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17hp BS starting problems HELP!!!

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Matthew

03-12-2003 05:03:31




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I bought this lawnmower about two years ago and the original battery finally got where it was no good. I went and bought a brand-new battery and put it in. Now, I saw no cranking amps written on the original battery. I bought a medium sized battery that has 275 CA. I thought that this would be plenty big. Well, it may not be. I am not sure exactly what the problem is. Here are the symptoms. When I first put the new battery in it worked normally the first two times that I tried to crank the mower. However, after that it would not turn the motor continuously. It would only turn very slowly and every second it would only turn once. This was happening to a brand new battery. I did two things. I exchanged the battery that I had just bought for a new one and took the starter and had it looked at. The starter is in perfect condition, but I am not positive about the batteries. I am not sure if I am getting bad batteries or there is a problem somewhere else. From what I am told, It could not be the solenoid because if that was the problem then it would not turn at all. Now I would appreciate any advice that any of you have because I am at the end of my rope and do not have any idea of what to do next. I appreciate your concern and help!!

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steve

03-22-2003 20:50:30




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 Re: 17hp BS starting problems HELP!!! in reply to Matthew, 03-12-2003 05:03:31  
i had a similar experience last year with a 17 hp b/s engine.... i eventually gave up and took it to the shop... they put in a new wiring harness and also changed a fuse... there is one fuse, blue 10amp?, that will stop the electrical show...i believe it goes to the solenoid...

good luck...



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don

03-20-2003 17:33:46




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 Re: 17hp BS starting problems HELP!!! in reply to Matthew, 03-12-2003 05:03:31  
When you hook up the battery cables (pos. cable first, then neg.) do you get a little spark when you touch the neg. cable to the battery post? You might have a bad diode, which is letting the battery backfeed through your alternator and drain the battery.



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Jim (WV)

03-12-2003 17:39:43




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 Re: 17hp BS starting problems HELP!!! in reply to Matthew, 03-12-2003 05:03:31  
Matthew, I had a 15HP briggs doing the exact same thing. I did all the things you did and out of frustration, sold the tractor and just got a new one. The guy that bought it told me a couple days ago, he found the problem and the tractor runs like a dream now. All it amounted to was the wire from the spark plug to the engine had been lying across the muffler shield and enough of the protective wrap covering the wire had gotten so hot it exposed a bare space in the wire and was causing a short. It would suck the new battery I had dry to the bone, and I would end up re-charging it and still having to jump start the thing to get it running. Thought it was a bad starter for awhile. Just something that simple overlooked. Check that out and Good luck.

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Matthew

03-13-2003 05:10:14




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 Re: Re: 17hp BS starting problems HELP!!! in reply to Jim (WV), 03-12-2003 17:39:43  
Sounds like a good possibility. In fact, I hope this is what is wrong with it. I will have to get a new wire if it is. I understand about the compression release at low RPM. The engine is pretty new, and I really do not feel that this is the problem. Maybe I have found the problem. If that's not it, I think I will just take it to the shop and maybe they will have seen this problem before. Anyway, Thanks for your help and wish me luck. I hope I have found the solution.

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Ben in KY

03-12-2003 08:40:56




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 Re: 17hp BS starting problems HELP!!! in reply to Matthew, 03-12-2003 05:03:31  
New batteries must be charged before use. They have a little charge in them, but not much.

Is the motor binding when moved by hand ?

I agree with the 'clean connections' replies. The starter may be bad after excluding the bad connections possibilities. Looking at one will not tell you the whole story, it might have a grounded/shorted winding that cannot be seen by eye.

My father in law gave me a 2 year old Lawn tractor battery he said was bad. I saw rust tracks on the terminals and decided hmmmm. Charged the battery/ cleaned the terminals and have been using it for a year in my Gravely 812 rider.

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Matthew

03-12-2003 13:48:02




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 Re: Re: 17hp BS starting problems HELP!!! in reply to Ben in KY, 03-12-2003 08:40:56  
It is difficult to turn it when on the compression stroke, but it will turn easily the rest of the time by hand.



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Sidney Moon Jr.

03-12-2003 17:40:18




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 Re: Re: Re: 17hp BS starting problems HELP!!! in reply to Matthew, 03-12-2003 13:48:02  
Has the valve clearance been checked. The compression release mechanism works off the camshaft and is automaticly activated at a low RPM. However its proper function depends on the lash adjustment on the valves. I have come across this problem a couple times.If the valve lash becomes to close because of wear, the compression release dosent work correctly causing the starter to come under extreme load on compression stroke. Will burn up starters, solonoids, and even small cables. Really taxes the battery when the starter stalls.

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Ollie

03-12-2003 08:11:39




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 Re: 17hp BS starting problems HELP!!! in reply to Matthew, 03-12-2003 05:03:31  
The battery is very easily tested. New ones are rarely bad, two bad ones in a row is not likely. Possibly the battery was not fully charged when it was installed. That will damage the alternator, preventing it from charging. The alternator is easily tested as well. But most likely you have a damaged/corroded wire or terminal. First step is to remove both wires, inspect them, clean the terminals and their connections at both ends with a Scotchbrite pad and rinse with warm water with a little baking soda in it. Then dry and replace.

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rick

03-12-2003 07:11:22




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 Re: 17hp BS starting problems HELP!!! in reply to Matthew, 03-12-2003 05:03:31  
Check all of the connections and make sure that they are clean. Then check and make sure it is charging.



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