Problems with the Zero-Turn Mower’s Crank or Start
It seems like you can’t even get the engine to turn over on your zero turn because it won’t start. To get it going again, you’ll need to inspect a wide variety of parts.
When the battery is low, the connections, cabling, or components are faulty, the safety switch is faulty, the fuse has blown, the ignition switch is faulty, or the starter solenoid or motor has failed, the zero-turn lawn mower will not turn over or crank.
If you don’t want to get hurt or electrocuted, use extreme caution around the electrical system. If you are unsure of how to do repairs safely, you should seek the advice of a professional technician.
Table of Contents
Here’s Why Your Zero-Turn Mower Won’t Start
A Zero-Turn Mower with a Dead or Faulty Battery
If the engine of a zero-turn won’t start, you should check the battery first. Possible causes include a dead or undercharged battery.
To the nearest 2.7 volts, a fully charged 12-volt battery will read. If the number is lower than it should be, you need to charge the battery.
Follow the guidelines in “5 Things That Are Draining the Life of Your Lawn Mower Battery” to check the battery. Information on battery-draining products is provided here so that you can reduce the likelihood of experiencing a dead battery in the future.
Battery chargers can be used to charge the battery in your zero-turn lawn mower. Put on goggles and gloves to safeguard your eyes and skin before proceeding.
To charge the battery on your zero-turn mower, do the following:
- Get to the connections and the battery. A screwdriver may be required to access the battery. Keep the battery inside its case at all times.
- The positive cable should be plugged in first when connecting the charging cables. The plus-sign cable, or the red cable. Connect the cable to the battery’s positive terminal.
- To the negative battery terminal, connect the negative cable. In other words, this is the negative-sign cable (also known as the black cable).
- To avoid electrocution, avoid touching anything that isn’t covered in rubber.
- To adjust the charger’s output, change the voltage and current settings. Lawn mower batteries typically have a voltage of 12 volts. Higher current speeds up the battery’s charging process. The recommended starting point is 2 amps, with a maximum of 10 amps. It’s best to charge slowly.
If the battery can no longer retain a charge, it should be swapped out for a new one. A replacement battery can be bought at any home improvement store, hardware shop, or auto parts outlet.
The old battery should be brought along with you. If you buy a new battery without returning your old one, the store may charge you a battery core fee.
Problems with a Zero Turn Mower’s Loose or Corroded Wires and Connections
When using a zero-turn mower, you can expect a lot of vibration and bouncing. In some cases, this can lead to dislodged connections and frayed wires.
In the event that your zero-turn won’t start, a break in continuity could be caused by a component of the electric system that is either loose or damaged.
Make sure all the plugs are securely in place by checking them. Use a baking soda solution to get rid of any corrosion you notice (A ratio of 2 cups of water to 3 teaspoons of baking soda). Fasten down all of the wires and plugs that are dangling.
Replace any wires, connectors, or terminals that are excessively rusted or otherwise damaged.
Failure of the Fuse in a Zero Turn Mower
The electric components of a zero-turn mower are protected by fuse(s). If there is a short or overload, the fuse will blow.
If you suspect a blown fuse, but aren’t sure, you can test it by touching the probes of a multimeter to the fuses’s prongs and reading the resulting resistance. Your fuse is fine if the resistance reading is close to 0. A blown fuse will show up as a reading of infinite resistance.
Fuse replacements should be of the same amperage as the fuse they are replacing.
If you keep having problems with blown fuses, it’s best to get your mower looked at by a professional.
Flawed Zero-Turn Mower Ignition Switch
The problem with your zero-turn starting could be the ignition key switch.
Whether you suspect the ignition switch is broken, you can test it with a multimeter to see if there is any continuity. Find the “B” for Battery and “S” for Starter Solenoid prongs and connect them.
Put the key in and turn it until you reach the “on” position. A multimeter’s resistance reading is taken when one probe is placed on the B prong and the second probe is placed on the S prong.
The resistance across a high-quality key switch for the ignition should be close to zero. If the resistance reading on your ignition key switch is infinite, you need to replace it.
Inadequate Zero Turn Mower Safety Switch
An OPC (operator presence control) system is installed on zero-turn mowers to help safeguard the operator.
When specific conditions are fulfilled, such as when the brake is engaged, the mower will not start because of the safety switches in place.
Your zero-turn may not start because of a broken safety switch. Use a multimeter to check the switch’s safety features. Temporarily disabling the safety switch is another troubleshooting tool for determining the source of an issue.
Never cut grass without first flipping the mower’s safety switch.
Avoid using a mower at all costs if the safety switch has been removed. You can never predict when you’ll need a safety switch, but having one is always a good idea.
Due to a faulty starter solenoid, zero-turn mower won’t start.
One way to get your zero-turn engine started is to activate its starter solenoid, an electromagnetic switch.
It is possible for the starter solenoid to fail if the spring gets brittle or if the copper plate corrodes. The solenoid may fail if the starting is weak, the battery is weak, or the ground is faulty.
The battery needs to be completely charged before the starter solenoid can be tested. To proceed with the testing, refer to How to Tell Your Lawn Mower Solenoid is Bad for guidance on how to identify a faulty starter solenoid.
Faulty Zero-Turn Mower Starter
If your zero-turn won’t start and you’ve already checked the battery, cables, wiring, ground, and starter solenoid, then it’s time to look at the starter. In order to check the starter, it must be taken out.
As an alternative to merely buying a new starter for your mower, you should have it checked out by a local repair company that specializes in beginning and alternator repairs and have it rebuilt if necessary.
Is Your Zero-Turn Mower Still Giving You Trouble?
A zero-turn mower is prone to a wide variety of issues. It’s irrelevant which brand you purchase.
All zero-turn mowers eventually wear down and cause issues, even the ones with sturdier construction, larger filters, better engines, and more durable spindle housings. It’s possible that some people simply take longer than average to show signs of difficulty.
I compiled a list of frequent issues with zero-turn vehicles to assist you isolate their origins. In this manual, you’ll discover information on how to fix common difficulties including the engine dying on a turn, smoking, vibrating, not starting, and not cutting properly.
Check out Common Issues with Zero-Turn Mowers for more information
If you’re not confident in your ability to troubleshoot or repair your zero-turn mower, it’s probably better to have a professional technician have a look.
Whenever your lawnmower breaks down, don’t worry; just take it to the nearest dealership for service. There could even be a lawnmower repair shop nearby staffed by experts on such compact engines.
