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Jump starting an under-seat battery?

#1

E

Elkins45

One of my mowers has the battery under the seat and has a safety switch that requires the seat to be down and depressed before it will start. With someone in the seat I can't see any way that a set of jumper cables would fit under there without running the very real risk of grounding the + cable. How does someone jump start a mower with the battery under the seat?


#2

B

bullet bob

Make a jumper for the safety switch?


#3

shurguywutt

shurguywutt

Put a jumper wire in the switch to make it think someone is sitting in the seat while you jump start it.


#4

S

slomo

Stop it with all the bypass info please. Safety switches are there for a reason.

Having said that......... Tape the plunger down on the switch. Or a zip tie, something that will hold the plunger down.

This is for TESTING ONLY. Don't try to mow with it in this condition.


#5

shurguywutt

shurguywutt

slomo said:
Stop it with all the bypass info please. Safety switches are there for a reason.

Having said that......... Tape the plunger down on the switch. Or a zip tie, something that will hold the plunger down.

This is for TESTING ONLY. Don't try to mow with it in this condition
Click to expand...

So just bypass it mechanically instead of electrically :ROFLMAO:


#6

R

Rivets

Ever think about setting the parking brake, which bypasses the seat safety switch?


#7

E

Elkins45

Rivets said:
Ever think about setting the parking brake, which bypasses the seat safety switch?
Click to expand...
No, I didn't, but I will now. My only question would be if it bypasses the start circuit as well as the run circuit. It would be easy enough to find out.


#8

A

Auto Doc's

Sounds like you need to pull the battery out and charge it and have it checked. The engine stator on a rider engine is not meant to "recharge" a battery, it is designed to maintain the battery and run the lights or the electric PTO for the deck if you have that option.

If the battery will not charge, replace it or will cost you much more trying to nurse it along by jumping it.

Never, bypass or rig any safety device. I have seen way too many injures and mishaps through the years. Accidents don't happen on purpose.

Set the parking brake and you should be able to jump it. Do not jump the rider with the vehicle running.


#9

ILENGINE

ILENGINE

Auto Doc's said:
Sounds like you need to pull the battery out and charge it and have it checked. The engine stator on a rider engine is not meant to "recharge" a battery, it is designed to maintain the battery and run the lights or the electric PTO for the deck if you have that option.

If the battery will not charge, replace it or will cost you much more trying to nurse it along by jumping it.

Never, bypass or rig any safety device. I have seen way too many injures and mishaps through the years. Accidents don't happen on purpose.

Set the parking brake and you should be able to jump it. Do not jump the rider with the vehicle running.
Click to expand...
Don't know what rider this guy has but Kubota, Scag, Hustler, and Exmark are the brands that I have come across that require the seat switch to be activated to start the mower with the key.


#10

E

Elkins45

ILENGINE said:
Don't know what rider this guy has but Kubota, Scag, Hustler, and Exmark are the brands that I have come across that require the seat switch to be activated to start the mower with the key.
Click to expand...
It’s a Craftsman made by Husqvarna.


#11

ILENGINE

ILENGINE

Never saw a Craftsman or Husqvarna that required the operator to be on the seat to start. Clutch/brake switch pushed down, or parking brake applied, and control levers in neutral positions for Z turns.


#12

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

Elkins45 said:
No, I didn't, but I will now. My only question would be if it bypasses the start circuit as well as the run circuit. It would be easy enough to find out.
Click to expand...
Most mowers, both.


#13

S

SeniorCitizen

Insulate the + positive terminal and jumper and you'll be good to go . Don't bother with the - negative terminal ' It will be just fine the way it sets . A little thickness of news print , shop towel or a magazine covering the positive will do that insulation / isolation . A cap screw and nut won't ever be used on a rectangle Batt terminal again terminal .

The Batt connections on mine are Heavy Duty 1" C-Clamps . Rotated 90 degrees to vertical they make real good handles to carry that batt.


#14

E

Elkins45

I tried it today and it cranks with the parking brake engaged and the seat flipped up. If I ever need to jump it now I know what to do. Thanks to everyone.


#15

G

g-man57

Maybe get a new, strong, battery? I have multiple items with batteries in them - two mowers, tractor, two boats (2), car, truck, wheeler, etc. I never have to jump any of them. I keep good batteries in them. And, I have a two wire extension cable (Amazon search: SAE Extension Cable 2Pin) on each battery. These cables allow me to plug in a maintenance charger without having to access the battery - my batteries are always fully charged.


#16

mpqualdie

mpqualdie

Elkins45 said:
One of my mowers has the battery under the seat and has a safety switch that requires the seat to be down and depressed before it will start. With someone in the seat I can't see any way that a set of jumper cables would fit under there without running the very real risk of grounding the + cable. How does someone jump start a mower with the battery under the seat?
Click to expand...
Any mower I have/had you can run it without sitting on it by locking the brake on. Does yours not have that feature where you can press the brake and latch it on? If so latch it on and the mower should start without you sitting on it.


#17

S

SamB

Auto Doc's said:
Sounds like you need to pull the battery out and charge it and have it checked. The engine stator on a rider engine is not meant to "recharge" a battery, it is designed to maintain the battery and run the lights or the electric PTO for the deck if you have that option.

If the battery will not charge, replace it or will cost you much more trying to nurse it along by jumping it.

Never, bypass or rig any safety device. I have seen way too many injures and mishaps through the years. Accidents don't happen on purpose.

Set the parking brake and you should be able to jump it. Do not jump the rider with the vehicle running.
Click to expand...
To add to your prudent advice, AutoDoc, as I have learned in the past, and as you have stated, the charging system isn't meant to charge a dead battery and the stator will melt down when running with a bad battery, requiring replacement parts$$. Charge the battery with a charger or replace it with a new one.


#18

G

Gym123

I didn't see the previous post when I wrote the same info- when I got my Ariens and had questions, I found that the charging system doesn't have much headroom for loads, so just charge it if it's dead.


#19

S

spetrilli

Auto Doc's said:
Sounds like you need to pull the battery out and charge it and have it checked. The engine stator on a rider engine is not meant to "recharge" a battery, it is designed to maintain the battery and run the lights or the electric PTO for the deck if you have that option.

If the battery will not charge, replace it or will cost you much more trying to nurse it along by jumping it.

Never, bypass or rig any safety device. I have seen way too many injures and mishaps through the years. Accidents don't happen on purpose.

Set the parking brake and you should be able to jump it. Do not jump the rider with the vehicle running.
Click to expand...
Well stated


#20

O

outdoorpowermike

Brake on will crank.


#21

G

Gord Baker

Elkins45 said:
One of my mowers has the battery under the seat and has a safety switch that requires the seat to be down and depressed before it will start. With someone in the seat I can't see any way that a set of jumper cables would fit under there without running the very real risk of grounding the + cable. How does someone jump start a mower with the battery under the seat?
Click to expand...
Attach the Ground cable to the mower frame and the + cable to the Solenoid.post that does NOT connect to the Battery. Key start should then work.


#22

justin@justintime

justin@justintime

I mowed lawns for 20 something years and now have a repair shop from exmarks to scags to Craftsman not a one of them needs you in the seat. Nor should you jump start your tractor and mow your lawn it's a good way to fry your regulator and or stator. And will apply to all out door power equipment. Yes even you gun hoe scrapers that mow all day. Trickle charge your batteries when dead and trickle charge your batteries if sitting a month or more. All batteries have a discharge rate and most of you have a rapid discharge rate due to poor batteries due to the machine not the battery. Minus y'all running Kawasaki they have a rather nice voltage regulator that does what it should. AKA smart charge. Trickle charger your Husqvarna lawn tractor that may indeed have a kawi the. Scan your battery then set your Park brake put in neutral and turn the key make sure your blades are off of a no go then it won't start with you on it either.


#23

G

gerryg11

I have a Husqvarna YTH24V54 rider model. I can attach the jumper cables to sit virtually horizontal in the same plane below the top of the battery terminals, which allows me to safely sit in the seat to start the machine without fear of shorting anything out whilst starting the engine.


#24

ChiefH

ChiefH

Auto Doc's said:
Sounds like you need to pull the battery out and charge it and have it checked. The engine stator on a rider engine is not meant to "recharge" a battery, it is designed to maintain the battery and run the lights or the electric PTO for the deck if you have that option.

If the battery will not charge, replace it or will cost you much more trying to nurse it along by jumping it.

Never, bypass or rig any safety device. I have seen way too many injures and mishaps through the years. Accidents don't happen on purpose.

Set the parking brake and you should be able to jump it. Do not jump the rider with the vehicle running.
Click to expand...
This is what I was going to recommend. If the battery needs a "jump" then it is not charged and needs a charger connected, OR the battery is near the end of its life and needs to be replaced. Do not defeat the safety switches!


#25

M

mg8t7gn

I use one of those small handeld battery jumper boxes. The clamps are small enough to allow the seat to be in the down position. Just make sure the cables won't get pinched and the positive clamp won't touch ground.


#26

F

Freddie21

My jumper box cablw clamps are small. I can connect them and have them lay horizonal and the seat does not touch them. Same with my charger cables. Or, you coyld jump to the starter solenoid (+) and engine block (-).


#27

jes_in_sac

jes_in_sac

On a Craftsman, the brake must be set to both bypass the seat switch and to start the engine. The engine charging circuit is mostly useless for long-term use, and you should have a battery maintainer on the battery, to ensure that it's charged when needed, and to extend the life of the battery. Also, the wet-cell Lawn and Garden batteries are mostly worthless. So next battery change, buy a Motorcycle/ATV AGM sealed battery [cheap and readily available on Amazon], which will put up with the bouncing better, last a lot longer, and hold a charge better. They will be a little smaller for the same cranking amps, so just take up the extra space with some bubble wrap or packing material, which will also help cushion it some more. On many engines on Craftsman mowers, the starter is on the side where it's easy to get to, with the big red wire going to the starter right in front of you. With the brake set and in neutral, you can jump right to the starter battery terminal, with the black negative cable just grounded anywhere on the engine.


#28

R

rhkraft

Craftsman, Husqvarna and most of the others are all made by MTD. Just painted different colors and have different hoods and decalcomania. I had a Craftsman and the governor gear exploded - junk! I had a Craftsman grass catcher on it that cost me over $500 so I wanted another Craftsman so the grass catcher would fit. Couldn't find a Craftsman in late July so had to look at others. I noticed the grass catcher would fit different brands. I bought a Husqvarna and the grass catcher fit perfectly with no alterations. But the Husq didn't have rear wheels on the mower deck so I removed the rear wheels off the Craftsman and bolted them on the Husq. Even all the bolt holes in the Husq mower deck matched.


#29

G

GearHead36

To those saying that you don't need to be in the seat for starting.... Some do, some don't. I have two riding mowers. A Husqvarna CZ4817 and a Cub Cadet Pro Z 154S. To start the CZ, the bars must be pushed out, the park brake set, AND you have be in the seat. On the Pro Z, if the park brake is set, you can walk up to it and start it. I've had this jump-start problem with the CZ, and I couldn't figure out how to get cables in there.

I'll echo other's recommendations for a trickle charger. All of my power equipment with batteries have Battery Tender pigtails on them, and I keep them plugged in.


#30

G

Gord Baker

Elkins45 said:
One of my mowers has the battery under the seat and has a safety switch that requires the seat to be down and depressed before it will start. With someone in the seat I can't see any way that a set of jumper cables would fit under there without running the very real risk of grounding the + cable. How does someone jump start a mower with the battery under the seat?
Click to expand...
Engage the Parking Brake and flip seat back. + to +. Do NOT jump with a vehicle with the vehicles engine Running. Catastrophic failure of your Mower Stator can result.


#31

Ohioguy

Ohioguy

I don't seem to be able to get to the end of this thread?
Router problems...Curt

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#32

M

Mad_mat222

I just permanently wire up a fused heavy wire/cable to the battery. Mine runs out onto the deck but put it where ever you want. I have a 50amp Anderson plug on the end. All my battery chargers have 50amp plugs on them. I can plug straight. Also use it to plug my sprayer in when needed.


#33

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crazy charlie

I made the mistake of jumping the little battery and it exploded the moment I turned the key.I was in the garage so it sounded like a shotgun.I would NOT recommend jumping that little battery.I was so shocked,I had no idea what had just happened.Do yourself a favor and get a new battery.I got one at Wallyworld for about $25.Charlie


#34

R

robertschemenauer

Elkins45 said:
One of my mowers has the battery under the seat and has a safety switch that requires the seat to be down and depressed before it will start. With someone in the seat I can't see any way that a set of jumper cables would fit under there without running the very real risk of grounding the + cable. How does someone jump start a mower with the battery under the seat?Jumper direct to the solinoid or battery under the hood.
Click to expand...


#35

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Rivets

Boy, has this thread taken a left turn, OP said he got his answer in post #7. Don’t know how we got on charging or jump starting a unit.


#36

O

Old_Paint

Rivets said:
Boy, has this thread taken a left turn, OP said he got his answer in post #7. Don’t know how we got on charging or jump starting a unit.
Click to expand...
Because the OP was this?
Elkins45 said:
One of my mowers has the battery under the seat and has a safety switch that requires the seat to be down and depressed before it will start. With someone in the seat I can't see any way that a set of jumper cables would fit under there without running the very real risk of grounding the + cable. How does someone jump start a mower with the battery under the seat?
Click to expand...
Bottom line, if @Elkins45 feels that the battery is suspect, then it's pretty easy to snatch it out and take it to a local auto parts store to test it. They can verify that it will or won't charge up, and load test it to make sure it isn't failing internally. Most do this for free in anticipation of selling a battery.

BUT, what I would do, depending on the age of the mower, is go ahead and replace the starting relay (solenoid), and go through and clean/tighten every electrical connection on the mower that has a screw terminal, especially the larger conductors which are barely sized large enough to deliver the current to the starter. Clean connections make for a happier starter and battery. Face it, the electrical system is a maintenance item that everyone takes for granted because it doesn't have to be done often. But, it MUST be done. Just make sure to disconnect the battery before attempting any electrical service on the machine. Lift the negative (ground) cable first, then there's no risk of sparks while disconnecting the positive (Hot) cable. Reconnect them in reverse order.

Using a jumper to bypass safeties is not a bad thing if the purpose is to find out what the bad safety is or to be able to start the machine for troubleshooting purposes. HOWEVER, bypassing the safety to get the grass cut IS typically a bad idea and may just demonstrate Darwin's theory of selectivity. You do you, but I would not operate one without the safeties in place. By doing things like removing belts can let you test all you want with jumpers in relative safety from mechanical mishap. The mower can't move if the transmission or blades are mechanically disconnected. But every switch on the bugger can be tested for function, and it isn't a bad idea to do this every couple years if you like a safe machine. It's exactly what I do. That experience comes from 47 years as a field service electrical engineer in heavy industry. Do you think I haven't jumped a thing or two? But I do recommend some familiarity with the risks and knowing how to use test equipment without endangering oneself.


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