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People,

now, I have another problem- was testing my MTD rider mower to see if the hesitation problem went away (other thread I started on stalling mower), and now mower starter turns, but not with the usual vigor (steady cranking, then starts). It just turns "weakly". No start now. Batery is from 4/2010, so I got a of of mileage from that one! But, I did measure and get 12.6v. Could battery be bad?? I know theres a difference between volts and cranking amps(?)

Oh- 12.6v also at the cable terminals, not just battery posts....)

Thanks!

rigoletto said:

People,

now, I have another problem- was testing my MTD rider mower to see if the hesitation problem went away (other thread I started on stalling mower), and now mower starter turns, but not with the usual vigor (steady cranking, then starts). It just turns "weakly". No start now. Batery is from 4/2010, so I got a of of mileage from that one! But, I did measure and get 12.6v. Could battery be bad?? I know theres a difference between volts and cranking amps(?)

Oh- 12.6v also at the cable terminals, not just battery posts....)

Thanks!

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You are the one to say it, difference between volts and amps. Bad cable, switch, or wires you can get your 12 volts but not enough amps. Its like a 1in water pipe plugged up to 1/8 in, you will get water but not enough.

reynoldston said:

You are the one to say it, difference between volts and amps. Bad cable, switch, or wires you can get your 12 volts but not enough amps. Its like a 1in water pipe plugged up to 1/8 in, you will get water but not enough.

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Thanks, rey. So, maybe I will try aplying 12v directly to the starter and seee what happens- eliminating possible circuit problems......be right back-

rigoletto said:

Thanks, rey. So, maybe I will try aplying 12v directly to the starter and seee what happens- eliminating possible circuit problems......be right back-

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OK, did this: removed my car battery and direct voltage to starter and cranked like new. (didnt start though, maybe flooded). Then, applied direct v from mower battery posts to starter and back to sluggish starter turning. I eliminated all circuits, so has to be battery, huh?

Well it is a 4 year old battery... one is lucky to get 2 0r 3 years..... Take it up and they can do a "load" test.

Fish said:

Well it is a 4 year old battery... one is lucky to get 2 0r 3 years..... Take it up and they can do a "load" test.

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Hmmm, sams club? Doubt they can do a load test. But, your point is good- 4 yrs old, probably not worth the headache- get new. Right- I never got 4 yrs out of a mower batt.

well, I have jumped through a bunch of hoops before, just because an old battery showed over 12v, and wasted a lot of time.

reread my #2 post. Nothing wrong with getting a new battery but I sure hope that is your problem and it fixes it? I will say I'm not 100% sure it will. Dirty grounds, poor connections, bad cables. Just make sure you check them things when you install the new battery. Good luck

Fish said:

well, I have jumped through a bunch of hoops before, just because an old battery showed over 12v, and wasted a lot of time.

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good to know that. time to stop wasting time. 4 yrs is enough.

reynoldston said:

reread my #2 post. Nothing wrong with getting a new battery but I sure hope that is your problem and it fixes it? I will say I'm not 100% sure it will. Dirty grounds, poor connections, bad cables. Just make sure you check them things when you install the new battery. Good luck

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I hope so too, rey. thanks. You guys are a huge help, in al my troubles!

reynoldston said:

reread my #2 post. Nothing wrong with getting a new battery but I sure hope that is your problem and it fixes it? I will say I'm not 100% sure it will. Dirty grounds, poor connections, bad cables. Just make sure you check them things when you install the new battery. Good luck

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Very true, clean all of the connections first!

update- got a new battery, and I did something stupid- I hooked up the red (positivre) terminal to the negative post on bbattery and black wire to pos terminal. Duhhhhhh. never figured Id do someting like that. So I cranked the ignition key and heard a slight buzzing- sooo strange. Let go of key after 5 seconds or so. Did it again- buzzing. It came from battery.

Then, I noticed my stuuuuupid mistake, and reversed them hoping i didnt blow the thing up. man, those wires were HOT!! Mower started up easily. Lucky me. people, did I mess up my battery?