tanning....I need one of those!

Yup, prob battery won't hold a charge.

Quick question.... is it a sealed battery? Look on top... look for a couple of circles with + signs on them which can unscrew. If it has them... it is a battery that requires maintenance. Check the water level.

Water might be low... thus not allowing battery to hold a charge.

Maybe?

ShitOnWheels · 04-20-2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12secondv6

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardcoreZ28

Wow a girl that works on her lawn mower instead of just tanning....I need one of those!

Â*

Yup, prob battery won't hold a charge.

Quick question.... is it a sealed battery? Â*Look on top... look for a couple of circles with + signs on them which can unscrew. Â*If it has them... it is a battery that requires maintenance. Â*Check the water level.

Water might be low... thus not allowing battery to hold a charge.

Maybe?

Nah, it's a normal old battery. At least I think. Don't see anything of that nature.

12secondv6 · 04-20-2005, 01:48 PM

Doh, well.... you could always try scissors?

Might take a bit longer....

ShitOnWheels · 04-20-2005, 02:28 PM

Ok, so it started to drizzle earlier so I put everything away. Â*Just now I try it all again (it had been sitting for an hour, nothing plugged in, nothing attached to the battery). Â*First I try to start up without anything, and I don't even get clicking, I get nothing. Â*So I try to put the charger on it (the one that doesn't need to be plugged in, it's a fully charged battery with jumpers), and try to start it, and it sparks. Â*So I plug in the charger, and it starts up. Â*So now it's running.

Are we gonna go through this every week when we need to cut the grass? Â*Should I just tell him to get a new battery? Â*Or will this survive for a while as long as it keeps running for an hour or so while my brother cuts the grass?

12secondv6 · 04-20-2005, 03:26 PM

Hmmmm... when all else fails..... I kick it

I'm electrically retarded.... sorry

ShitOnWheels · 04-20-2005, 03:47 PM

The problems keep coming. Now the blades won't turn on at all. It took him like 10 tries of flicking the switch to get them to run. He then had to stop it over a dirt pile, and when he went to turn them back on, they wouldn't start. Ended up using a push mower to finish up. Is it related to the battery or something completely different? My guess is different, but then again, i'm clueless, lol.

12secondv6 · 04-20-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ****OnWheels

i'm clueless, lol.

You are not alone!

Did you try kicking it? Also, scissor idea... still is a possibility

Tru2Chevy · 04-20-2005, 04:27 PM

You say switch like it's just a little electrical toggle switch.....all the riding mowers i've ever used have some sort of large lever to engauge/disengauge the blades.

Sounds like electrical problem. Mice?

- Justin

ShitOnWheels · 04-20-2005, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

You say switch like it's just a little electrical toggle switch.....all the riding mowers i've ever used have some sort of large lever to engauge/disengauge the blades.

Sounds like electrical problem. Mice?

- Justin

Yah, it's just a little toggle switch on the dash. honestly, I think when I was doin the baking soda and water stuff I might have gotten some water on the wires. The way the dash is, it angles over the battery, and in trying to get all the corrosion I could, I may have hit it. hrm. But it had been sitting in the sun for a while and should have dried well before an electricity went through it.

EVIL90SS · 04-20-2005, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HardcoreZ28

I think you should get a real job and work all day like the rest of us!

dude...i was gettin a tan at work last week....layed up on the roof for like 4 hours, got paid and sat around and watched t.v for the rest of the day..and yes also got paid....oh yea...i got paid to go to the junkyard yesterday to get parts for kellys car, and i got paid to put it together today....i love my job !

bad64chevelle · 04-20-2005, 05:56 PM

When all else fails, throw something at it. For some reason when you cant figure something out and it takes you forever if you throw a wrench or something at it, it helps. Then as long as you dont break it more, its like a friggen lighbulb went off in your head and you can fix it. Does that make sense? I dont know, it has worked for me...

BigAls87Z28 · 04-20-2005, 06:38 PM

Sounds like you need a new battery.

Fasterthanyou · 04-20-2005, 07:39 PM

What a coincidence, I have the same issue and just got in from putting the battery on the charger. Tomorrow we'll see if it lasts. BTW, Al, why don't lawn tractor batteries last as long? I mean look at a car battery, they'll last 6 or more years of intensive charge discharge... but a lawn mower is only a few years? I think it's a conspiracy.

Squirrel · 04-20-2005, 08:19 PM

how are the cables and grounds lookin?

BigAls87Z28 · 04-20-2005, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fasterthanyou

What a coincidence, I have the same issue and just got in from putting the battery on the charger. Tomorrow we'll see if it lasts. BTW, Al, why don't lawn tractor batteries last as long? I mean look at a car battery, they'll last 6 or more years of intensive charge discharge... but a lawn mower is only a few years? I think it's a conspiracy.

Smaller battery, smaller plates, plus lawnmower batteries are only used for a few months, and then they sit there and discharge while tied in to the electrical system. Warranty on Die Hard Garden Tractor batteries are 6 months, while the Gold's warranty is 12 months. Most i see last 3-4 years. Most car batteries I see last 5-6 years.