Need help figuring out why my mower won't start

[taxidermist]

Check your drive belt again and make sure its on right. Make sure you can turn the motor 360* by hand. If it cranked 1 time your started should be wired right. check all you connections to starter for tightness. If that does not work remove starter and jump it to see if it works off the motor.

Rob

 

[stang8689]

yeah it pops up and turns 1 tooth and thats it, any more ideas?

 

[crazyoldtractor]

Try turning the key so the mower will spark and put your jumper cables directly to the starter. Red to the screw on it and black to the chassis. If it cranks then you know its a wiring problem or there is something wrong with the solenoid. When you turn the key use a volt meter to make sure there is voltage on the little wire that goes the solenoid too.

 

[reynoldston]

It only had 1 wire going to it I remembered that for sure and yes I can turn it over by hand. I didn't remove anything to do with the cylinder heads including wires and stuff like that just bottom end like pullies and stuff

If you have only one wire going to the starter which should be a large wire you have a external starter solenoid. You can check this solenoid out with a volt meter. As you try to start it take a voltage reading on both large terminals and you should get close to the same reading on both of them. If you don't have a volt meter you can use a test light which might not work as well, the test light should be just as bright on each terminal as you try to start it. Also just recheck all your connections and make sure you don't have any loose ones or corroded ones.

 

[stang8689]

My dad came over last night with his volt meter and we checked everything out and it is getting the proper voltage to the starter. The battery is only 1 month old and is a briggs high cranking amp battery, I put it on slow charge over night to be sure and no help. Is it possible the starter is bad? Everythime I turn the key to start the starter gear pops up and turns the flywheel 1 tooth and thats it. It is not the battery for sure, I also cleaned the grounds and wires to the silinoed to be safe, any ideas? Starter maybe?

 

[stang8689]

anyone? Need help please, thanks

 

[stuckinnj]

Just a thought - is the drive belt (the one you replaced) locking up the engine when torque is applied? You stated that you could turn the engine over - was that by hand or using a pull starter? By hand is usually much slower and applies little torque through the engine. One other thought, remove the spark plug and try cranking over. The engine may be hydro locked - combustion chamber full of fuel.

At the end of the day, you need to confirm to your supporting audience if this is electrical or mechanical for anyone to offer technical support. MAybe a better description of the diagnostics you have already performed and how you did same.

 

[reddragon]

take the sparkplug out and crank it...see if that helps..then youll narrow it down