Rideon lawnmower won't start

kerdiff

Hi hi can anyone tell me why my ride on lawn mower won't start theres a new battery in and the spark plug is good.
Thanks.

Atlantic Dawn

Is it turning over when you try to start it?
Is there petrol?

mickdw

What's it doing.
Is the engine turning?
Have you fresh petrol in it?
Could be anything at this stage until you can say more.
Is this the first start since last summer?

kerdiff

I've put a brand new battery on it yesterday, but it turns slowly, I had it running a couple of weeks ago, could it be because of the cold temperature.

kerdiff

I took the spark plug out and held it to the engine and theres a great spark off it and the engine turns great with the plug out.

mickdw

Is the new battery suitably charged.
Sounds kinda weak.

nedkelly123

must be fuel then ... fuel pump ?

Interslice

kerdiff wrote: »

I've put a brand new battery on it yesterday, but it turns slowly, I had it running a couple of weeks ago, could it be because of the cold temperature.

Bad electrcal starter connection somewhere or it could be flooded. If you take out the plugs see if it turns faster as it squirts out the petrol flood.

Turbohymac

Jump start it from a vehicle with its engine running..new battery might need charging

Atlantic Dawn

So did you check the petrol or not?

kerdiff

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

So did you check the petrol or not?

Yeah checked the petrol all good, gonna see if I can recharge the battery and see what happens.

Asus1

kerdiff wrote: »

Yeah checked the petrol all good, gonna see if I can recharge the battery and see what happens.

Id put money on the solenoid.Get an insulated long nose pliers and touch both sides,you'll see a spark dont worry then turn key,it should start.Mine on my lawnmower is constantly going and when you buy a new one there is no guarantee it will last 6 days or 6 years.

kerdiff

Asus1 wrote: »

Id put money on the solenoid.Get an insulated long nose pliers and touch both sides,you'll see a spark dont worry then turn key,it should start.Mine on my lawnmower is constantly going and when you buy a new one there is no guarantee it will last 6 days or 6 years.

Will I touch both sides and turn key at the same time

Asus1

kerdiff wrote: »

Will I touch both sides and turn key at the same time

Sorry bit late but yes touch both then turn key no need to do both at the exact same but make sure pliers is touching both sides when turning key.

mickdw

But it's turning the engine as is.

kerdiff

Got it sorted, new solenoid, thanks for everyones help.

mickdw

kerdiff wrote: »

Got it sorted, new solenoid, thanks for everyones help.

I didnt know solenoid could fail in that manner. Interesting.

martyc5674

mickdw wrote: »

I didnt know solenoid could fail in that manner. Interesting.

If it’s not being used regularly corrosion/oxidisation on the contacts gets a chance to form - creating a high resistance, then you get a voltage drop across the solenoid, leaving less across the starter.
Shorting it as advised above bypasses this high resistance circuit sending all the power to the starter.

mickdw

martyc5674 wrote: »

If it’s not being used regularly corrosion/oxidisation on the contacts gets a chance to form - creating a high resistance, then you get a voltage drop across the solenoid, leaving less across the starter.
Shorting it as advised above bypasses this high resistance circuit sending all the power to the starter.

Makes perfect sense alright.

martyc5674

mickdw wrote: »

Makes perfect sense alright.

Yeah if your ever trouble shooting a starting issue such as this it’s worth checking the voltage drop across the individual battery leads and the solenoid UNDER LOAD. These circuits are low resistance by design to get full power onto the starter so it doesn’t take much to cause a voltage drop somewhere.

mickdw

Ya ive often cross the solenoid to get around an issue but ive not seen that slow turning due to solenoid.