Yesterday I had a summons from son to come over with my test meter as
his lawn tractor wouldnt start (I should point out I know zero about
them having never owned one) Any way as far as I could tell battery was
good with 12v reaching various parts but it was making no attempt to
turn over, then suddenly it did then ran for about 40 seconds then died.
What are the most obvious things to check out?
Charlie Pridham <charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk> wrote:
Yesterday I had a summons from son to come over with my test meter as
his lawn tractor wouldnt start (I should point out I know zero about
them having never owned one) Any way as far as I could tell battery was
good with 12v reaching various parts but it was making no attempt to
turn over, then suddenly it did then ran for about 40 seconds then died.
What are the most obvious things to check out?
Is there a 'kill switch' under the seat which prevents it being started without a driver (or stops it if the driver is thrown off).? If so,
check for corroded connectors or a faulty switch.
Charlie Pridham <charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk> wrote:
Yesterday I had a summons from son to come over with my test meter as
his lawn tractor wouldnt start (I should point out I know zero about
them having never owned one) Any way as far as I could tell battery was good with 12v reaching various parts but it was making no attempt to
turn over, then suddenly it did then ran for about 40 seconds then died. What are the most obvious things to check out?
Is there a 'kill switch' under the seat which prevents it being started without a driver (or stops it if the driver is thrown off).? If so,
check for corroded connectors or a faulty switch.
Charlie Pridham <charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk> wrote:
Yesterday I had a summons from son to come over with my test meter as
his lawn tractor wouldnt start (I should point out I know zero about
them having never owned one) Any way as far as I could tell battery was
good with 12v reaching various parts but it was making no attempt to
turn over, then suddenly it did then ran for about 40 seconds then died.
What are the most obvious things to check out?
Is there a 'kill switch' under the seat which prevents it being started without a driver (or stops it if the driver is thrown off).? If so,
check for corroded connectors or a faulty switch.
Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
Charlie Pridham <charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk> wrote:Yes, I too would guess at some sort of electrical interlock switch that
Yesterday I had a summons from son to come over with my test meter as
his lawn tractor wouldnt start (I should point out I know zero about
them having never owned one) Any way as far as I could tell battery was
good with 12v reaching various parts but it was making no attempt to
turn over, then suddenly it did then ran for about 40 seconds then died. >>> What are the most obvious things to check out?
Is there a 'kill switch' under the seat which prevents it being started
without a driver (or stops it if the driver is thrown off).? If so,
check for corroded connectors or a faulty switch.
isn't making/breaking as it should. There are often several of these
and it can drive you crazy trying to work out what you haven't done to
enable the thing to start. My Stiga has:-
* Seat switch - you have to be sitting in the seat to start
* Brake switch - the 'parking' brake has to be on for it to start
* Deck drive switch - the deck engagement solenoid must be turned off to start
I think that's it but there may be more! :-)
On 27/03/2026 10:59, Chris Green wrote:
Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
Charlie Pridham <charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk> wrote:Yes, I too would guess at some sort of electrical interlock switch that
Yesterday I had a summons from son to come over with my test meter as
his lawn tractor wouldnt start (I should point out I know zero about
them having never owned one) Any way as far as I could tell battery was >>>> good with 12v reaching various parts but it was making no attempt to
turn over, then suddenly it did then ran for about 40 seconds then
died.
What are the most obvious things to check out?
Is there a 'kill switch' under the seat which prevents it being started
without a driver (or stops it if the driver is thrown off).?-a If so,
check for corroded connectors or a faulty switch.
isn't making/breaking as it should. There are often several of these
and it can drive you crazy trying to work out what you haven't done to
enable the thing to start.-a My Stiga has:-
-a-a * Seat switch - you have to be sitting in the seat to start
-a-a * Brake switch - the 'parking' brake has to be on for it to start
-a-a * Deck drive switch - the deck engagement solenoid must be turned
off to start
I think that's it but there may be more! :-)
Sounds like everyone is pointing at the same thing, so thanks one and
all, I will report back if we manage to fix it!
On 27/03/2026 11:45, Charlie Pridham wrote:
On 27/03/2026 10:59, Chris Green wrote:
Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
Charlie Pridham <charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk> wrote:Yes, I too would guess at some sort of electrical interlock switch that
Yesterday I had a summons from son to come over with my test meter as >>>> his lawn tractor wouldnt start (I should point out I know zero about >>>> them having never owned one) Any way as far as I could tell battery was >>>> good with 12v reaching various parts but it was making no attempt to >>>> turn over, then suddenly it did then ran for about 40 seconds then
died.
What are the most obvious things to check out?
Is there a 'kill switch' under the seat which prevents it being started >>> without a driver (or stops it if the driver is thrown off).?-a If so,
check for corroded connectors or a faulty switch.
isn't making/breaking as it should. There are often several of these
and it can drive you crazy trying to work out what you haven't done to
enable the thing to start.-a My Stiga has:-
-a-a * Seat switch - you have to be sitting in the seat to start
-a-a * Brake switch - the 'parking' brake has to be on for it to start
-a-a * Deck drive switch - the deck engagement solenoid must be turned
off to start
I think that's it but there may be more! :-)
Sounds like everyone is pointing at the same thing, so thanks one and
all, I will report back if we manage to fix it!
On mine as above:
* Seat switch
* Brake switch
* Deck drive switch
ALSO
* The grass collector has to be in place
But the obvious engine issue at this time of year is always stale fuel
to be flushed out and replaced.
TimW <timw@nomailta.co.uk> wrote:
On 27/03/2026 11:45, Charlie Pridham wrote:
On 27/03/2026 10:59, Chris Green wrote:
Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
Charlie Pridham <charlie@roselandhouse.co.uk> wrote:Yes, I too would guess at some sort of electrical interlock switch that >>>> isn't making/breaking as it should. There are often several of these
Yesterday I had a summons from son to come over with my test meter as >>>>>> his lawn tractor wouldnt start (I should point out I know zero about >>>>>> them having never owned one) Any way as far as I could tell battery was >>>>>> good with 12v reaching various parts but it was making no attempt to >>>>>> turn over, then suddenly it did then ran for about 40 seconds then >>>>>> died.
What are the most obvious things to check out?
Is there a 'kill switch' under the seat which prevents it being started >>>>> without a driver (or stops it if the driver is thrown off).?|e-a If so, >>>>> check for corroded connectors or a faulty switch.
and it can drive you crazy trying to work out what you haven't done to >>>> enable the thing to start.|e-a My Stiga has:-
|e-a|e-a * Seat switch - you have to be sitting in the seat to start
|e-a|e-a * Brake switch - the 'parking' brake has to be on for it to start >>>> |e-a|e-a * Deck drive switch - the deck engagement solenoid must be turned >>>> off to start
I think that's it but there may be more! :-)
Sounds like everyone is pointing at the same thing, so thanks one and
all, I will report back if we manage to fix it!
On mine as above:
* Seat switch
* Brake switch
* Deck drive switch
ALSO
* The grass collector has to be in place
But the obvious engine issue at this time of year is always stale fuel
to be flushed out and replaced.
If it is old enough to have a contact breaker, that can develop a film
of corrosion across the surfaces of the 'points', especially if it is
stored in a damp place over Winter. (I know: I spent an hour trying to
start my Allen Scythe last week.)
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