weasel-king
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- Joined
- May 21, 2017
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Hello, I'm pretty much an idiot when it comes to small engine issues, but I want to learn, so I am trying my hand here.
I have a Craftsman lawn tractor; it has a B&S 20 ohv engine, model 331777. I have had no issues for probably 8 years or so. Last year I ran over a stump and ended up having to replace the fly-wheel key.Completely unrelated to the current issue, but I wanted to mention it.
A couple of weeks I was mowing the first time this season. Just as I was finishing up the yard the engine started sputtering, as if the gas was low, and eventually cut off. I ended up pushing it into the garage and didn't really think much about it for a couple of days since I had finished with the grass. I tried starting it later, and it would spin, but never catch and start up. Fast forward to yesterday, and I figured I might as well change the air filter, oil, and oil filter since it had not been serviced in a while. I also cleaned the spark plug. For some reason I didn't try cranking it until all that was done, and the engine would not turn at all. No clicking, nothing. My brother-in-law tested the battery, and it was dead. I'm not sure how likely that the battery would die 'that much' in two weeks, but the meter didn't lie, assuming he tested it correctly.
I went and got a new battery this evening. Both are U1 batteries; I have no idea if this is an issue, but the old battery had the poles at the top (if looking down from the top). The new one the poles are closer to the bottom. Positive on the left at all, so I know that part is fine. (I just think back to an old Honda Civic I had that needed a reverse polarity battery and always wonder about terminal placement!)
Anyway, I wanted to check here. I don't want this to turn into buying part after part, spending $20 here and $40 there, and eventually it being something major and, looking back, would have just been easier getting a new tractor.
I have a Craftsman lawn tractor; it has a B&S 20 ohv engine, model 331777. I have had no issues for probably 8 years or so. Last year I ran over a stump and ended up having to replace the fly-wheel key.Completely unrelated to the current issue, but I wanted to mention it.
A couple of weeks I was mowing the first time this season. Just as I was finishing up the yard the engine started sputtering, as if the gas was low, and eventually cut off. I ended up pushing it into the garage and didn't really think much about it for a couple of days since I had finished with the grass. I tried starting it later, and it would spin, but never catch and start up. Fast forward to yesterday, and I figured I might as well change the air filter, oil, and oil filter since it had not been serviced in a while. I also cleaned the spark plug. For some reason I didn't try cranking it until all that was done, and the engine would not turn at all. No clicking, nothing. My brother-in-law tested the battery, and it was dead. I'm not sure how likely that the battery would die 'that much' in two weeks, but the meter didn't lie, assuming he tested it correctly.
I went and got a new battery this evening. Both are U1 batteries; I have no idea if this is an issue, but the old battery had the poles at the top (if looking down from the top). The new one the poles are closer to the bottom. Positive on the left at all, so I know that part is fine. (I just think back to an old Honda Civic I had that needed a reverse polarity battery and always wonder about terminal placement!)
Anyway, I wanted to check here. I don't want this to turn into buying part after part, spending $20 here and $40 there, and eventually it being something major and, looking back, would have just been easier getting a new tractor.