Lawnmower Problem

01z71 · June 5, 2005

I have an older Murray 18.5 HP Briggs & Stratton riding mower. This mower has sat for a while but it has a new battery. When I try to strat it makes a click and then does nothing. After a minute or so of trying the positive battery cable starts smoking.

ANy ideas what to check or do. I think it had a new starter a few years ago. This is an old company mower that I'm just trying to see if I can get it to work.

Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks.

Tucson_02Silverado · June 5, 2005

There's bound to be a Briggs/Straton forum around.

At a base, it sounds like maybe the starter windings may have rusted apart and is just shorted drawing very high current burning the battery.

Other possibility could be that the piston is frozen and the starter can't torque it loose, again drawing high current from the battery. Does the starter get hot?

2500HD4X · June 6, 2005

1. Check all of your wiring for shorts/grounds. The "Click" you hear is probably the solenoid closing when you turn the key....engaging the starter, which will not work if it is shorted out or the engine is locked....But will still draw amps to where it is shorted.

2. Try and turn the flywheel on the engine by hand(wrench). If it has been sitting up it may have rusted the rings to the sleeve. If it does not turn fairly easily, thats probably it.

-Remove spark plug

-Spray oil/penetrating oil down into spark plug hole. Let it soak a while...

-Try turning it again by hand with some persuasion...

-If it breaks free, crank it with the starter and the plug out..... (WATCH the plug wire-no setting gas/oil mix from spark plug hole on fire ) to clear the cylinder.

-Reinstall plug

-See if it will crank up.

Briggs engines are pretty tough, hopefully it isn't too bad and will get turning for you; the starters are EXPENSIVE.....Hope thats not it. It would take a lot of corrosion (oxidation) for it to go bad. Usually its the flywheel gear on the starter that tears up first, not the starter. Let me know how it turns out.....Good luck.

01z71 · June 7, 2005

Thanks. I'm gonna give it a try this weekend. I'll let you know how everything goes when I work on it.

01z71 · June 12, 2005

OK I had a chance to work on the mower. I checked the wiring and it all seemed to be o.k.

Then, I took the plugs out (It has two one on each side) then I tried manually turned the shaft.

When I tried starting it tried to turn over a few times. I put the plugs back in (It shot the penetrating oil out) and it would try to start just not enough to get it to run.

I noticed the teeth on the starter were kind of stripped looking. I have started to take the engine apart and there is one huge bolt left to take out on top of the engine. Is it ok to take this bolt out? I want to try to spray everything down good because this mower sat outside for a while and it just sounds like something is rusted and making it hard to start.

I changed the oil in the mower just to make sure it has good oil.

Thanks for the help with this. Im enjoying having something to fix as a good weekend project.

2500HD4X · June 12, 2005

Huge bolt on the top of the engine? That sounds like the flywheel bolt. Should not hurt anything to take it out, but it will probably be tough to get the flywheel off. I am not sure if it has a taper on the crank/flywheel or not. It is a two cylinder 18.5hp? With two cylinders across from each other sounds like an old opposed twin. What model is it? Should be on the blower housing somewhere....If it is turning over you should be a good ways towards getting it to run. All you need now is fuel and fire. If it been sitting up make sure it has good gas and the carb is not all gunked up and make sure you are getting a spark. Good luck again...

01z71 · June 12, 2005

Thanks I'll check the gas it has been sitting for a while. It's a '98 model. The place where I work has had it sitting around outside. It didn't work so they bought a new one and this one kind of got forgotten about.

I brought it to my house and put it in the garage and have been trying to mess with it in spare time. I appreciate the help and keep you updated on it.

Freyguy · June 14, 2005

Doesn't really sound like this may be it, but after something sits for a while, normally pouring a small amount of gas in the carb will help free it up and get it started. I do it all the time on my outboards and lawnmowers and what not.

Also, if you keep cranking on it, make sure to keep that battery charged up.