Won’t turn over

[Cusser]

Finally got a chance to check it today.
12.5 at rest. 7.6 when trying to start. Does that mean battery getting bad?
jerry

Sure sounds like bad battery to me, if connections are all clean and tight. In the test above (battery voltage while trying to start), the minimum is 9.6 volts for automotive testing.

Question: did you try a jump start using cables from your automobile? If it cranks/starts then you've demonstrated by testing that your mower battery is bad.

 

[bertsmobile1]

Put a jumper ( booster to some ) from the battery - to a good ground close to the starter and measure again
If the drop is lower then clean or replace the ground cable
Do the same from battery + to the hot side of the solenoid
Same story.

If no difference both times then toss the battery.
I use LED lights in the workshop & power them from old mower batteries .

 

[jerrycmorrow]

Before I could do either I thought to recharge my battery and check electrical connections again.
when I was checking the ground cable from battery to ground I discovered it was loose at the frame end. I guess I quit tightening when it got hard to turn the screw when I cleaned the connection week or so ago. DUH!!!
Don’t know if that resolved my issues but will let you know after ive used it a while.
so I learned a lesson I have learned repeatedly. Try the simple things first.
good news is I have a new starter and solenoid along with a spare of each
DAMN. I’m getting too old for this
Thanks for all the help. Go forth and conquer

 

[jerrycmorrow]

Forgot to mention that I rechecked voltage at battery. 13.0 at rest; 10.7 while cranking.

 

[jerrycmorrow]

Same mower, different issue.

now that it starts it smokes like a coal plant except it’s white smoke. Runs really rough and won’t rev. The smoke coats everything close to the muffler with black oily substance. Then smelled the new oil and sure enough it smells gassy.
can that be because I didn’t turn fuel valve off after having fuel in the tank after last time it ran? tank was empty today so I had to add fuel before starting.
or, do I have a head gasket issue?
Why did I take this mower?