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Craftsman Tractor Starting Issue

#1

L

lefty2cox

Model: 917.271760 Serial: 091302D007110
Briggs Model: 31R977-0043-G1 / 160218ZA

Starter spins but the bendix does not pop up and engage. If I spin the bendix by hand everything seems to function properly and move freely. I have 12.8V at the battery, which is new. Voltage drops to 11.8v at the starter when turning over. Wire from bat positive to solenoid shows less than 1 ohm resistance. Same on wire from solenoid to starter. Same for bat negative to the engine. All connections are tight. It spins but just won't engage. I'm thinking I have a bad starter. Am I missing anything? Is 1 volt drop normal at the starter. Is 11.8v enough to get the starter to engage the flywheel? All questions bouncing around my head right now. Any advice / help is appreciated.

Thank you.


#2

R

Rivets

Probably need to replace the starter drive. If my memory is still any good, I believe the part number is 593934, but you better check with the repair shop you use for parts.


#3

S

slomo

lefty2cox said:
Am I missing anything?
Click to expand...
Yes you are. You can only test circuits under LOAD. 1 Ohm means the pipe is open. Under full load is the real test. Means the pipe can flow at max amp draw like normal circuits run at.


#4

S

slomo

lefty2cox said:
Is 1 volt drop normal at the starter.
Click to expand...
No such thing as normal drop levels. You do not want your battery voltage to go below 10.5v DC while cranking the engine. Example, if while cranking your battery drops to 8 volts then you need a charge or a new battery.


#5

S

slomo

lefty2cox said:
Is 11.8v enough to get the starter to engage the flywheel?
Click to expand...
Yes it's fine.


#6

L

lefty2cox

Rivets said:
Probably need to replace the starter drive. If my memory is still any good, I believe the part number is 593934, but you better check with the repair shop you use for parts.
Click to expand...
That's the number I came up with as well on the briggs site.


#7

L

lefty2cox

slomo said:
Yes it's fine.
Click to expand...
Can I assume that if 11.8 is adequate for the starter to operate normally that the starter is the culprit? In other words, if the starter was looking for a certain amperage from the battery and I had a problem with resistance in the wiring, wouldn't there be an unacceptable voltage drop due to the restriction? Just trying to wrap my brain around it.


#8

I

ILENGINE

This may sound stupid but make sure that you didn't connect the battery backwards. It will cause the starter to spin in reverse if it doesn't cause other electrical failures.


#9

L

lefty2cox

Stupid falls right into my wheelhouse. So thank you. I'm not near the machine now but I will verify.


#10

L

lefty2cox

slomo said:
Yes you are. You can only test circuits under LOAD. 1 Ohm means the pipe is open. Under full load is the real test. Means the pipe can flow at max amp draw like normal circuits run at.
Click to expand...
Should I take an amp measurement on the positive starter wire? If so, what amperage am I hoping to see?


#11

S

slomo

lefty2cox said:
Starter spins but the bendix does not pop up and engage.
Click to expand...
You answered your own question.

Your voltage checks look good but actually you are NOT cranking the engine over due to the Bendix not engaging. So you need to fix the Bendix/starter issue first before you do more electrical CSI checks.


#12

L

lefty2cox

ILENGINE said:
This may sound stupid but make sure that you didn't connect the battery backwards. It will cause the starter to spin in reverse if it doesn't cause other electrical failures.
Click to expand...
I just want to emphasize that I did not install this battery... but am ashamed to admit that I did lay eyes on it. I was able to stop by and take another look at this today and wouldn't you know it? I took my frustration for not noticing it out on my friend for installing it backward. I recon he deserves it more.

Thanks for the help.


#13

StarTech

StarTech

Not good.


#14

I

ILENGINE

lefty2cox said:
I just want to emphasize that I did not install this battery... but am ashamed to admit that I did lay eyes on it. I was able to stop by and take another look at this today and wouldn't you know it? I took my frustration for not noticing it out on my friend for installing it backward. I recon he deserves it more.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Glad to of helped. And hopefully the reverse connected battery didn't do other electric damage. Sometimes it can damage the voltage regulator as well as destroy the ignition modules.


#15

C

cdestuck

lefty2cox said:
I just want to emphasize that I did not install this battery... but am ashamed to admit that I did lay eyes on it. I was able to stop by and take another look at this today and wouldn't you know it? I took my frustration for not noticing it out on my friend for installing it backward. I recon he deserves it more.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
I just took a mower in for repair that the owner had just put in a new battery. Exact problem. Easy fix.


#16

L

LMPPLUS

lefty2cox said:
Model: 917.271760 Serial: 091302D007110
Briggs Model: 31R977-0043-G1 / 160218ZA

Starter spins but the bendix does not pop up and engage. If I spin the bendix by hand everything seems to function properly and move freely. I have 12.8V at the battery, which is new. Voltage drops to 11.8v at the starter when turning over. Wire from bat positive to solenoid shows less than 1 ohm resistance. Same on wire from solenoid to starter. Same for bat negative to the engine. All connections are tight. It spins but just won't engage. I'm thinking I have a bad starter. Am I missing anything? Is 1 volt drop normal at the starter. Is 11.8v enough to get the starter to engage the flywheel? All questions bouncing around my head right now. Any advice / help is appreciated.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
lefty2cox, This B&S engine is xtremley hard to start if the valves are out of adjustment or if the camshaft is bad, take the spark plug out and try it if it turns over good reset the valves if it doesn't electrical issue and has the battery recently been changed, it's a DC motor so it will spin both ways so if it's hooked up wrong the starter gear will spin down.


#17

L

lefty2cox

ILENGINE said:
Glad to of helped. And hopefully the reverse connected battery didn't do other electric damage. Sometimes it can damage the voltage regulator as well as destroy the ignition modules.
Click to expand...
I'll keep an eye on that. Thanks. If I remember correctly, I don't think this one had a regulator. But I'll keep an eye on the ignition.


#18

L

lefty2cox

I'm sure there is a diode though. Is there a chance sending current the wrong way could have fried the diode?


#19

I

ILENGINE

lefty2cox said:
I'll keep an eye on that. Thanks. If I remember correctly, I don't think this one had a regulator. But I'll keep an eye on the ignition.
Click to expand...
lefty2cox said:
I'm sure there is a diode though. Is there a chance sending current the wrong way could have fried the diode?
Click to expand...
Since it started and ran after correcting the battery issue then the ignition is most likely fine. And if it is charging the battery and not discharging it while it sets unused then that diode should also be fine.


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