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I have a John Deere 185 hydrostatic with 17hp Kawasaki engine. I have had the mower since new for 23 years. It has been a fantastic mower with hardly a problem. Went to start it up for the spring and when I tried to start it with a new battery it would click but won't turn over. I put the old battery back in and jumped it and it started up then quit. Now it only clicks. Clould it be the starter? Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Could be a starter or the solenoid on the starter -- I had a 318 that sometimes needed you to tap it with an aluminum rod to free the solenoid. After having it that long a starter would not be too much to expect.
If you haven't had other problems - this is a minor one. :biggrin:

I have a 185 in my shop right now with a 14 hp Kawi and have the same problem. Turn the key and the starter won't roll.

I hear clicks but no roll.

I pulled the shroud off and the drive sprocket is flying up when I turn the key but it can't/won't engage on the ring gear. There is some wear so I decided to replace it.

Guess what? Dis-continued part through JD.

If I give the flywheel a couple of degree turn then it rolls just fine.

Big PITA.

Good luck.

Check with the Kawasaki web site and ask where you might get the part ????

It's probably the solinoid I fixed one with same problem,just clean battery cable terminals with medium grit sandpaper and make sure bolts on solinoid are tight

I am a woman who knows basically nothing about lawn mowers. But I have the same type of mower, a John Deere Hydro 185. It would click but not start. I replaced the starter ( bought a used one on ebay for $25) and bought a new battery. Then it started fine.

the click is the starter solenoid.....try using jumper cables to go from pos. battery to starter post to check starter:thumbsup:

reddragon said:

the click is the starter solenoid.....try using jumper cables to go from pos. battery to starter post to check starter:thumbsup:

Click to expand...

I installed a new starter and a new battery. I would hear the click when I turned the key. Took several tries to get it to start but it would finally start. Now it won't start at all and there is no click when I turn the key, nothing, not a sound. The deck oil and battery light comes on as it should when I always try to start it, so the battery has to be working. What else can I try to get this to start? My grass is knee high and I cannot afford landscaper prices in my area.

caryannw said:

I installed a new starter and a new battery. I would hear the click when I turned the key. Took several tries to get it to start but it would finally start. Now it won't start at all and there is no click when I turn the key, nothing, not a sound. The deck oil and battery light comes on as it should when I always try to start it, so the battery has to be working. What else can I try to get this to start? My grass is knee high and I cannot afford landscaper prices in my area.

Click to expand...

sounds like a bad ignition switch....you should buy yourself a multimeter to test the wiring harness and switches

I know this is a really old thread but I had this problem with my 170 (which I still use today in 2017!) and for anyone searching now, they'll know what to do. The solution applies to many machines.

The solution is to install a relay that jumps the battery voltage at the starter directly to the solenoid, right at the starter. The solenoid pulls a lot of current and it doesn't take much series resistance to cause the solenoid not to fully engage and get the starter motor running. The keyswitch for instance is in series and over time develops a few ohms resistance. Battery connections too can cause the problem. Go to start, and just a click, click, click. Maybe if you're lucky, after several clicks, it works.

JD recognized the problem with the electrical design and came out with the AM107421 "Starting Improvement Relay Kit". If you look it up, you'll note they show several machines to use it with. In a nutshell, the wire providing power to the solenoid is used to just power the relay coil which does not require nearly as much current as the solenoid does. The N.O. (normally open) relay contacts connect the battery terminal of the starter directly to the solenoid. Works every time!!!

I did this fix on mine 3 years ago and I've never had a click since.