QuestionI have a '89 dixon ztr with a briggs 12 hp key start. Once I get the starter to turn the engine, it usually starts up after about 5-10 turns and runs fine until I stop the engine. Then, it will not start again unless I jump the battery (it's new). I have had to replace the nylon gear several times, but I think I have that situation taken care of. I know that today the gear is not being torn up. But it will not turn the engine even once, even when i jump the engine with my truck. I noticed that there is a wire coming from underneath the flywheel that I believe runs to the solenoid that has something that looks like a diode in the middle of the wire. The wire is loose and bare near the connections to the diode (if that is what it is.) Could this be keeping the battery from charging, and could this be draining the power from the starter?
AnswerWith a good starter, and a good fully charged battery, you would have
enough battery charge power to start that engine many, many times,
unless you were running lights or an electric pto clutch, so if you suspect the alternator as draining the battery, then unplug it from your system and see. If the battery is new, take it back to where
you bought it, and ask them to test it, they will either fully charge it, or give you another new one, just tell them you just bought it, and don't add too much else.......
Then come back and hook up the new/fresh battery, unplug the
alt. wire, and try to crank and start the engine, if it doesn't
crank and start right up without the aid of anything else, then you
have other problems.
Also, replacing the starter gear with the cheap aftermarket ones
never lasts too long, make sure if you replace it again, that the shop is selling you an actual Briggs and Stratton one, believe me
there. I usually go with aftermarket stuff, but those aftermarket gears don't hold up at all.
To check out your charging system, a voltmeter would be nice to have, so check these things out and let me know what you find.
Fish
