Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I've replaced the starter, the solenoid, changed the oil, spark plug, and filter. But it still just clicks when I turn the key over.
There is a safety switch under the seat that prevents the mower from starting unless someone is sitting on it. It may be disabled. Disconnect it and re-connect it.
I was mowing a yard and then my mower was running great and then it shut off and the only thing it does now is just crank. It won't turn over or fire up and then if it does turn over it only runs for a couple of seconds and then shuts off and won't start up again.
Something is clogged. Check the fuel lines and the carburetor.
My mower won't start. It turns over, but will only start with starting fluid. I have replaced the carb, battery, spark plug, fuel pump, and fuel filter. I cleaned the fuel lines from filter to gas tank.
The new carb came with a new carb solenoid. I drained the oil and replaced the oil filter. What else can I do?Check the main fuse and make sure it is good
The starter on my John Deere works hooked straight to a battery, both terminals. I mounted the starter on the engine and ran a hot wire straight to the starter and it doesn't turn. What could it be?
When cranking my John Deere 445, it will click maybe 3 or sometimes 12 times before it will crank. Any idea what it may be? I replaced the solenoid and cleaned the battery cables and still clicks.
The switch is located under the seat. Maybe you need to replace it.
Check the battery itself, it might need a full charge up or replacement
I have a John Deere 100 series lawn tractor. I started it up after a long period of inactivity. It only ran for a while, backfired loudly, shut off, and won't start again.
What could be wrong?You have a problem with your carburetor. You have left fuel in your engine too long. You will need to clean the carburetor and the gunk inside the carburetor.
Make sure the fuel lines are clear.
I have a John Deere 212 Kohler 12hp mower. I put a new switch, coil, points, and plugs and it still won't start. What can be the problem?
By Gerald
First question is have you made sure there are no nests (wasps, mice etc.) in the machinery. I ask because this happened to a friend and when she was rid of the hornet nest, all was well!
Second line of defense is to contact their customer services line/web contact. They can give you some troubleshooting info and let you know if there was a recall on it that you missed (which is always MY stupid luck...but it is a free fix).
dealerlocator.deere.com/
If you are handy, there is a YouTube video that may help!
www.youtube.com/
Our John Deere 160 riding lawn mower won't turn over. We have a new battery, and my husband put in a new starter solenoid. When he turns on the key, it just clicks. He and his friend jumped it last week so we could mow, but that didn't even work this time. Any suggestions?
By Cindy R
I have a JD 120 with the same problem. This how the JD told me to start the machine. The valves are out of alignment so on top of the engine is a round screen that spins and cools the engine when it is running. Turn the screen counterclockwise until you feel resistance then start it. When I do this most of the time the machine will start.
Other times I have to turn the screen several times until resistance and other time I turn it clockwise. Either way it is a pain.Dealer told me the JD people use a cheap Briggs and Stratton engine and sell these units to the big box stores to be competitive with the other brands. Dealer told me I should have bought the 3000 series JD mowers. He also said he could fix the valves but I would be back next year with the same problem. Hope this helps.
I dd this and it worked, thank you
I have a John Deere L 120 that won't crank. I put a new battery in and can hear it trying to crank, but it doesn't. I removed the started and kept it wired; the starter spins.
How do I make sure the engine is not seized and is there another possible cause or a way to manually roll the engine over?It almost sounds like the fuel line is clogged or you can have an issue with your spark plugs. If you have left gas in the mower when it was stored you'll need to flush the engine and gas lines and start again.
If I jump the solenoid my 15hp John Deere it will start, but as soon as I take my foot off the brake it dies. It has a new solenoid on it. When I turn the key nothing happens.
Check the safety switch under the seat to make sure it is functioning correctly.
The plug electrical connector for my PTO on my John Deere lt190 came unplugged. I shut off the engine and when I reconnected the plug and got back on the machine it won't start.
I turn on the ignition and the dash lights come on, but nothing happens.There must be a short in the circuitry. You will need to take it in for servicing.
I have a 724 cc John Deere lawn mower that just cranks, but no fire to the engine. It has only 12.2 hours on it with new plugs, battery, air filter, fuel filter, and another part.
It just sits there and cranks. Can it be electrical? Thanks.I would check the carburetor and the fuel line.
I have a John Deere x320 lawn tractor. Normally it starts right up no matter what, but now it only makes a low click noise. It will not turn over at all. I checked the battery, already. I had just used it earlier that day, but when I went to start it there was just the low click.
Please any suggestions appreciated.
You might have a spark plug problem or a fuel problem. Here is a good troubleshooting guide. www.justanswer.com/
I have the LA 135, I have fire and fuel, but the engine won't start. I spray starting fluid and it starts, but then dies when fluid is gone.
You may have a clogged carburetor.
I have a ride on John Deere lawn tractor and had the mower on and went to move something, so I put the parking brake on, but left the mower on. When I got off it did the emergency shut down. So I got back on and went to start it and there was a loud pop, smoke, and now it will not start.
There is no clicking sound when I turn the key. Any ideas on what happened and/or how to fix it?I found a couple of links that may help:
First is John Deere support...www.deere.com/
The other 2 are more general FYI:
www.shopyourway.com/
www.justanswer.com/
I am a huge believer in YouTube videos to help. Just type your question in their search bar!
Good luck!!
I have a John Deere L100 riding mower. The battery is good. I had the solenoid checked by a John Deere service center. It checked good. I replaced 3 safety switches. I put a screwdriver on the big posts of the solenoid, starter motor will activate.
I turned the key and lights will come on, but nothing else. The fuse is also good. I checked the ignition switch on meter, it checked good. What else do I need to check?I have a John Deere riding mower lt133 that just doesn't seem to want to start. I replaced the battery and solenoid and I still don't get a sound when I turn the key. I have checked every connection twice.
I have checked all the fuses I could find. I am out of ideas. Does anyone have any ideas about what I should try next? Thanks for the time and help.There is a switch under the seat that prevents the motor from starting if no one is sitting on it. Make sure it is not broken or disabled.
I have a John Deere 100 series rider mower that won't start. It only clicks. The battery has been fully charged, there is no spark.
You could have issues with the carburetor, fuel lines or a number of other issues. It is best to follow a troubleshooting guide step by step to help you determine the exact problem with your mower. Here is the guide:
I have a 1979 John Deere 112 riding mower. It is not getting a spark. I tried changing the plug, but it still won't fire.
A few things to check on your mower.
I have a John Deere mower with a 19.5 Briggs that won't start. It is model 31P677. It is not getting any gas from carb. I replaced the carb gasket and needle valve, pulled apart and cleaned all ports, adjusted valves in 4 ex 6, and it still won't start.
Any ideas?It sounds like the little solenoid on the bottom of the carb.
I have a L118 John Deere/22hp twin V OHV riding mower that just gives me grief every time I sit on the danged thing. When I first turn the key the fly wheel takes off as normal, but before the engine actual starts in dies down to nothing. I replaced the battery, terminals are clean, new fuel, and fuel filter. Any suggestions on what is going on?
By Robin V.
Maybe it's the starter, fuel pump , these things can keep your engine from running smooth!
I am using a snow blade on the front of my riding lawn mower. It will not start. I checked the battery with a multimeter. It's fine and registers 12 volts. I have 2 new spark plugs which I rechecked the gap and it looks good. There is plenty of gas. I apply the choke and immediately smell gas so I assume that gas is getting in OK.
By Marc
My John Deere 400 won't start and doesn't make any noise or anything.
By Kristina
Test your solenoid
And check all safety switches
Take a look at this video for how to test the solenoid
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsvJMnpQBas
My John Deere 425 tractor has no power. The lights on the dash do not light and no power is present. I replaced the battery and terminals but still no power. What could the problem be?
By Jim from Allentown, PA
Why won't my tractor start? What is the spark plug gap for a John Deere L130?
By KCR from Pineville, KY
I have a John Deere LA120 with the same issues. The engine is a Briggs and Stratton with 43 hours of use. I use a Champion RC12YC gapped at .030 inches. The first year the machine started great but not so now. My machine also will not start by cranking.
So, I bought a battery booster at my local auto store to add cranking power. I also bought a new battery with more cranking power but neither helped very much. I called John Deere but they don't have a tech service. They just refer you to your local dealer for service.
I visited one dealer who told me the valves are out of alignment. I thought that was a lot of BS. I visited another dealer who told me the same story. He said valves need to be aligned but within a year you will have the same problem. He also said the engine for the LA series is a piece of junk. Briggs and Stratton hasn't made a good engine in 10 years. The LA series is a cheap machine that John Deere sells to the big box stores.
He would not take my machine in on a trade for the John Deere X series which he said was a much better machine. He did give me this advise to start the machine. Lift the hood and turn the intake screen counter clockwise until you feel resistance. It should start. I tried it and I was able to start the machine.
The last time I used the mower it would not start turning the screen counter-clock wise, so I turn it clock wise and it started. The screen is the big circular screen with all the slots in it that sits on top of the engine. When the engine is running the screen is also turning at engine speed. Hope this helps.
I have a John Deere La105 lawn tractor. When I turn the key it makes clicking sound, but will not turn over. I charged the battery, replaced the solenoid, and replaced the safety switch on brake/clutch rod. Last season you had to push the clutch/brake in to just the right spot in order to get it to crank. That is why I replaced the switch on clutch/brake thinking that would solve problem. It still clicks when I turn the key, but nothing happens. I unplugged the switch under seat, but still to no avail. Any other switches that need to be replaced?
By Jae W.
I took my mower out of the garage yesterday, it wouldn't start because the battery was down so I had to boost it. I started the mower and put it on slow idle to let the battery charge. I went about my business while the battery was charging and all of a sudden I heard this loud exhaust noise like the muffler had fallen off the mower.
I rushed to the mower and shut it off. I checked the exhaust and everything was fine. The problem is now it won't start and when I am trying to start it there sounds like there is an exhaust problem. This is a new mower I bought three years ago, 30 hrs on it.By Terry C
My John Deere Sabre 14.5 Briggs and Stratton won't start. I have put in a new starter and battery and now it just makes a buzzing noise. What do I replace now?
By Jarod
I have a John Deere 185 it cranks from the key. I have replaced the starter, the starter solenoid, the key switch, and sometimes it starts and sometimes it acts as if the battery is dead and then I reconnect and start.
By Frankie
My John Deere 300A won't start. I just put a new battery in it. It won't even turn over. There are no lights and no starting sound.
By JJ
My mower has no spark at the plug. I have replaced the coil and the plug.
By Ken
I have a 1975 John Deere riding mower, 200 series, it is getting gas on the muffler and won't start. It has spark.
By Shane
I have a John Deere 400 mower and I can't get the spark plugs to spark. It turns over good, but there is no spark. I tried everything, when I shut the key off it gives one spark.
By Brad G. from Hines Creek, AB
Kohler engine on my 15hp John Deere riding mower won't start. I have replaced the battery and have a new solenoid in it, but now all it does when I turn the key is make a slight whining noise. Any ideas on what it may be? Possible starter? Also, I have checked all connections. Thanks!
By DM
The starter motor gear will not engage the flywheel when the key is turned to the start position. The gear hits the bottom of the flywheel. The motor cannot turn because the battery voltage has not been applied to the starter motor via the solenoid because the flywheel limits the solenoid travel. Releasing the key drops the starter motor gear back down and the gear turns counterclockwise a very small amount. The starter motor needs to be "bumped" as many as 15 times before the starter motor gear will mesh into the flywheel starting the engine.
By Jerry J
I replaced my battery and it started right up today. Had it going for a good hour or two, then I shut it off. After about 20 minutes, I went to go turn it back on. All I got was a clicking noise, so I tried jump starting it (which worked with the old battery), but nothing happened. I really would like to not buy another brand new battery, do what do I do to make it turn over and work?
By Bekah G.
Can anyone please tell me why a starter would spin backward? It won't start. I checked the battery, wire, and starter. There was a blown a fuse. I replaced it and noticed the starter is spinning backward.
By goldpony
Is the oil supposed to smell like gas? Anyway, it doesn't start. It seems like it's not getting gas. I changed the gas filter and added new gas. It turns over good and sometimes fires over, but won't start?
By Steve from Ashtabula, OH
I replaced the battery and my mower still needs a jump after sitting for a week. It is a John Deere L100. What could this be?
By Brian
My John Deere won't start. It has a new plug, neutral switch key switch, battery, solenoidal, and I cleaned all grounds. When I hook up the battery, I have got lights, but when I turn the key nothing happens. What do I have hooked up wrong?
By Richard
We ran our recently tuned up LX175 John Deere rider out of gas now it won't start up. I changed the fuel filter, still no luck.
Does anyone have an idea how to fix?
By Woody
My John Deere mower won't start without a little gas poured into the carb. Any suggestions?
My mower won't start. The spark plug has weak fire with an orange spark and then sparks stop while engine tries to crank.
By John A.
My John Deere LA140 ride on keeps blowing a 20amp fuse when turning the ignition on.
By Bob
I have a John Deere that will not start. I purchased a new battery and it still will not start. It will start if I put jumper cables on it.
By carol from Rapids, MI
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
I have about a 3 year old John Deere model 115, with a 19 HP B and S engine. It started to lose power going up my hills and then died.
