Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower Clicks but Fails to Start or Turn Over
When the starter motor is making only a clicking noise and the engine won’t turn over, it’s important to check all the components that can prevent this.
When the beginning solenoid, starter motor, battery, ground, or wires and cables are damaged, corroded, or loose, a Troy-Bilt lawn mower will click and refuse to start or turn over.
Put on safety gear to protect yourself. If dealing with the electrical system makes you uneasy, seek advice from a qualified mechanic.
Reminder: Before performing any electrical system repairs, always unplug the negative cable (black) from the battery.
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.
Table of Contents
Why Does Your Troy-Bilt Mower Click But Won’t Start?
Troy-Bilt Lawnmower Battery, Wiring, or Terminals in Poor Condition
Examine the cables, wiring, and terminals before moving on to troubleshooting your starting issue. Make that the cables connecting the starter motor and solenoid to the battery are firmly fastened.
Examine the components and terminals for corrosion. If corrosion is discovered, it must be eliminated.
Any cables or wiring that keeps coming undone or is damaged should be replaced. On your Troy-Bilt mower, damaged cables might lead to a weak battery and starting problems.
To clean the mower, disconnect the battery and take out any corroded parts
- Combine three heaping tablespoons of baking soda with two cups of water.
- If you come across any corrosion, apply this paste on it. As the paste cleans the cables, it will begin to bubble.
- Cleaning the cables of the solution might be a dirty business, so you might want to do it outside. Water should be used to wash away the baking soda paste.
- A wire brush can help get the job done quickly.
Protect terminals and wiring from moisture and corrosion by using dielectric grease. Terminals in poor condition should be replaced immediately.
A Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower with a Weak or Dead Battery
If the battery in your Troy-Bilt is old, discharged, or otherwise weak, the engine may not turn over when you try to start it.
Determine the voltage of the battery. If the battery is low, you can charge it by connecting it to a battery charger. The battery is dead and needs to be replaced when you discover it won’t retain a charge.
If you’re able to charge the battery, but it keeps dying, you may need to inspect the charging system on your Troy-Bilt. To learn more about the billing procedure, scroll down to the bottom of the page.
The battery of a Troy-Bilt lawn mower should have its voltage tested.
The red and black probes of a multimeter should be connected to the corresponding terminals. The majority of Troy-Bilt lawn mowers use 12-volt batteries.
It’s possible to get a voltage reading of 11.5, 12.2, or even 12.7 on a 12-volt battery. The voltage reading of a nearly dead battery will be around 11.5V, while that of a fully charged battery will be around 12.7V.
How to recharge the battery on a Troy-Bilt mower:
- Wear protective clothing to shield your eyes and skin from acid and electrical currents.
- Locate the battery’s terminals and gain access to them. To get to the battery or battery case, you may need to unscrew the lawnmower’s body.
- Keep the battery plugged into its terminals and in its case.
- The positive terminal is connected with the red cable (the one with the plus symbol) and the negative terminal is connected with the black cable (the one without the plus sign).
- Keep the rubberized charging cords and clamps from making direct contact with your skin.
- Adjust the charger’s voltage and current to suit your needs. A lawnmower’s voltage is typically around 12 volts. A higher amperage (from 2 amps up to 10 amps) will speed up the battery charging process.
- Keep the charger plugged in as long as the battery charging gauge indicates it needs to be.
If the Troy-Bilt battery is low, you can revive it by connecting it to a battery charger. It’s time to get a new battery if you notice that the old one won’t retain a charge.
If you have been charging the battery with a battery charger and still finding it dead when you want to use your Troy-Bilt, you may have a problem with the charging mechanism.
Problems with a Troy-Bilt Mower and the Dirt
Verify that the battery and the frame of your Troy-Bilt are connected with the help of the black ground cable. Good contact is essential, and the area must be free of corrosion.
Verify the solenoid’s ground connection as well. Any 3-post solenoid requires no external grounding.
A broken ground cable MUST BE REPLACED. If there is rust on the battery or starter solenoid’s grounds, clean it off.
Troy-Bilt Lawnmower Faulty Starter Solenoid
If your mower won’t stop clicking, a faulty solenoid could be to blame. Simply put, the solenoid is a mechanical switch. The starter motor is activated by pressing a button on an electromagnet switch.
Most solenoids are attached to the starter itself. They need not be, though, in order to serve their purpose. The solenoid can be located by following the positive battery wire.
A Troy-Bilt starting solenoid could fail for a variety of reasons. Either the copper plate or the internal spring can corrode and grow weak over time.
The starter solenoid might fail for a variety of reasons, including a poor ground, a weak starter, or a dead battery.
Check the solenoid that controls the starter. A volt-ohms meter, a screwdriver, a continuity light, and some wrenches will come in handy.
If you have found a way to get your mower going without using the solenoid, you should get a new one. If you’re having issues with your Troy-Bilt solenoid, try the solutions provided below.
Troy-Bilt Lawnmower Faulty Starter Motor
If the battery, cables, cabling, ground, and starter solenoid have all been inspected and found to be in good working order, but the problem persists, the starter may be at fault. It is possible to take off the starter and test it.
A lawnmower’s starter can be an expensive component. Before you go out and buy a new starter motor, it’s a good idea to get the diagnosis from your local dealership.
The starter can also be taken to a service center that focuses on such electrical components as starters and alternators. The service center staff can inspect the starter and perhaps reassemble it.
Related Content:
The Troy-Bilt Battery Drains Due to a Faulty Charging System
A Troy-Bilt mower with a flawed charging system will have trouble starting due to a weak battery.
Check the charging system with a volt-ohm meter by following the instructions provided here.
If you notice that your Troy-Bilt lawn mower is no longer charging the battery, you should take it to a professional who is knowledgeable with your charging system for further evaluation.
It can be challenging to isolate the root cause of charging system problems.
If you don’t know how the mower’s charging mechanism works, you’ll probably just end up tossing components at it.
Since electrical components cannot be returned if they are installed incorrectly, this can quickly become costly. A faulty stator or alternator, a malfunctioning regulator, or some other electrical issue could be to blame.
Is There Still a Problem with Your Troy-Bilt Mower?
If you keep a lawnmower long enough, sooner or later it will have issues, whether it’s starting, not staying running, smoking, leaking gas, cutting poorly, vibrating, or something else.
Time is money, so I wrote this tutorial to assist you fix your Troy-Bilt mower the next time it breaks down.
Typical Issues with Troy-Bilt Lawn Mowers and How to Fix Them is where you’ll discover this manual.
Hire a professional to fix your lawnmower if you don’t feel confident diagnosing and fixing it yourself.
You’ll save yourself from harm and the mower from further destruction by doing this. If you’re having trouble with your lawn mower, go on over to your neighborhood Troy-Bilt dealer or lawn mower repair business.
