Poor or no crank when starting

[ssaiers]

Hello,
I have a Troy Bilt lawn tractor with a 17.5 OHV Briggs Stratton engine. First start of the day (doesn't matter if it is morning or afternoon) it is very very hard to turn over. I have checked the basics like battery, spark plug, airfilter for clogs. When I turn the key it wants to turn over but instead the cylinder may move a half stroke then it stops. If I hold the key on the starter gets so hot it will smoke where the main hot wire connects. I put my car starter on it to see if it would make a difference and it did nothing. Someone told me that it could be cylinder pressure????? Can this be adjusted if there is such a thing? I am at the conclusion thus far that it is the starter. Can someone please pin point this problem for me.

 

[noma]

Ssaiers Hi


I would try taking the spark plugs out and see if it turn over with the starter, this is going to see if it's a engine or the starter problem? If it turns over with the spark plugs out with no compression on the engine then its the engine. And if it still will not turn over then it might be your starter could be your brushes or short in there or something else in your starter. Could be something with the flywheel and starter gear. If it still doesn't turn over then i think i would take the starter off the engine and see if it works by it self. Test it on the ground with jumper cables and battery hold starter to the ground with your foot but be careful and don't get hurt.:licking:

 

[SeniorCitizen]

Hello,
I have a Troy Bilt lawn tractor with a 17.5 OHV Briggs Stratton engine. First start of the day (doesn't matter if it is morning or afternoon) it is very very hard to turn over. I have checked the basics like battery, spark plug, airfilter for clogs. When I turn the key it wants to turn over but instead the cylinder may move a half stroke then it stops. If I hold the key on the starter gets so hot it will smoke where the main hot wire connects. I put my car starter on it to see if it would make a difference and it did nothing. Someone told me that it could be cylinder pressure????? Can this be adjusted if there is such a thing? I am at the conclusion thus far that it is the starter. Can someone please pin point this problem for me.

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Your 17.5 OHV Briggs engine is a classic example of one needing the valves adjusted. If you were to put an amp meter on the wire to the starter you would see the amp draw to be in the 300 amp range. Adjust the valves so the compression relief works correctly and that number will drop from 300 to around 100 amps.

I'm doubting you put your car starter on your lawn tractor so I'm assuming you added your car battery to the mix with jumper cables. The tractor starter was designed for about 100 amps cranking and not 300 so you adding a long line of batteries would be of no value.