Riding mower won't start

[welder4956]

Hopefully someone here can help me figure out why my mower won't start. It was running fine when I last used it a week ago. I have a Murray 40" riding mower with 13.5 HP Briggs and Stratton engine. When I turned the key, I got nothing so I charged the battery. Still nothing. Started inspecting wiring and connections and found the 15 amp fuse holder on the red wire to starter solenoid had a wire come loose. I did not have a replacement fuse holder handy, so I used a **** splice connector to bypass the fuse. Now it spins the motor, but no start. Acts like no spark, which I will check in the morning.

I cannot see where bypassing the fuse would cause a no fire condition. Any suggestions on what else to check if it is not getting spark at the plug?

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Yeah, check for spark. You can always unplug the wire from teh coil to see if it's the coil or in the harness (grounding via that wire keeps the coil from firing).

 

[jakemac]

Check all the idiot switches. The one that usually goes first is the one under the frame for the clutch/brake. I had a LawnChief that did that, I had to jump the solenoid with the key in the on position until I could replace the switch.

 

[plumbstupid]

I wet thru the same thing earlier this year. I went thru everything and found the ground from the battery to the frame had rusted up pretty bad. I pulled if off and clean the frame with some sandpaper. That fixed the problem on mine

It might be worth checking out.

 

[capswin]

Cheech says " did you check the air in the tires lately?"

 

[trackwelder]

Just recently had problems with my rider,the seat safety switch was bad. A jumper wire fixed it.

 

[stormin]

sit in the seat. it won't start if the safety switch isn't engaged by you sitting there

 

[stratman977]

I think if you pull that connector that has the yellow wire that goes to what they are calling the armature (ignition coil) it should start if the seat switch is bad. You will have to pull the plug or choke it out to stop the engine though.

 

[welder4956]

No spark when I checked first thing this morning. I checked the seat switch with an ohm meter and it has continuity when not depressed and was open when depressed. Seemed to check out OK. Then I unplugged the seat switch harness connector and was able to start it right up. I must have a short to ground somewhere in the seat switch harness or the seat switch is bad (even though it seemed to check out OK). I mowed the yard with the harness unplugged and will check continuity on the wires next weekend. Thanks for the suggestions guys!

 

[WVBrady]

The seat switch on mine acted the same way; tested good but worked when bypassed. It can show good on a digital meter but not pass enough current to run.