Why Doesn’t Your Husqvarna’s Batteries Last? (Check These 5 Things)
The grass needs cutting, but the lawnmower won’t start…again. It’s annoying to have to charge the battery before every mowing session. It’s time to zero in on the real issue at hand and resolve it.
Battery cables that are too loose or corroded, terminals that are corroded, a failed charging system, an ignition key that was left in the on position, or a damaged battery are all potential causes of a Husqvarna lawn mower’s incessant battery drain.
You should exercise extreme caution around the batteries and the electrical system. Don’t risk injury to your skin and eyes by not using appropriate safety gear. Be sure to observe all of the Husqvarna’s recommended safety measures.
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Before diagnosing, repairing, or operating, be sure you’ve read and understood all of the safety recommendations in the equipment’s operator’s manual.
If you don’t feel confident in your ability to do the necessary repairs, whether due to a lack of experience or health, you should get in touch with a specialist.
Table of Contents
Husqvarna Mower Battery Drains
Husqvarna Lawn Mower’s Battery Has Loose Cables
Cables connecting batteries and other parts of your Husqvarna are the first place to look if you’re having battery issues.
If you want to get the solenoid to turn on, you need to trace the red cable (positive cable) from the battery down to the ground. The starter can be reached by following the cable further down. Verify the integrity of each cable connection.
Corroded Husqvarna Battery Connectors for Mower Batteries
After that, look for rust or corrosion at the joints. It’s possible that a white or green material has formed on the corroded connectors. Your Husqvarna battery may not hold a charge or continually dying if it has corroded.
In the event that corrosion is discovered on a part, the part must be taken apart and cleaned.
Disconnect the battery cable FIRST:
To break the electrical connection and release the battery, remove the negative cable from the battery.
The battery could explode if you don’t break the circuit and strike the frame or other metal with your wrench when removing it.
Since batteries can cause serious skin damage, you should always wear protective clothing and goggles when working with them. To safely disconnect the positive (red) cable, first disconnect the negative (black).
Keep in mind that the positive cable is the last one to be disconnected and the first one to be connected.
Once the battery connections are disconnected, you can disconnect any other cables that need to be cleaned or replaced. A solution of baking soda and water can be used to clean electrical connections and cables.
Create a paste by combining 4 cups of water and around 6 tablespoons of baking soda. Any rust or corrosion should be treated with this paste. When the paste cleans the cables, it will begin to bubble.
You may want to perform this outside because it can get messy rinsing the cables of the solvent. Water should be used to wash away the baking soda paste.
If you want to get things moving along quickly, try a wire brush. Cola soda is another product that can be used to effectively eliminate corrosion.
Husqvarna Lawn Mower Charging System Problem
After making sure the connections are intact and properly connected, check out the charging setup.
Now that you’ve taken care of the cords, you can focus on the charging mechanism.
Charger Functionality Check
- Check the charging system with a volt-ohms meter.
- To verify that the meter is set to read 12 volts, turn it on and start the engine.
- You must turn the engine off before touching the battery leads. Both the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals require that the red and black leads make contact.
- Understanding battery voltage is the term for this process. The voltmeter’s reading ought to be between 12.4 and 12.8.
- Depending on the charging speed and battery health, certain batteries may show a greater reading.
- Record the reading from the volt-ohm meter.
- Prepare to start the vehicle by applying the parking brake.
- Red should go on positive (+) and black on negative when connecting the wires to the battery (-).
- Start your mower up to three quarters of the way, and then take a look at the fuel gauge. The voltage level should be at least 13.2 volts and no more than 13.9 volts.
- If this figure is greater than the one obtained with the engine turned off, your alternator is successfully charging the battery.
There is a problem with the charging system if the results of the most recent test do not differ from the results of the first test. A faulty stator or alternator could be to blame.
The only way to find out what component on your lawnmower has failed is to either conduct more testing or bring it in for servicing. You’ll find both 15-amp and 20-amp systems on the market. The manufacturer and engine parameters will determine the size.
If your vehicle’s charging system fails, you should seek the assistance of a qualified mechanic. Each authorized Husqvarna service center should have one in stock.
It’s possible that a skilled mechanic in your area can help you figure out what’s wrong with the charging mechanism and fix it.
Many other high-priced engine components could be at fault. It’s not cheap to keep adding pieces in the hopes that something will work.
The aforementioned procedure can be performed on your battery at any time using a volt-ohm meter, provided that the cables are clean. It is possible that a faulty connection will be discovered during this test.
Husqvarna Lawn Mower With The Ignition Key Still Turned On
After you’re done mowing, you might have forgotten to turn off the engine.
If you don’t have an oil light on the dashboard or you have a Husqvarna with an accessory port, this won’t have much of an effect on the battery life.
When you go to use your mower again, you may find that you have a dead battery since you accidentally left the key on.
Here are some ways to charge the battery on your Husqvarna lawn mower. This battery charger from Amazon is great since it features a trickle charge setting, which is ideal for charging a very weak battery.
The positive (+) terminal is connected to the red cable, while the negative (-) terminal is connected with the black cable.
One Approach of Charging the Batteries of a Husqvarna Lawn Mower:
- Put an end to the connection between the battery and its cables. Keep in mind that the red plus wire should always be plugged in first and removed last. Now, check the water level of the battery if it has a removable cap.
You should use distilled water to moisten the plates inside the battery if they are dry. A battery should not be refilled with well water. While using city water is preferable, distilled water is ideal for your batteries.
- Connect the charger to the battery after you’ve checked the water level.
- To find out how much juice your battery has, you can use a voltmeter. The battery won’t need to be charged for very long if it already has 11.8 volts.
Your battery needs to be charged for some time if it only has 10.1 volts. The longer you let your battery stay on the charger after a low voltage reading, the more fully charged it will be.
In my opinion, the best “slow bake” is achieved with a very low battery. Switches on certain battery chargers reduce the current from 6 amps to 4 amps or even 2 amps.
Very low batteries should be charged at 2 or 4 amps for roughly an hour. Verify the voltage rate is growing by checking the reading after an hour. If so, go ahead and add another hour to your bill.
Battery Charging for a Husqvarna Lawn Mower, Method 2
If the battery’s voltage isn’t too low but you still need to use your mower, you can charge it at a rate of up to 6 amps for about 30 minutes to get it back up to about 12 volts.
To use the lawnmower, wait until the battery voltage meter reads 12 before disconnecting the charger. The battery can be charged while the mower is operating if the throttle is set to between three-quarters and full.
After you’re done mowing, take a look at the battery indicator to make sure you have enough juice for the next round.
Husqvarna lawnmower with a defective battery
You know you have a faulty battery when it has been on the charger for at least two hours and won’t charge to more than 12 volts. A new one is needed to replace it.
Lawn and garden batteries with a 12-volt voltage rating can be purchased at any Husqvarna dealer, auto parts store, or even certain home improvement stores.
The battery should be taken out and brought along. If you don’t bring in your old battery when buying a new one, most stores will charge you a battery core cost of $15 to $25.
Typically, when you buy a brand-new set of batteries, they already have a full charge. But, you may need to charge it first if it has been collecting dust on a shelf for a while.
The battery can be charged (as described above) or jump-started before being installed in your Husqvarna mower.
How to Jump-Start a Brand-New Husqvarna Lawnmower Batteries
Use a high-quality battery, such as the one in your car, to jump-start a Husqvarna. Most lawnmowers also use 12v batteries, similar to those found in cars. Before trying to jump-start the mower, make sure both batteries have 12 volts.
To stop the automobile, pull up close to the Husqvarna and turn off the engine.
Go out your jumper cables and connect the red positive (+) cables to the mower’s and the car’s positive terminals, respectively.
The black negative (-) cable should then be connected to the car’s negative battery terminal. Join the black cable on the side of the mower to its chassis.
The lawn mower should be started with the brake set. In order to let the mower cut for a while, please do so. The lawn mower can be started without the cables if you remove them.
The car’s engine shouldn’t be started. To get the lawnmower going, just use the car’s battery. Just let the mower run for a while after starting.
Unplug everything in the reverse sequence of how you wired it. Keeping the battery charged is a job for the mower’s alternator.
The battery’s charging status can be determined once more with the use of a voltmeter.
There Is Usually a Three-Year Shelf Life for Batteries.
Batteries aren’t supposed to be replaced more frequently than every three years, so if you find yourself doing it more often than that, something is wrong with either your battery or battery connections. If you take good care of your batteries, they should last for at least three years.
Take care of your batteries by doing as follows:
- Maintain a clean battery cable.
- The battery and its cables need to be fastened firmly to the machine.
- The battery should not be allowed to freeze. It’s important to keep your battery charged in the winter.
Vibration is the leading cause of battery failure, so before you start mowing, check to see that your battery is seated firmly in the battery tray and won’t move about.
Because the battery’s plates are so fragile, it won’t take much of a beating. When the plates inside the battery begin to break down, the battery’s overall health is compromised.
Very cold temperatures are another factor that might cause a battery to die. A frozen battery from being undercharged can’t do its job. When putting away your lawnmower for the winter, make sure the battery is fully charged.
How Big Should a Battery Be For A Lawn Mower?
If the deck of your Husqvarna mower is powered by an electric clutch, you should look into getting a battery with at least 300 cold cranking amps (cca).
In terms of battery power, greater cold cranking amps is better. A smaller battery, such as 250 cca, will do without an electronic clutch, but larger batteries are preferable.
It’s important to check that the battery you pick will fit in the battery compartment.
Read our piece on charging times for lawnmower batteries to find out more about batteries, charging, and charging times.
Why Does Your Husqvarna Lawnmower Still Break Down?
Check read my information on frequent issues experienced by Husqvarna users if you’re still having issues with your mower. I made a chart to outline the origins and treatments for issues including starting, smoking, cutting, vibrating, and passing away.
It’s recommended that you seek the help of a Husqvarna dealership or lawn mower repair business if you are unsure of how to troubleshoot and fix your mower.
To prevent harm to yourself or the mower, you should only make repairs that are within your mechanical capabilities.