Toro MX5060 Difficult to start

[punkin77]

I have a Toro MX5060 zero turn mower (74641) mower, and ever since I got it, it has been reluctant to start. It has been well maintained, spark plug changed, fresh gas used. I need to trickle charge it very frequently to get it started. I was wondering whether anyone has had an experience like this. Could the battery need replacing after 2 years of light usage? Are there other things to check? It just seems strange, and was a concern from almost when we got it, which is why I didn't think it was the battery which was new then... I tried calling Toro and was referred to an authorized dealer - but you can't just put this in the trunk and drive over to them! Kawasaki simply referred questions to Toro. Ideas?

 

[BlazNT]

Do the simple free stuff first. Check the ground cable on both ends for good connection. I always remove ground wire from frame and usind sand paper remove the paint from the contact point. Then reconnect it and cover it with "liquid Electrical Tape". If that does not solve your problem then take battery to auto parts store for load testing. Let us know how it worked at that point. By the way most lawn mower batteries have a 90 day warranty.

 

[punkin77]

Do the simple free stuff first. Check the ground cable on both ends for good connection. I always remove ground wire from frame and usind sand paper remove the paint from the contact point. Then reconnect it and cover it with "liquid Electrical Tape". If that does not solve your problem then take battery to auto parts store for load testing. Let us know how it worked at that point. By the way most lawn mower batteries have a 90 day warranty.

Thanks - will look at those this weekend. It is so frustrating. And it has been from the beginning. The mower is great -- once it is running. Anyone else with ideas?

 

[Rivets]

Have you checked to see if the choke is closing fully. You don't tell us when you say hard starting. Do you mean engine spins freely but doesn't seem to catch? Do you mean engine turns over slowly? When it starts do you see alot of black smoke? Remember we are all over the world and we can't see, hear, or feel what you are dealing with. You need to paint us a better picture or you will get just guesses as replies.

 

[punkin77]

Have you checked to see if the choke is closing fully. You don't tell us when you say hard starting. Do you mean engine spins freely but doesn't seem to catch? Do you mean engine turns over slowly? When it starts do you see alot of black smoke? Remember we are all over the world and we can't see, hear, or feel what you are dealing with. You need to paint us a better picture or you will get just guesses as replies.

No smoke of any kind. I don;t know how to describe it except to compare it to all the classic old horror movies when you turn the key to start the car as the aliens are coming, and it goes aruh aruh aruh aruh trying to start but stops. So you do it again, urgently and same thing. Aliens almost here! And you do it again, and it sometimes just is able to reluctantly start. Or sometimes we have to jump start it.... Does that help?

I will check the choke.

 

[logan01]

Let's try this again. Does it sound like a weak battery/ starter condition or does it spin up very well yet remains difficult to start? If it's the second one, do you get an odor of gas? When you say it tries to start but stops, do you mean that the starter literally stops spinning and you have silence? If so, how long have you been holding the key, etc in the start position?

 

[punkin77]

Let's try this again. Does it sound like a weak battery/ starter condition or does it spin up very well yet remains difficult to start? If it's the second one, do you get an odor of gas? When you say it tries to start but stops, do you mean that the starter literally stops spinning and you have silence? If so, how long have you been holding the key, etc in the start position?

Odor of gas yes, and key on for like 5 seconds.

We tried it now with the choke half open and it started easily. But I don't know if it is a fluke or not. And the battery was on trickle charge before that for 6 or 7 hours.

 

[7394]

My Toro w/ Kaw engine needs very little choke, (Cold Start) I have throttle down on IDLE, Pull choke up for a 1/2 second when hitting the starter & it starts instantly.

Using any more choke makes it wanna crank much longer.

But it also sounds like your battery is not up to snuff. Check the 'resting voltage' after 24 hours off a charger (with volt meter), should read at least 12.5V

12.6V = 100%

 

[bertsmobile1]

Buy a pair of rocker cover gaskets then remove both rocker coves and check the valve lash.
Nearly all of the difficult to start cold but runs great once it gets going ends up being excessive valve lash.
By the content of your previous replies it sounds like it did not go in for it's initial in waranttee service when the good dealers check the valve lash like they are supposed to .
They are set at the factory but usually require an adjustmnt after the initial break in period.
The TORO dealers down here are all Big box franchises and do not bother to do this.
Last season 3 of my customers had valve problems because this was not done.
One of them ended up with a new engine and the other two brand new heads & pushrods.

Kawakasi recommend checking valv lash every 200 hours & I used to service these engines by the book.
Learned the lesson now so the first time I touch one I do a full 200 Hr service and each & every one needed the valve lash adjusted.
The World Lawn franchise agent is just as bad.
They both charge $ 60 to $ 100 each way for pick up and delivery and the contract driver gets $ 30 per mower flat so with that much profit on transport there can be no excuse for not doing the services properly.

 

[punkin77]

Buy a pair of rocker cover gaskets then remove both rocker coves and check the valve lash.
Nearly all of the difficult to start cold but runs great once it gets going ends up being excessive valve lash.
By the content of your previous replies it sounds like it did not go in for it's initial in waranttee service when the good dealers check the valve lash like they are supposed to .
They are set at the factory but usually require an adjustmnt after the initial break in period.
The TORO dealers down here are all Big box franchises and do not bother to do this.
Last season 3 of my customers had valve problems because this was not done.
One of them ended up with a new engine and the other two brand new heads & pushrods.

Kawakasi recommend checking valv lash every 200 hours & I used to service these engines by the book.
Learned the lesson now so the first time I touch one I do a full 200 Hr service and each & every one needed the valve lash adjusted.
The World Lawn franchise agent is just as bad.
They both charge $ 60 to $ 100 each way for pick up and delivery and the contract driver gets $ 30 per mower flat so with that much profit on transport there can be no excuse for not doing the services properly.

Thanks all for the wonderful suggestions, I really appreciate it. SO helpful!!!