Craftsman Clicks But Will Not Start or Rotate

It’s time to cut the grass once more. In this case, turning the key has no effect.; instead, you hear a clicking sound. If you’re having trouble starting your mower, I’ll tell you what to look for.

If your Craftsman lawn mower clicks but won’t start or turn over, it could be because your battery is dead, your cables and wiring are frayed or corroded, your ground wire is subpar, your solenoid is broken, or your starter motor has failed.

Reminder: Before performing any electrical system repairs, always unplug the negative cable (black) from the battery. In your Craftsman operator’s manual, all safety precautions are listed.

Prior to diagnosing, repairing, or operating your equipment, make sure to follow all safety guidelines contained in the operator’s manual. If you don’t have the expertise, the abilities, or the health to safely complete the repair, consult a professional.

Your Craftsman Mower Clicks, but Will Not Start or Rotate.

Craftsman Mower Battery Cables, Wiring, and Terminals Are Loose

Battery to solenoid and solenoid to starter cables should be checked to ensure they are securely fastened, in good condition, and free of corrosion.

Make that the terminals are clean, corrosion-free, and in good working order. Excellent connections and conductivity are required for these components.

FIX: For the best continuity, If there is rust on the wires, it needs to be cleaned off. If there are any frayed or broken wires or cables, they need to be replaced immediately. A poor battery and starting problems can be attributed to bad wires.

Corrosion on the terminals should be removed. Clean the battery terminals by removing the battery from the mower.

Two cups of water and three generous tablespoons of baking soda make an effective cleaning solution, which, when combined with a wire brush, does a great job. Corroded electrical wiring should be either repaired or replaced.

To prevent corrosion on terminals and wiring, add a dielectric grease. When terminals are broken or in poor shape, they should be replaced.

Craftsman lawn mower battery is defective or weak.

Your lawn mower won’t be able to start or turn over if your battery is poor. The voltage should be checked, and if necessary, a trickle charger should be used. It’s time to replace the battery when you discover that it won’t keep a charge.

You might need to inspect the charging system if you discover that you can charge the battery, yet it keeps discharging. See the charging section (down near the end) for more information.

Examine the Craftsman lawn mower battery’s voltage.

Connect the multimeter’s red and black leads to the battery terminals for the lawn mower. Batteries for riding and zero-turn lawn mowers typically have a voltage of 12 volts.

Voltage readings between 11.5 and 12.7 are possible. A battery that is nearly dead will show a reading of 11.5V, whereas a fully charged battery will show a reading of 12.7V.

Charge the battery of a Craftsman lawn mower

• Put on your protective gear so that it can shield your eyes and skin from acid or electric shock.
• Gain entry to the battery’s connections. If you want to access the battery or battery case, you might need to remove the lawn mower’s body using a screwdriver.
• Keep the terminal cords connected to the battery and leave it in its case.
• You should plug in the charging wires in a specific order, with the red cable plugged in first (The one with the positive sign on it)
• The positive battery terminal is where the red cable clamp goes, while the negative battery terminal is where the black cable clamp goes.
• You should avoid touching the metal of the clamps or the charging cords with your bare skin.
• Alter the charger’s settings to the desired voltage and amps. Most lawn mowers operate at 12 volts. It’s a fact that a higher amperage charges a battery more quickly (Start with two amps and work up to no more than 10 amps).
• Keep the charger plugged in as long as the battery charging gauge indicates it needs to be.

FIX: Use a battery charger to recharge a poor battery. It’s time to get a new battery if you discover that the old one won’t hold a charge any more.

A battery that can be charged but is frequently found to be dead could be a sign that there is an issue with the mower’s charging system. See the details below regarding the charging system.

An old Craftsman lawn mower has bad ground.

Make that the black ground cable, which connects the battery to the frame of the Craftsman lawn mower, is making excellent contact and is corrosion-free.

Additionally, you should inspect the solenoid’s ground. A 3-post solenoid is grounded internally.

FIX: Fix a broken ground cable. The starter solenoid and battery should both have any rust on the grounds removed.

An issue with the Craftsman lawn mower’s starter solenoid

A damaged lawn mower starter solenoid is a possible culprit if your mower keeps clicking. Like an on-off switch, the solenoid operates.

To activate the starter motor and start the engine, an electromagnet switch is used.

The starter is where most starter solenoids are installed. They don’t have to be, though, for them to function. To locate the solenoid, locate the positive wire coming from the battery.

Several factors can cause a Craftsman starting solenoid to malfunction. Either the copper plate or the internal spring may start to corrode. The starter solenoid may malfunction as a result of a poor ground, a weak starter, or a weak battery.

FIX: Ensure that the solenoid that activates the engine is working properly. A volt-ohms meter, a screwdriver, a continuity lamp, and a set of wrenches will come in handy.

Refer to “How to Tell Your Lawn Mower Solenoid is Bad” for assistance. You should replace the solenoid if you can get the mower going without it.

Bad Starter Motor on a Craftsman Lawn Mower

If you have tested the battery, cables, wiring, ground, and starter solenoid but are still experiencing starting issues, it’s possible that your starter is the issue. You can take out the starter and test it.

FIX: On a lawn mower, a starter can be an expensive component. Before replacing your starter motor, I suggest getting a diagnosis from your nearby dealership.

A nearby repair facility that specializes in starter and alternator repairs is another option. The mechanics at the store can examine the starter and frequently rebuild it if required.

Associated Subject:

A defective lawnmower charging system depletes the battery.

Your Craftsman won’t start if its battery isn’t fully charged because of a poor charging system. Depending on the dimensions of your lawnmower, it may be equipped with an external alternator like the one in a car.

There might also be one inside, under the flywheel. Internal alternators are a common feature in lawn mowers.

Use a volt-ohms meter to verify the charging system by following the instructions provided here.

I advise having a professional who is knowledgeable with your charging system do additional testing and make any necessary repairs if you discover that The lawnmower’s battery is no longer being charged. It can be challenging to identify the precise reason for a charging system.

You’ll probably simply end up tossing components at your mower if you don’t understand the charging method.

Since you cannot return an electrical part if you make a mistake, this might become very expensive. Alternator, regulator, or another electrical issue could all be at blame.