QuestionHello Eric. Since my husband died, I have had to become jack of all trades because of finances, so please do not laugh at my questions!!! I have an ancient Briggs and Stratton mower motor with brand new battery and starter, clean air filter, gas & oil drained during winter, fresh gas and oil added for use. A few days ago, I put in gas, and go to crank. A few putts and no real spins, so I checked the battery. Battery fine. I then suspected the starter. Dummy me bought a new one without testing the original one! Anyway, after new starter installation, the mower cranked up on the first turn of the key!!! I saw smoke, so I turned the machine off so I could investigate. Looked like smoke was coming from front under machine. The smoke cleared. I then tried to start machine again, the same thing is going on all over again with the putt putts and crank will not spin. I do not understand what could be going on.
AnswerI would start by having the battery checked at you local auto parts store to ensure it is properly working...we have had some batteries reverse polarity.
With the battery verified, clean the battery post terminals and cable ends with a wirebrush or sandpaper before reconnecting. Red wire to positive and black wire to negative.
See if the machine will start.
What is the engine model, type and code numbers? You will find the engine numbers on the engine. Also, what is the mower brand and model number. The mower information will be on a different sticker usually found under the seat or rear fenders.
The smoke may be a bad diode in the charging system. Do you have multermeter to test DC volts?
Make sure you did not pinch any wires if there are wires running behind the starter and make sure none of the red wires are touching any metal engine or mower parts.
Let me know what you find...check the wires carefully to make sure nothing it pinched.
Eric
