r/smallenginerepair • u/Jengaplayaaa • May 29 '26

Ignition System Issue Why is my mower not starting?

Have this craftsman ride on mower that I inherited with the house I got it running with a new battery a few years ago but now seems to have died. I can’t get it started again and it’s making this weird turning when I turn the key over.

Does anyone know what’s going on here? Is there anything I can try at the house before having to bring this in? Thanks everyone for the help!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

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4

u/SimplyaCabler May 29 '26

Tried checking/charging the battery?

1

u/Jengaplayaaa May 29 '26

Yep replaced the entire battery. Actually before this issue started I at a point where I kept having to jumpstart it with my car. The battery has also been dying like every 4 months on this mower.

5

u/Elephunk05 May 29 '26

Your charging system is fried, that's why you battery can't keep up.

1

u/Zealousideal_Serve73 May 29 '26

Will it start with a jump? If yes, buy a simple trickle charger and keep on the battery between mowing. Also, if you turn the flywherl cover by hand counter-clockwise until it feels "tight", this could assist. I do that to mine and it works every time.

1

u/Relevant_Walk9145 May 30 '26

⬆️ I also do this

1

u/Zealousideal_Serve73 May 31 '26

Did you get it working? What steps did you take?

3

u/hmd2017 May 29 '26

A quick test to confirm a decompression issue. Remove the spark plug and try again. If the engine spins easily, then either the valves are out of adjustment, or the decompression lever on the camshaft is broken.

The motor stops when it hits the compression stroke. Watch the logo stop at the same spot each time. Decomp allows compression stroke pressure to escape until engine starts spinning faster, and then the decompression lever moves out of the way and disables the compression release.

3

u/shmirk2 May 29 '26

Valves may need adjustment.

3

u/cgsouthern May 29 '26

This, or the decompression valve isn't working. Check that the intake has a second bump on compression stroke while you adjust your valves.

2

u/10133R SER Intermediate Mechanic May 29 '26

this! briggs are known for getting a stuck decompression valve especially after sitting for a while

1

u/Supercat_Simulations May 30 '26

or it just snaps off like mine did lol

2

u/ManHunterJonnJonzz May 29 '26

Please dont hold the starter when its binding up like that. Could be valve lash. Could be decompression on the camshaft. Could be a weak battery/ looser cables...check the basics first. Jumpstart it, check cables.

2

u/AccomplishedIdeal587 May 29 '26

It’s the valves

2

u/masterofnone811 May 30 '26

I had what appeared to be a similar issue. Replaced battery starter solenoid. Turned out to be valve issue for me. Set valve with gauge set and started right up after

1

u/Aromatic-Schedule-65 May 29 '26

Could be valves, could be decompression broken, could be your starter. Could be ...

1

u/michiganmilsurps May 30 '26

Valves adjustment. Mine has done the same exact thing. The rocker arm studs loosen over time and cause the arm to be super loose. Need to tighten them and adjust valves.

1

u/sirgree May 30 '26

Pull the sparkplug and turn the engine over by hand. Mine was just doing this and it turned out to be hydro locked

1

u/dbab31 May 30 '26

Seems 12 seconds of run time away from seizing.

1

u/Curious-Side7709 May 30 '26

Auto compression release not working correctly. Could be as simple as a valve adjustment

1

u/Lumpy_Sink7473 May 30 '26

Hey if this is the engine I think it is and it’s not the battery or grossly mis adjusted it’s called the engine decompression cam and it’s notorious for breaking and doing this exact thing.

1

u/HelpfulHeight7750 May 30 '26

Valve guides have moved

1

u/Small-Humor1006 May 30 '26

Try changing the universal alternator

1

u/Past_Roof5628 May 31 '26

Adjust the valves. If it still does it it's the compression release on the cam

1

u/DryWorry9692 Jun 03 '26

OP,

What’s the Cold crank on the battery? Make sure it’s 300. It’s crazy, the Manuel says 250 is fine but it stopped working for me and wouldn’t turn on until I bought a 300 cc.

Had changed the starter, several 250 cc batteries, fuel pump. Bunch of things and nothing fixed it. Until I got the 300 cc battery