OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions On Ride On Mowers Questions On Ride On Mowers Frames motor wont start after stalling on rocks

Hi there,I have a Husqvana lrh 130 which I stalled after geting stuck on some rocks around the house. There is power at the ignition, battery charged but not any sound of the motor turning. I've heard of the timing being out if a motor is stalled by an object, and also of a more serious problem with damage/breakage to the motor itself.
Hoping someone can help with this. I'm able to pull down motors etc, jus thoght a direction would help.
Many thanks, Michael

If there is no sound of the motor turning I would be looking toward making sure nothing is blocking the pulleys and belts.

If the engine is cranking over ok on the starter the flywheel key could have sheared off when you hit the rocks.

Cheers.

husky 130,

I would be checking your micro switches as one of the wires could have come off when you hit the rocks.

I have power to the ignition switch but get nothing on starting. If I hook up the starter motor direct to the battery it spins but the engine wont start. I understand if the motor wont start if the keyway is broken and the timing is out, but am having problems sorting out the power problem. The fuse is ok. You mentioned micro switches? are these the brake and seat switches?
Thanks

It sounds as if you need a wiring diagram for your mower. The brake and seat micro-switches are often not the only ones (there is often a fuel contamination sensor on the carburetor, for instance). Since it does not crank, there is a break in the starter solenoid circuit, most likely due to one of the micro-switches not closing. This could also activate the ignition kill circuit. In other words, there may not be anything wrong apart from a wire off a micro-switch, or a broken micro-switch, as Bruce said. To sort this out you need to either trace the switches on the wiring diagram, or find someone on this site who is extremely familiar with that wiring diagram and can guide you through it.

The usual switches for ride on mowers are seat, brake/clutch, carburettor water alert and the blade engage switch. All you need to do is look to find them which is not that hard. Once you have located them just over ride each on until you find the faulty one or if you have a meter just test each one.

Further to my problems I think it's time for some advanced diagnostics.
*fully charged battery
*power at ignition switch and at terminal with ignition switched on
* no power at seat micro switch or brake micro switch or blade engage switch
*motor will start and run if jumped started directly to starter motor and with earth lead (cut out earth lead) disconnected
*blades will engage and turn
*cannot drive either forward or reverse although main flywheel is turning.
*motor stalls if flywheel blocked - therefore key not broken

In summary,
- no electrics past ignition switch - is this damaged? why after stalling on rocks?
- is there a transmission problem as main crankshaft spins as does belt but no drive

Any help appreciated

Sounds like we need a wiring diagram.

I have one, but it doesnt explain why the microswitches may not be working. Also doesnt explain why the engine starts, goes, aminshaft spins but no motion.
I've considered the drive belt may have been stretched, but it must have been quite a stretch.
Going to bypass the ignition swith to see if starts, but still need motion

husky 130,

It could be the solenoid being faulty as to why it is not starting. Providing the ignition switch and the micro switches are ok.

I would be getting the motor starting properly before going into the forward reverse issue. As they say one step at a time.

Thanks for the ideas and help.
In relation to the no drive, stupid me had forgotten I had disengaged the drive via the rear when I pushed, dragged and cursed my way up from the bottom of the house paddock with the mower. Now it goes.
As for the electrics, Bruce I think your correct with the solenoid. I rang a mate who runs a mower repair shop and he said solenoid straight off. I have rechecked the switches but there is no power to them, which is confusing. Still have some doubts re the ignition switch.
Once again thanks

husky 130,

It sounds like you have a meter to check power but you don't need power for the switches just use ohm's to check if the switch is working by pressing the button on the switch in and out. If you don't get any reading then the switch is stuffed.

me again. It's getting bigger than Ben Hur.
I've replaced the solenoid, the starter switch. Replaced the fuse, checked the micro switches with an ohm meter and as Bruce mentioned got a change in resistance withem being closed and opened. I've checked for power on the down side of these switches and assume when they are working there should be power. The clutch and brake switches give me power when closed, but finding it hard to detect power on the seat switch despite it giving me resistance on the ohm meter.
I turn the key and nothing, not even a clicking at the solenoid.
Is it possible the solenoid was damaged, albeit new, when I started the mower directly via the starter motor?
How can I check if the solenoid is working?
Many thanks

G'day,
i highly doubt the solenoid would have been damaged when jump starting it unless you shouted it out somehow. the easiest way to test it is to locate the smaller of the 3 wires (generally comes from somewhere in the dash) jump that one to the live terminal (battery side) of the solenoid. if the solenoid 'clicks' and the engine spins it indicates that it is very unlikely to be the problem, unless its some sort of freak intermittent fault with it. when doing that test be very careful that there is no possibility that sparks generated could cause a fire or damage of any type.
i know it may seem fairly obvious but also take off all the lugs from the solenoid, battery and starter motor and wire brush them clean to make sure they are perfectly conductive.
see how these tests run
regards jay

Have you made any adjustments to the position of the micro switches because if the buttons don't get pushed in then they will not work (when try to start). The seat switch is only an earth which short out the motor when running.

I also agree with mowernut about the bad contact but I am still thinking micro switches are your issue because it appears that you are not getting power to the solenoid.