I don't want to talk over this thread but I have a LTX 1050 and having similar problems. The mower will not start without the charger on it. I replaced the battery in the spring with no positive results. If I try with out the charger I get nothing, no noise, but lights will come on. then when I put charger on sometimes it will start but most time I need to leave it on for 5 min. then when I come back to try it keeps turning over but don't fire. after it turning for a while ( 30 sec.) sometimes it will fire. I checked the battery 13 volts mower off, 14.2 with mower on. Its getting late and too cold to work on it anymore tonight I will check the solenoid tomorrow. thanks
First time on this forum, but thank you for any help. How did we ever get anything fixed before the internet ?
Run a jumper from your - on the battery to the engine. I like to use the drain bolt, just make sure that yours is not on a plastic extension you need a good earth.
Try the starter now, if all is good then you need to go through your earth connections, they take a pounding on mowers.
If the starter still does not turn then run another jumper from the + on the battery to the + on the starter motor. Best to hook the + up first then make & break the circuit with the - wire
If it turns better but still does not start the next culprit will be the float bowl solenoid.
If it does not turn then your starter or the battery is toast. If your starter is drawing to much power then you will get a big voltage drop to the fuel solenoid.
most need at least 10 V to open and a little corrosion plus a heavy starter load can easily knock the voltage down so far it keeps the fuel turned off.
A lot of the mowers I see down here have a fuel tap fitted ( before the fuel filter ) and the plunger in the solenoid cut off ( they are $ 80 to $ 140 down here ) which we can do as they are not an EPA requirement.
I believe there are big fines in some places in the USA if you get caught doing it to your mower.
You will save a lot of time if you spend $ 5.00 on neon tube High Tension tester . You plug it into the lead to the spark plug so you can watch it while the engine is turning over.
If it flashes in time with the rotaton of the engine then all is fine with your safety cutout wiring but if it does not fire regularly then one or more of the safety interlocks is grounding to magneto