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I just got this Kobalt 2x 24v self-propelled lawnmower at a pallet auction. The Model number is KLMS 1024B-03. It appears to be new and not used. I put two of my fully charged 24v batteries in to test it out. The self propel works fine. But the blade motor will not engage. I hear a clicking noise from it. The handle is fully extended and latches are fully engaged. And I am following the starting procedure, pushing the start button and then pulling the bail bar. But nothing but clicking. Anybody have ideas of how to troubleshoot this? I can find zero information or wiring diagrams on line. Thanks in advance for any help.

Timwhitney said:

I just got this Kobalt 2x 24v self-propelled lawnmower at a pallet auction. The Model number is KLMS 1024B-03. It appears to be new and not used. I put two of my fully charged 24v batteries in to test it out. The self propel works fine. But the blade motor will not engage. I hear a clicking noise from it. The handle is fully extended and latches are fully engaged. And I am following the starting procedure, pushing the start button and then pulling the bail bar. But nothing but clicking. Anybody have ideas of how to troubleshoot this? I can find zero information or wiring diagrams on line. Thanks in advance for any help.

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This is a mower that Lowe’s sells, so parts, parts and service information, and shops to get it repaired will be difficult to get. Additionally, being battery powered makes repair from shops even harder to find. One of the downsides to buying big box battery outdoor equipment. Since it is already not working, I would start taking it apart yourself if you have the time and inclination.

Isn't the battery revolution great...They sell it to you and then provide no info on it for repairs.

I did manage a place to email Kobalt about parts but I have yet to receive a resonance.And probably won't.

The site Lowe's sent me to Ordertree for after warranty parts answered the phone but I on hold awaiting the next rep to answer for over 30 minutes then I had to hang up to go to the doctor's office for a 1300 appointment.

Where is moderator??
It is important.
Thanks.

Esmeraldosvso said:

Where is moderator??
It is important.
Thanks.

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Contact ScrubCadet via PM I think he is one of the moderators.

Esmeraldosvso said:

Where is moderator??
It is important.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

The word "report" in green is the link to all of the moderators and the forum owners
While it is there essentially to report spam or posts that contravene forum rules , it is the short cut to all of the mods as any particular one could be off line, away on holidays etc .

StarTech said:

Isn't the battery revolution great...They sell it to you and then provide no info on it for repairs.

I did manage a place to email Kobalt about parts but I have yet to receive a resonance.And probably won't.

The site Lowe's sent me to Ordertree for after warranty parts answered the phone but I on hold awaiting the next rep to answer for over 30 minutes then I had to hang up to go to the doctor's office for a 1300 appointment.

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Short term vs long term when buying battery equipment:

I think although people are trying to think long term when buying battery products, ie: “going green”, saving the planet, less carbon footprint, less dependence on fossil fuels, they end up buying products based on short term real life implications.
1) Battery lasts say 3-4 years vs say 20 for gas
2) When the battery equipment needs service/repair, will a shop be willing and able to do so?
3) Specifically buying certain brands such as Kobalt, Ryobi, Amazon China products, will even be harder to find shops to repair equipment
4) Battery and equipment literally end up in the landfill, customer buys another cheap battery product, rinse and repeat.

As a shop, you have the choice to work on any, all, or nothing of the equipment that people would like repaired. Along with being more selective on gas equipment overall this year, I do not and will not work on any battery equipment that people would like repaired. Granted, I rarely get calls regarding battery equipment, but I would reckon it will increase as the years go by. So my point is this. If most small shops won’t work on battery equipment, and the big shops will only work on their brand (Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, Mariyama, Redmax), who is going to repair the millions of pieces of battery equipment that will be purchased as time goes on? Or will a lot of it, end up in the landfill?

First it not as much as not willing to work on the equipment as it is the lack info and parts. Personally I initially trained as electronics repairman but have train myself as necessary in other fields. As long as I can get info and parts I usually repair about anything that is out there.

It sorta like the electric air compressor I just repaired for a customer. I had to do mods to get the replacement parts that were available to repair it . Mainly the check valve had to be replaced but none out that was 1/2" npt with a 10mm flare connection. Ended up silver soldering a 7/16" id conversion line to get it to the 1/2" compression fitting. Yet the OEM does not sell any parts to repair the compressor.

As this new phase of our business is getting started it appears the OEM manufactures do not want us repairing the equipment. Especially the low end equipment. So basically it is more use it until it breaks down and then just toss and replace.

At one time it was repair, reuse, and recycle moto with replacing as a last resort. But now it use, toss in the landfill when broken, and replace. Otherwords we gone from the "RRR" to UTR.

StarTech said:

First it not as much as not willing to work on the equipment as it is the lack info and parts. Personally I initially trained as electronics repairman but have train myself as necessary in other fields. As long as I can get info and parts I usually repair about anything that is out there.

It sorta like the electric air compressor I just repaired for a customer. I had to do mods to get the replacement parts that were available to repair it . Mainly the check valve had to be replaced but none out that was 1/2" npt with a 10mm flare connection. Ended up silver soldering a 7/16" id conversion line to get it to the 1/2" compression fitting. Yet the OEM does not sell any parts to repair the compressor.

As this new phase of our business is getting started it appears the OEM manufactures do not want us repairing the equipment. Especially the low end equipment. So basically it is more use it until it breaks down and then just toss and replace.

At one time it was repair, reuse, and recycle moto with replacing as a last resort. But now it use, toss in the landfill when broken, and replace. Otherwords we gone from the "RRR" to UTR.

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StarTech said:

First it not as much as not willing to work on the equipment as it is the lack info and parts. Personally I initially trained as electronics repairman but have train myself as necessary in other fields. As long as I can get info and parts I usually repair about anything that is out there.

It sorta like the electric air compressor I just repaired for a customer. I had to do mods to get the replacement parts that were available to repair it . Mainly the check valve had to be replaced but none out that was 1/2" npt with a 10mm flare connection. Ended up silver soldering a 7/16" id conversion line to get it to the 1/2" compression fitting. Yet the OEM does not sell any parts to repair the compressor.

As this new phase of our business is getting started it appears the OEM manufactures do not want us repairing the equipment. Especially the low end equipment. So basically it is more use it until it breaks down and then just toss and replace.

At one time it was repair, reuse, and recycle moto with replacing as a last resort. But now it use, toss in the landfill when broken, and replace. Otherwords we gone from the "RRR" to UTR.

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StarTech-
I believe you are you are one of the shops that will voluntarily work on battery equipment. Let me put it more bluntly for me personally. I will not work on battery equipment, you could say as a form of protest, because I do not agree, like, or prefer battery vs gas.

Parts availability is one thing, and a very good point. However, another big choke point for battery equipment repair, is finding a shop to fix it. Good name brand stuff they sell, sure. Cheap Ryobi, Craftsman, Troy Bilt, Kobalt, etc. a big fat no, or slim pickings.

Well it better to get in on the ground while we still time to learn this equipment. Personally it not hard but I have been in electronics for 45 yrs so I understand electrical fairly well.

As I said the OEMs are not willing to put out the information we need to troubleshoot this equipment nor have IPLs so we can order parts. I got lucky on the Craftsman (Ryobi) drill as Craftsman did put out an IPL with PNs. Actually Gardner has the parts listed; although, for some reason they were not able to get the charger but I got it through Amazon using the provided PN. The thermal fuse was gotten through Mouser but I needing some for hair dryers already.

This has to change on the OEMs part or we be having a lot mad consumers as they shove this stuff down our throats.

Now here is a liitle more info on the Kobalt mower. It is manufactured by Greenworks for Kobalt (Lowes). Still no real info on the mower available.

StarTech said:

Now here is a liitle more info on the Kobalt mower. It is manufactured by Greenworks for Kobalt (Lowes). Still no real info on the mower available.

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The government and media and big corporations are the ones shoving battery vehicles, power equipment, etc. down our throats.
They aren’t going to shove anything down my throat. That is why I chose NOT to work on it. I don’t want to get in on the ground floor.

We have become a disposable society. We are not resourceful and give up way too easily on repairs in general from a toaster to a clothes dryer. Or a battery blower to a battery zero turn. So all the “greenies” thinking they are saving the planet can eat some crow as they chuck the $500 self-propelled battery mower in the trash because the parts are not available and/or unable to find a shop to fix.

I had a 2 year old Kobalt, same mower type similar problem. They have a 3 year warranty. I contacted the local store and they replaced it with a new, in the box, updated model. No receipt, no questions asked. Don't mention where\how you got this unit. They didn't ask for that info.

There are numerous safety switches in these electric mowers. I would look at the switch that engages when the handle is fully extended and locked. There may be a switch that prevents the blade from turning if a catcher bag is not in place or the discharge plate is locked down.
Spit

FWIW I have no insurance if I touch an electric mower.
Same story with generators
I can fix the engine part but not the electrics because I am not an electrician
Now I do not know how I would go with a blade change resulting in a claim but I for one tell electric mower customers to take it back to where they got it from.

As an aside, I have noticed that the EV bubble has burst with every EV maker scaling back and some actually shutting down the EV production lines.
With any luck the same will happen with E-Mowers
I have nothing against E-anything except when it is sold using lies and of course I hate those lithium batteries which are dirty than a kerosene tractor

One thing I have found out with the electrics, you don't clean the deck undersides with a hose as done with a gas unit. The person that gave me mine, had quickly power washed the underside and let it sit for over a week before using. It ran for about 10 mins and died.