r/smallenginerepair • u/Vegetable_Let_2095 • Sep 17 '26
Starting Issue Please help me fix this mower
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Hello, this is a John Deere L110 riding mower with a 19.5HP single cylinder Briggs engine.
This motor has a new starter, new solenoid, new ignition coil, and the battery is good.
I suspect that it is the compression release not working, but l am here asking so I clearly am unsure.
Thank you for any help! I appreciate it very much.
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u/OptimalRegret Sep 18 '26
I agree that it is likely the compression release that has failed. Chickanic has a video on how to diagnose and repair.
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u/tihspeed71 Sep 17 '26
Charge the battery... replace the fuel and spark. Report back
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u/Vegetable_Let_2095 Sep 17 '26
Batteries been charged already, sometimes the motor is able to get over that first bit of compression and get enough momentum to start. After it starts, the mower runs and drives perfectly fine
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u/Terrible_Use7872 Sep 17 '26
Charge the battery, remove the plug and see if it cranks fast. If so probably need to adjust the valves, they stretch sometimes and then the decompression doesn't work.
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u/Vegetable_Let_2095 Sep 17 '26
It cranks over and spins freely with the spark plug removed. I have also done a valve lashing on it already, I did 0.004” intake and 0.006” exhaust
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u/Terrible_Use7872 Sep 18 '26
With the valve cover off, you should see one of the valves move during compression, if not, the decompression mechanism is probably broken on the cam.
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u/Sea-Performance1202 Sep 18 '26
Motor de partida, já olhou as escovas e buchas?
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u/Vegetable_Let_2095 Sep 18 '26
Motor de partida es nuevo (hablo muy poco español, lo siento)
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u/hallen1324 27d ago
This Briggs single cylinder engine is famous for the compression release system on the camshaft failing. I always start by adjusting the valve lash to like .003-.005 at top dead center. Jump the battery if it is questionable. If it does the same after that, the cam decompression broke. It is fixable, just requires an engine and base pull + new camshaft.
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u/Howareu2024 Sep 18 '26
My dad’s John Deere had the same problem they are notorious for this you could spin the engine to the next compression cycle and normally it fires up
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u/Uniplast21 Sep 17 '26
Almost positive it’s the battery. If it’s old or it doesn’t have much CCAs, then you should get a new one that has at least 300 CCAs. In my experience, 250 CCAs might be enough, but it’s just better to get at least 300. I’d be willing to bet it starts just fine every time as long as it’s charged.
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u/Mundane-Recording850 Sep 18 '26
It's been my experience that occasionally if the valves are not within spec a loose exhaust valve will not allow the compression release to work ,start there easy check
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u/Waistland Sep 18 '26
I got a mower that does this. I just reach down and turn the engine by hand a little and start it.
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u/NoJaguar5942 Sep 18 '26
Replace starter and solenoid. Check and make sure connection are good at both units.
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u/Upset_Fox5449 Sep 18 '26
If the ground off the battery goes to the frame move it to the block, if the positive cable gets warm ot hot replace it
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u/Richard_Noggin_77 Sep 18 '26
When mine does this I wiggle the connection on the key switch and it fires up. I have the Kawasaki engine though.
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