Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): John Deere STX-38, electric clutch, stx 38 john deere

Question
John Deere STX-38 mower with a Kohler Engine(ModelCV13S) Serial #2526313162
My lawn mower battery will not hold it's charge. I have changed the battery twice. The battery terminals are clean and I run the mower at full throttle. I can jump start the mower or recharge the battery and the mower will start. However in about a weeks time the mower battery will not hold it's charge. I have to jump start it or charge the battery. What may be wrong.

Answer
IT sounds like you have a definite short in your system that is draining the battery when it is shut off.

This can be frustrating to isolate, it is usually the stator which is under the flywheel that is the culprit I find, but here are a few things to check..

Charge the battery fully

Make sure the tractor key switch is in the OFF position


Disconnect the GROUND (black) cable of the battery.  Do you see sparks?  If so we now know that there is a definite drain on the battery.

Reconnect the battery and systematically start disconnecting wires until you no longer have sparks at the battery.. you need to isolate the problem..

Example.. pull the wires off the carb solenoid and then again remove the ground..still got sparks.. this wasn't the problem... reconnect and move onto another connection..ie the electric clutch... etc...