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Elec problem on 26 hp garden tractor

#1

J

jamdd2005

I have a gt 5600 craftsman garden tractor. I had to put it on the charger the other day and it started right up. I turned it off to disconnect the charger and went to start it again and I only get a click in the ignition relay. Has anyone experienced this before? Also, the flywheel will not spin freely by hand. Possible motor seize? The tractor is only 4 years old and has had all general maintenance done in a timely manner. Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!


#2

davbell22602

davbell22602

Sounds like you might have gas in the oil. Carb might have been half froze when you ran it. Remove all spark plugs and see if you turn the flywheel by hand. Also pull the dipstick and smell it to determine there's gas in the oil.


#3

reynoldston

reynoldston

The starter works OK with the charger on the battery and the starter doesn't work when you remove the charger?? If this is so I would start by checking the battery. If the battery is good do what Dave is saying.


#4

wjjones

wjjones

Sounds like a weak battery, or solenoid. The 26 hp has enough compression that it wont spin real easy by hand.


#5

J

jamdd2005

Pulled plug and still the same problem. I don't detect any fuel in the oil. I am considering replacing the relay/solenoid as a first, minor expense, problem solver. Any thoughts on this?? Could one or both of these have been fried while jumping it?


#6

davbell22602

davbell22602

jamdd2005 said:
Pulled plug and still the same problem. I don't detect any fuel in the oil. I am considering replacing the relay/solenoid as a first, minor expense, problem solver. Any thoughts on this?? Could one or both of these have been fried while jumping it?
Click to expand...

Whats happens if you jump the starter directly with jumper cables from different battery besides the one in the mower? Might have fried the starter when jumping it.


#7

reynoldston

reynoldston

jamdd2005 said:
Pulled plug and still the same problem. I don't detect any fuel in the oil. I am considering replacing the relay/solenoid as a first, minor expense, problem solver. Any thoughts on this?? Could one or both of these have been fried while jumping it?
Click to expand...

Yes very good idea. Don't test anything and start replacing parts. problem solved. You have a electrical problem so find it, no one on a forum can do it for you. Start with a wiring diagram and volt meter or test light.


#8

R

Rivets

Willing to bet it is a bad battery. Charge the battery, take a voltage reading, if it is 12+ volts start the engine, run for 10 minutes, let sit for 10 minutes, try starting again. If it does not start measure battery voltage again. If less than 12 volts, replace battery.


#9

Carscw

Carscw

Just buy a new tractor. OMG.

If it starts with jumper cables then first thing to look at would be THE BATTERY.
Jump start it and use a volt meter and see how many volts you have at the battery while the engine is RUNNING.
If you have more than 14 volts then you know it is charging. So take the battery and get it load tested.


#10

davbell22602

davbell22602

Autozone will charge and load test the battery for free.


#11

reynoldston

reynoldston

As I recall I said that on my first post check battery, then he talked about replacing relay/solenoid??? Yes most auto parts stores will test your battery for you for free, very good starting point.


#12

R

Rivets

You and I both agree that testing should be done before throwing new parts at units. Just wanted to reinforce what you pointed out. Sometimes this forum does not realize some of us have seen many of these problems at least once before. I guess some have more $$$ than us old farts, who just have a year or two of experience.


#13

Carscw

Carscw

Rivets said:
Willing to bet it is a bad battery. Charge the battery, take a voltage reading, if it is 12+ volts start the engine, run for 10 minutes, let sit for 10 minutes, try starting again. If it does not start measure battery voltage again. If less than 12 volts, replace battery.
Click to expand...

I guess I said the same thing. Guess we posted at the same time. Sorry did not mean to say what you already said


#14

J

jamdd2005

Thanks all, with one exception that thinks that sarcasm is a great substitute for advice, for the great suggestions. You all remind me of a lot of us helpful people on a lot of the Harley forums. I obviously checked the battery prior to anything. I have spent 20 years doing rebuilds on my own Harleys and know that that is where anything electrical begins. I only reached out on this forum because this is my first small lawn tractor and was seeing if there were any typical parts that frequently fail such as solenoid/relays, etc. This is the case a lot of the time with Harleys. the "engineered to fail" principal. 3010 john deere is the same. Anyway, with respect to the "exception", I'm sorry I didn't have time to learn all of the in's and out's of small engine repair. Apparently running a multi million dollar corporation and traveling all over the world for work for months at a time didn't afford me the time to undertake the education. Sincerely, Just another dumb tractor owner


#15

Carscw

Carscw

jamdd2005 said:
Thanks all, with one exception that thinks that sarcasm is a great substitute for advice, for the great suggestions. You all remind me of a lot of us helpful people on a lot of the Harley forums. I obviously checked the battery prior to anything. I have spent 20 years doing rebuilds on my own Harleys and know that that is where anything electrical begins. I only reached out on this forum because this is my first small lawn tractor and was seeing if there were any typical parts that frequently fail such as solenoid/relays, etc. This is the case a lot of the time with Harleys. the "engineered to fail" principal. 3010 john deere is the same. Anyway, with respect to the "exception", I'm sorry I didn't have time to learn all of the in's and out's of small engine repair. Apparently running a multi million dollar corporation and traveling all over the world for work for months at a time didn't afford me the time to undertake the education. Sincerely, Just another dumb tractor owner
Click to expand...

Sometimes sarcasm is needed to get a point across. Really was not aiming it towards you. It's just people like to have you look at things that are really not necessary.
It will start when you put jumper cables on it so we know that the safety switches and solenoid is working. It will not crank with the plugs out. No gas in the oil but will start when jumped. So the most obvious thing would be the battery.
Just because a battery reads 12 volts on a meter does not mean it is good.
Sorry if you do not like how I say things but I have a feeling you will be ok.


#16

R

Rivets

Seeing I was sarcastic once, I'll do it again. At no time did you say you had tested the battery. You may not respect me because of the way I posted and that is your choose. I don't know you, your abilities, knowledge or unit. I do know that the majority of the people who ask for advice on this forum with electrical problems don't know what they are doing. As an instructor I always point people to the simple and then work on up. I hate it when throw parts at something and assume they can fix the unit that way. In your case, I don't think you have even tested the solenoid, which is very simple to do, before deciding to replace it. Good luck with your unit, because as the exception I don't know what I'm talking. P.S. The softtails and electraglides of the late 60's are where I got my start.


#17

reynoldston

reynoldston

jamdd2005 said:
Thanks all, with one exception that thinks that sarcasm is a great substitute for advice, for the great suggestions. You all remind me of a lot of us helpful people on a lot of the Harley forums. I obviously checked the battery prior to anything. I have spent 20 years doing rebuilds on my own Harleys and know that that is where anything electrical begins. I only reached out on this forum because this is my first small lawn tractor and was seeing if there were any typical parts that frequently fail such as solenoid/relays, etc. This is the case a lot of the time with Harleys. the "engineered to fail" principal. 3010 john deere is the same. Anyway, with respect to the "exception", I'm sorry I didn't have time to learn all of the in's and out's of small engine repair. Apparently running a multi million dollar corporation and traveling all over the world for work for months at a time didn't afford me the time to undertake the education. Sincerely, Just another dumb tractor owner
Click to expand...

Sorry if seems like there is some sarcasm, but I have repeated myself so many times on this forum it just comes out. I have seen it so many times that someone just starts replacing parts and don't have any idea what they are doing and it just seems like everyone adds to it. Yes I also repair motorcycles and ATV's in my shop also. Myself I own a Harley Sportster road bike, two Honda scooters, and two ATV's. Love my Harley sportster . I see Harley is coming out with two new models this year, 500/750 water cooled models. Its about time they came out with something new. I think the new bikes, cars, trucks, and ATV's with the EFI are a lot now complicated then any mower. I also do own a older 2010 John Deere. I have been in the repair trade business all my life wouldn't know the first thing about running any corporation . Never been much of a world traveler seeing I can't afford it and now living from check to check off of SS and retired.


#18

Fish

Fish

Well you said you pulled the plugs and same problem??? Or plug??? Locked up??? Cannot turn the flywheel by hand? Either locked up engine, or stuck starter gear, if what you have said was true.

So what is true? If your millionaire busy lifestyle can tell us ignorant pig farmers, we may be able to help, and who are trying to help you for free!!!!

A millionaire, broke down with his Harley, we get that a lot of that here around Maker's Mark/Loretto. They know how to fix it, but they still are broke down looking for help from us inbred farmers....

How is that for sarcasm??

So after this bit of time, what is wrong with your engine? Can you turn the flywheel by hand with the plugs out? If not , why???

You, being the owner, need to take it from there..........

Or take it to the local lawnmower shop.....

I hear that there is a good lawnmower shop in Paris, France!!!! But they don't help you fix things for free!!!!


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