Need help about my rider mower

 

I have a 10-year old rider mower with a 18HP Briggs engine.  The way
it behaves mystifies me, and I wonder if anyone can suggest what is
going on.

First of all. the original battery refused to start the mower (even
after charging) after a few years, and I replaced it with a match even
though it cost some $60!  Then that battery did the same thing after
another two years and so I replaced it with a cheaper battery from
Lowes.  It worked fine after I hack sawed the battery compartment to
accommodate the larger battery.  After two years it wouldn't hold a
charge, so I bought still another (of the Lowes type),  and it is in
there now.

Having said that, I should add that all along, with all the batteries,
when I would leave the mower unused between weekly mowing's,  I would
consistently find that the mower would not turn over.  Since the
voltage reading on the batteries read low, I assumed something was
discharging the batteries.  So I installed a switch on the battery
cable to enable me to disconnect the battery completely whenever I am
not using the mower.  

That didn't work.  Even though the battery voltage was holding at 12+
volts. the engine would not turn over.  I found that if I connected my
10A charger just for a  few minutes, the engine would turn over and
start.  It's almost as if the battery needed a 'boost'.  To me the
engine is acting as if it is semi-locked, and requires a strong
battery source to overcome its initial inertia.  The first turn-over
always sounds like a real struggle, but if it makes it then the
subsequent engine revolutions seem easier for the engine.  Then I
could then cut my lawn.  Even if I turned the engine off as I was
mowing, I could re-start the mower.

This is getting exasperating!  Yesterday, I charged the battery with
my 10A charger until the battery showed 12.3V.  Then I left it
overnight with my trickle charger connected.  This AM the battery read
12.4V.  I cut the lawn (2 hours) and then checked the battery.  It
read `14.1V!  This tells me that the mower alternator (?) is working.
I left the mower off for two hours (with the battery cutoff switch
OFF), and the battery voltage was 13.3V!    

Right now, it is some 4 hours later - the battery reads 12.3V and the
mower starts, but with its usual reluctance.

I have rambled here, and for that I am sorry.  I hope I have described
things correctly.  I am at my wits end as to what to do.  I feel that
I could connect several batteries to get a strong start, and I'll
betcha that would do it.  But golly. I can't do that.

Help

Duke

 



The above voltage change is normal


It sounds to me like the engine turns over tougher than it should, or
the starter is inefficient for some reason.

 

On Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:31:16 -0400, tnom@mucks.net wrote:



Hmmm  I wonder if a new starter would improve things.  No idea what
that'll cost.

Thanks for suggestion.

Duke

 



Also check the solenoid and all connections.

 



Will do.

Lightning last evening knocked out my central A/C and the whole
furnace in general so now I have more pressing trouble.  Woe is me.

Thanks

Duke