poulan pro 500 riding mower runs without issue while mulching (no stopping and starting) but will not restart after done mowing, battery is dead. Likewise, if bagging cuttings, mower will not restart after stopping to unload hoppers. Battery is dead.
Because I am lazy I can not be bothered to write a 300 line set of generic instructions to cover all the possible causes
But if you post the full model & serial numbers & I can find a wiring diagram so I can be concise & correct I will attempt an answer.
However I will give you one hint
Find the voltage regulator and remove the plug , charge the battery then go mow
If the problem goes away, the regulator is faulty .
IT has a single diode , the most primitive voltage regulators fitted
So unplug it
If it goes closed circuit the alternator becomes a starter motor when it is not spinning and the AC arriving at the battery will stuff it in no time flat .;
OK
either you have a duff battery or a wiring problem
We have eliminated just one cause, the alternator &/or diode
The only thing drawing power while the mower is running is the carb solenoid
Does your mower have an electric blade clutch as shown in the wiring diagram ?
If so check the air gap as one that is too big will draw too much power
I have never seen duel circuit alternator fitted to a mower with an electric clutch as they output is just maginally above that of the clutch draw
When you said you had a duel circuit alternator I made an assumption ( always dangerous ) that it was a manual PTO
So with the battery fully charged, check the voltage at the battery terminals
Start the mower & check the voltage again after a couple of minutes
Then turn the blades on & check the voltage again 3 or 4 times 2 minutes apart
To do this you will have to remove the seat switch and clamp it closed as your mower has the tamper proof seat switch
Post the results
#9
StarTech
Well Bert did you lookup the mower's IPL? Here they show a manual PTO.
And yes I have seen a dual circuit used with an electric PTO. Very borderline on providing enough current.
Now the after fire (fuel) solenoid might be partially shorted but I first make sure the stator and diode are good. I have seen a lot open diodes over the years.
#10
Farmer Jean
- Unplug the lights. Nobody mows at night (I hope). It's not a solution but if your system is just weakened it should help a little.
I find it hard to believe that a good fresh battery would be drained completely in just one mowing so I'd start with properly load testing your battery.
#11
StarTech
Lighting is completely independent of the battery.
Results of test:
battery just off the charger, engine at rest: 14v
start engine:14v
two minutes later:14v
manually engage mower:14v
two minutes later:14v
two minutes later:14v
two minutes later:14v
two minutes later:14v
I tried to think if there was something different between the circumstances of this test and when I mow. i realized that during the test the key was in the mowing position. When I mow I have to start out backing the mower out of its stall. I leave the key in the reverse position. So while the engine was running with the mower engaged I moved the key to reverse, the voltage dropped to zero.
ps: after about fifteen minutes of running the engine with key set to mow, shut it off then it restarted without hesitation.
