Why Ariens Lawn Mower Won’t Turn Over or Crank
You are having some difficulty getting your mower to start. There is a possibility that the starting motor is not receiving the necessary amount of power to turn over the engine.
The inability of an Ariens lawn mower to turn over or crank might be the result of a damaged battery, wiring and electrical components that are loose or rusted, a faulty ignition switch, a broken safety switch, a blown fuse, a faulty starting solenoid, or a faulty beginning motor.
Be sure to observe all of the safety instructions stated in the operator’s handbook that came with your Ariens. Before doing any work on the electrical system, be sure that the black negative battery wire has been disconnected.
Table of Contents
The Reasons Why Your Ariens Lawnmower Won’t Start
Your Ariens Lawnmower’s Battery May Be Dead or Faulty.
It is recommended that you maintain the battery of your Ariens lawn mower completely charged in order to get the most life out of it. This is particularly true when there is a chill in the air. If it isn’t completely charged, a battery that is kept in cold temperatures might experience freezing conditions.
It is impossible to start an engine with a battery that is either insufficiently charged or completely dead.
Follow the instructions in the piece titled “5 Factors That Are Draining the Life of Your Lawn Mower Batteries” to perform a test on your battery.
Charging a Battery To charge a 12-volt battery, you will need to make use of a battery charger. Put on the protection gear first so that your eyes and skin won’t be burned by the electrical current later on. In order to charge the battery of your lawn mower using a charger, follow these steps:
- Get access to the battery as well as the terminals. To expose the battery, you may want the assistance of a screwdriver. Take care not to take the battery out of its housing.
- Attach the charging cables, starting with the positive connection and working your way around the other cables. This is the cable that is either red in color or marked with a plus symbol. Connect the cable to the connector on the positive side of the battery.
- Put the negative end of the cable into the negative terminal on the battery. This is the cable that is either black in color or marked with a negative sign.
- In order to avoid becoming electrocuted, you should avoid touching anything that does not have a rubber covering.
- Adjust the voltage and amperage levels on the charger so that they are at the required levels. Batteries for lawn mowers typically have a voltage level of 12 volts, however this might vary. A higher amperage results in a quicker battery charge. Begin with only two campers and gradually increase to no more than ten amps. The best kind of charge is a gradual one.
If the battery is unable to maintain its charge, it will need to be replaced with a brand-new one. You may get a replacement battery from the dealership that sells lawn mowers in your area, at a hardware shop, or at an auto parts store.
Bring along the old battery you were using. The majority of establishments will charge you a core fee if you do not supply them with your old battery.
Wires and Connectors That Are Loose or Missing in Your Ariens
The first thing you need to do is examine the Ariens’ wiring and connections once you’ve made sure the battery is working properly on the Ariens. During the time that you are using the mower, there is a possibility that the cables, wiring, and connections on the mower may get disconnected as a result of the vibration and bouncing about that is caused by the mower itself.
Check to see sure the connections are secure and that there is no accumulation of corrosion that might possibly hinder the flow of energy. A buildup of moisture on connections has the ability to initiate the corrosion process, which ultimately results in the connections and terminals being destroyed.
Make an attempt to get rid of this corrosion by combining a very fine wire brush with a baking soda solution and applying it to the affected area (2 cups water to 3 heaping tablespoons of baking soda). Before beginning the process of cleaning the components, you must first remove them from the device and then disconnect the battery from it. After that, you may start the cleaning procedure.
If the corrosion is significant and you are unable to adequately clean the terminals or components, you will be obliged to replace them. This is the case even if you are able to clean them. Even if you are successful in cleaning them, this remains the situation.
Your Ariens Lawn Mower Has a Defective Fuse
Your Ariens electrical system will have a fuse placed to provide protection against potential hazards such as a power surge or a short. Make sure there isn’t a blown fuse in your mower by giving it a thorough inspection.
If you are unsure as to whether or not the fuse has blown, you may check it by placing the probe of a multimeter on each of the prongs of the fuse and measuring the resistance in this manner. This can be done if you are unsure as to whether or not the fuse has blown.
If your fuse has a resistance level that is quite near to 0, this suggests that it is in very good shape. If the resistance has a value of infinity, it means that the fuse has already been used up.
When a fuse is blown, you should replace it with a new fuse that has the same capacity as the one that was previously blown. If you continue to have blown fuses, you should take your Ariens lawn mower to the lawn mower dealership from whence you acquired it or to a lawn mower repair facility so that the issue may be looked at more thoroughly.
Your Ariens Lawn Mower Could Have a Defective Ignition Switch
If you put the key in the ignition and turn it, but nothing happens, the issue can be with the switch that controls the ignition key. Your Ariens will fail to turn over and start.
Checking the continuity of the ignition switch with a multimeter can allow you to determine whether or not it is the component that is causing the problem. Find the prongs that are labeled with the letter B for Battery and the letter S for Starter Solenoid in order to do this task.
After inserting the key into the slit, turn the dial until it stops at the “start” position. When using a multimeter, a measurement of resistance may be acquired by first touching one probe to the B prong and then touching the other probe to the S prong.
The resistance measurement of a dependable ignition key switch will be very near to 0. The value for the resistance of a malfunctioning ignition key switch will be infinite, which is an indication that the switch needs to be replaced.
Incorrect Functioning of the Safety Switch on Your Ariens Lawn Mower
An operator presence control system has been placed on your Ariens for the purpose of ensuring your safety. A safety switch might be malfunctioning and cause your Ariens to fail to turn over.
For instance, if the parking brake is not engaged on an Ariens riding mower, the machine will not start. Even with the brake engaged, the lawnmower may be unable to start due to a problem with the switch that controls it.
Make that your switch is working properly by using a multimeter. You may also temporarily bypass the safety switch in order to determine whether or not the switch is faulty. Nevertheless, this should only be done for the purpose of troubleshooting.
Never attempt to use a mower if the safety switch is missing.
Never use a mower with a safety switch that has been removed or bypassed. A safety switch may save you from major harm and you never know when you’re going to need it.
Your Ariens Lawnmower Could Have a Defective Starting Solenoid
Your Ariens engine has a component known as a starter solenoid, which is an electromagnetic switch. When this switch is triggered, it begins the rotation of the component of the engine known as the starting motor.
Failure of the starter solenoid may occur when either the spring in the solenoid becomes less effective over time or when the copper plate begins to corrode. The failure of the solenoid might have have been caused by other issues, such as an ineffective starter, a faulty battery, or improper grounding.
Before you attempt to test the starting solenoid, you need to be certain that the battery has received a full charge. Continue with the testing of the solenoid by using the procedures mentioned in “How to Determine Your Lawn Mower Solenoid is Defective” for identifying a defective starting solenoid. This will allow you to determine whether or not the solenoid is functioning properly.
Problems with the Starting Motor on Your Ariens Lawnmower
It is time to inspect the starter on your Ariens once you have established that the issue is not associated with the battery, the cables, the wiring, the ground, or the starting solenoid. It is feasible to take out the starter and see how well it works after removing it.
Before you go out and spend a lot of money on a brand new starter for your Ariens lawn mower, I would first suggest that you take it to a local repair shop that specializes in beginning and alternator repairs to have it inspected and, if necessary, reconstructed. This is the first step you should take before you go out and buy a new starter for your Ariens lawn mower.
Are You Still Struggling with Issues Regarding Your Ariens Lawn Mower?
If you have a lawn mower for a long period of time, you may eventually have problems with it, such as it failing to start, not continuing to run, smoking, leaking gas, providing an uneven cut, vibrating, or another problem.
In an attempt to help you save both time and money, I have developed a guide that will aid you in determining the cause of any problems that may occur with the Ariens lawn mower that you possess and finding a solution to those problems.
You may find this instructional guide at the Common Ariens Lawn Mower Problems and Solutions page.
It is in your best interest to have a professional carry out the work on your lawn mower if you do not feel sure in your abilities to correctly perform diagnostics and repairs on the device.
You will decrease the likelihood of harming yourself or causing more damage to the mower if you take these precautions. Your local Ariens dealer or a repair firm that specializes in lawn mowers will be able to aid you in locating a solution to the problem you are experiencing and finding a way to fix it.
