Craftsman w/ B&S 19.5 Twin Cylinder

[Sonny Pines]

Hi all,
My mower has been hard to start for a while. Finally, it refused to restart after shutting it off to refuel. The starter seemed to be dragging so I replaced it, along with the battery. I’ve cleaned carbon deposits from the pistons and heads. Last year, I had a shop replace replace some unseen solenoid or relay in the ignition loop. Not exactly sure what that was. Also installed a new ignition switch. It acts like something is dragging the week old battery down now and all I get is clicking when I turn the key, but the charger says it is at 100% and at 12.5 amps. Any help is appreciated. The grass is growing taller while I figure this out. Thanks

 

[Richie F]

First off sounds like a "week" battery.
Unseen solenoid is more than likely the starter solenoid.
Has anybody checked the charging system of your machine ?
If that isn't working your battery will never get charged.

 

[Fish]

Also remove the cables and wire brush the terminals, as well as where it grounds to the frame.

 

[Tinkerer200]

Jumping directly from the battery to the starter may help isolate where the problem is.
Walt Conner

 

[StarTech]

Equipment numbers would be helpful too.

First I think the OP is say 12.5 vdc and not 12.5 amps but is he is actually reading 12.5 amp charge current on a 100% fully charged battery he got a bad battery.

If remember correctly there is a difference between "week" and "weak". One is length of time and the other is amount strength.

But I just love customers that try to fix things by just replacing parts willy nilly. It can get expensive fast and can still end in failure to repair the problem. I have one customer a few years ago that had starting problem that replaced starter, battery, voltage regulator, and stator before deciding to bringing into my shop. It turned out to be a fifty cents wire terminal that was the problem. He wanted me to make him whole again on the parts he brought from another shop. Sorry but I didn't because I not paying retail for used parts when I get new parts at wholesale.

 

[StarTech]

Also just because a charger say 100 % charge doesn't the battery is good either. I currently got one here that automatic charger says is 100% charged but tester says it is only at 60% capacity; otherwords, the 425 CCA battery has only a 250 CCA capacity and quickly discharges during repeat starting periods.

 

[Band-aid Kid]

Might want to check the valve lash. When I adjusted mine, it allowed the engine to turn easier.

 

[bertsmobile1]

I learned years ago not to trust numbers
So I do as Walt suggested, break out the jumper cables to test the starter using a known good battery, then the mowers battery , then each battery cable .
Too easy to get caught out with a surfaced charged battery with no actual power because all of the paste is sitting on the bottom of the battery case.

 

[StarTech]

yes voltage checks can throw you off track unless the circuit being tested under load. I just last week had to replace a battery cable lug as the voltage would drop out completely out under load due to internal corrosion.