ZT54 mower battery keeps discharging

[Burkester]

Love this mower, but after getting it home, battery died after about two hours of use and mower just shut down. Charged it back up and it started fine but then discharged again. Contacted Tractor supply and they gave me a new battery. Same thing is happening. Keeps discharging the battery. All the connections are super tight. Anyone have ideas on the cause?

 

[ILENGINE]

Charging system not recharging the battery. Is this mower new or used. If new needs to go to the dealer for further diagnostics and repair. If used then post the engine model number information so we can give further directions on testing. Testing between engines is similar but have different procedures.

 

[Burkester]

Charging system not recharging the battery. Is this mower new or used. If new needs to go to the dealer for further diagnostics and repair. If used then post the engine model number information so we can give further directions on testing. Testing between engines is similar but have different procedures.

Thank you. It's new. Sounds like you feel it could be engine related. Is there a part that would need to be replaced?

 

[StarTech]

Really should electrical tests before just throwing parts at it.

ZT54 uses an electric PTO clutch. So besides the charging possible being down the electric could be partially shorted and drawing more current than the charging system can provide.

With electric clutch off verify if the charging system is even charging the battery. IF not it likely the voltage regulator is bad. IF charging then do a current draw test with the PTO clutch engaged. IT should drawing less than 7 amps with 3-5 amps being more normal. OR with the mower not running disconnect the PTO clutch and test with an ohms meter, it should 1.7 ohms or higher if not shorted.

 

[Burkester]

Discovered the battery was not being charged by the engine. My talented son found a loose molex connecting wire at the engine wire harness. Once this was properly inserted, the battery is now being charged under power as it should be. Problem solved and hope it helps. Someone didn't insert the molex connector deep enough into the wire harness or it got pushed back out when the engine wire harness was first put together.