QuestionI obtained a Sears 10 HP rear engine riding mower. Model # 536.270112 Engine I believe is a 10 HP Tecumseh Model # 143.011004.
Friend had not used it for awhile. I have two questions: First it wouldn't crank. Parts store said battery was good. Replaced the solenoid, started OK after install. After I did some clean up over a couple weeks and found the right mower deck and installed it, I charged the battery but it wouldn't start again. Using my battery charger it starts then runs fine. After I stop and try to start it right back up, it acts dead again. Is the battery in fact bad, or is there a charging system that is not working?
Second, twice while using it, it seems oil gets to the air filter (through the breather tube?) it then drips on the hot muffler and smokes like crazy. If I recall correctly it happened after I went up a slight incline in my yard.The last occasion I believe I ran out of gas right before it happened.
Any help would be appreciated.
AnswerSteve
From what you are saying you may have a defective battery even tho that's rare. to check the battery charging system get the mower running then remove the positive terminal and put a Volt meter on the battery positive terminal and the other tester lead to ground you should get at least 12.5 to 14 VDC.
Check your breather tube and the breather reed valve the reason it got to the air filter is the oil was dumped into the breather and the carburetor suck it in. That will foul a plug and cause hard starting. Also check the oil to see if any fuel got in the oil tank. If there is gas in there that will a different reason the have hard starting.If there is gas in the oil it is time to rebuild the carburetor.
