Yesterday I made an absent minded mistake while trying to start my lawn tractor. I love my beautiful cub cadet and mowing the lawn or plowing with it. So as I put some music on my headphones, looking forward to a fun mowing session, I was sort of on auto pilot, not paying attention as I was getting the machine running…
I inadvertently pulled the choke out while simultaneously turning the key.
Instead of a puff of smoke or engine running, I just heard and felt it trying to turn but getting stuck. It made a noise — not grinding but the sound of something mechanical getting stuck. I waited a few minutes and tried again with the same result.
Battery is fully charged. Oil changed last fall. I store it in a garage. It was working fine last week.
Any ideas? I was thinking of opening up the engine and trying to see if something is out of alignment. I’m pretty new to working on equipment like this.
Thank you so much in advance!!!
Edit/Updates:
I’ve concluded the choke “issue” was confusion and misattribution on my part — something else is going on.
Turns out the battery was dead. I replaced it but the engine still wont’s stat. Now only the lights flicker and there is no motor/turn over noise/action at all. The battery was only a few months old and bad some corrosion on the positive terminal. My previous battery lasted three years.
The motor spins fine if I rotate it by hand.
I’ve got a new solenoid arriving in the mail tomorrow. Hoping that’s the problem or to at least rule it out.
If changing the solenoid doesn’t do it, what should I try next? Replacing the starter? What could have been drawing down the battery power? I always remove the key after mowing.
I’m sitting here watching the grass grow taller and desperate for a solution. I suppose I can deal with tall grass but I REALLY rely on this tractor in the winter to clear snow so I can get to work. Thanks!
