I have a Craftsman rider with a 16 HP Briggs and Stratton that barely cranks. The solenoid was replaced late last summer and I jumped the terminals today to see if that was the issue and it still barely cranks.
The battery was a 12 month battery purchased last year so I took it in and replaced it with a fresh one and I still get the same, barely cranks if at all.
It will rotate one or two revolutions and then stop. The mower is about 8 years old. I can generally get it jump started with my car and then the engine runs fine and I can mow like normal. Just as long as I don't shut it off. Then same thing, will hardly crank if at all.
Any suggestions on where to start? When it was barely cranking I took the spark plug out and then it cranked fairly well for about 5 seconds and then started slowing way down right away.
It is sounds like the solenoid. That can be purchased at Advanced Auto ( yea, they carry this part for mowers ). Not very expensive.
You can also be sure that all your connections from the battery to the starter are clean. Disconnect the battery and one at a time unbolt each connection and use a wire brush to be sure. I had some corrosion on a car that I couldn't see one time. Replaced the starter and battery for no reason.
My husband read your post, and he said the starter might be drawing too much juice, and that the armature might be bad in the starter. Which means you might have to buy a new starter. He also said it could be that the alternator in the engine is not keeping the battery charged. Good luck!
We bought a new riding mower and it quit working after mowing with it a couple of times. Fortunately it was still under warranty and the repairman fixed it. The problem was water in the gas. Now we pour some gas into a clear bottle before pouring it into the mower.
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Request: 16 HP Briggs and Stratton Engine Won't Start
Archived on 05/07/2009
I have a 16 HP Briggs and Stratton engine that will not crank, on a Craftsman riding mower. The engine model number is 310707-0136-E1. When I turn the engine I don't even hear a click, but I think I hear something up by the choke on the carburetor. When I remove the fuse I don't hear this noise so I don't think it is the fuse.
I just replaced the battery and know it is good, because I accidentally touched the other terminal with the wrench when tightening and got sparking. Where do I start looking? Starter, solenoid, ignition switch? I thought I saw where someone said to remove the cover over the starter gear to make sure it is not jammed in the flywheel and not releasing. But I thought I would hear a clicking or something but I'm hearing nothing. Can you give me some suggestions, step by step starting with the easiest?
Dan S. from St. Louis
Feedback:
RE: 16 HP Briggs and Stratton Engine Won't Start
Check to make sure the seat is making a connection to the battery while sitting down. We have the same one and had that problem with grass and gunk on the top of the battery. (10/01/2008)
