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Poulan Pro Riding Mower Won't Start

June 4, 2016

I have a Poulan Pro riding lawn mower. I had it sitting for over a year and it work great before storage. I took it out of storage and it tried to fire-up, but it wouldn't. So, I cleaned the carburetor, changed the plug, and replaced the battery.

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Now it won't turn over at all. I get absolutely nothing when I turn the key. I checked the fuses and it has good gas in it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

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Anonymous
June 5, 20161 found this helpful
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A lawnmower mechanic showed me a little trick that has saved me many trips to the shop. He raised the "hood" on my mower and turned the engine by hand until it had passed the compression stroke, or top dead center. Just place your hands on either side of the screen and turn. If that doesn't work you might try removing the panel that covers the contact points and tap near them gently with something like a screwdriver handle. On my mower it was just below the steering wheel, near where my toes would be while mowing. Hope one of these will help.

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35 More Questions

Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.

March 11, 2012

I have a 42 inch Poulan Pro riding mower that won't even turn over. The battery is fully charged and I hear a click, but then nothing happens. It seems like the electric starter might be bad, but I'm not sure. Any suggestions?

By Terry F

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March 11, 20120 found this helpful
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I have a John Deere but I believe the engines in both units have Briggs and Stratton engines. I also have the same proplem. Two JD dealers told me the fault is the Briggs and Stratton engine. Seems the values get out of alignment very easily and have to be reset. But one dealer told me to turn the air vent on top of the engine several times.

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I did that and the engine started.

Sometimes I have to turn the vent in the opposite direction. It is a pain but the only way to start the engine unless I take it to the dealer. Over time you would have to take it to the dealer a lot to have the valves reset. It is not the battery. Hope this is of some help.

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March 13, 20120 found this helpful
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Maybe a better explanation of my situation will help. I bought a brand new John Deere LA120. After a few uses it would not start or I would get a click sound or it would just turn over once or twice then nothing. I thought it was the battery or an open ground causing the problem.

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A newer high amp battery may not change anything. I carefully checked out all the wiring. Nothing. I asked a dealer. He said it was the valves out of alignment. I thought he was crazy. I checked with a second dealer and he said the same thing. He said they could adjust the valves but I would be back next year with the same problem.

His suggestion was to rotate the air intake counter clockwise that sat on top of the engine until I felt resistance then it should start. I rotated the air intake as he suggested and could feel the resistance and hear the cylinders and valves moving. Then it started right up. So that is how I have to start the thing every time.

Sometimes I have to turn the air intake clockwise for it to start. The air cleaner is the screen disc that sits on top of the engine and rotates when the engine is running.

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May 24, 2013

My Poulan Pro mower will not turn over, nothing. I replaced the battery; fuse is good. How do I test the starter?

By Roger

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Bronze Tip Medal for All Time! 86 Tips
May 27, 20130 found this helpful
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Try spraying WD-40 in the carburetor. It worked for me. Hope this helps.

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January 2, 20150 found this helpful
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Try testing the solenoid heres a video on how to www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsvJMnpQBas

You might also have a faulty safety switch. Hope it helps.

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October 22, 2017

My Poulan Pro mower won't start. The solenoid and starter are fine. The fly wheel turns a couple times, but won't start. I took the plug out to check for the spark and the fly wheel turns fine.

I'm lost at what to do. Maybe it's the coil or carb? Anyone have any ideas? Thank you.

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Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
October 22, 20170 found this helpful
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Here are a few things you can check:

  1. Look under your seat to see if there is a safety switch. Many times this is off and needs to be reset. Plus on these types of mowers you need to be sitting on the seat to start them.
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  3. Did you happen to leave gas in the mower the last time you used it? If so, you more than likely have a sludge buildup in the gas tank.
  4. This sludge buildup will also be found in your carburetor.
  5. You will need to clean the gas tank and the carburetor to remove the sludge build up inside of them.
  6. Pull your spark plug and see if it's dirty. If it is then you'll need to replace this.
  7. Check your battery to make sure it's fully charged.
  8. You can try and bypass the spark plug and coil to see if you can jump start the motor.
  9. I would also suggest if none of these work for you and you're still having problems starting your mower you can watch a few YouTube videos to get a better idea or how to follow the instruction I've given you.
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October 2, 2017

I have a Poulan Pro that was given to me. I have used it to mow my lawn, but when I shut it off after cleaning it, it will not start, no click, no nothing. I have to charge the battery in order for it to start. I think it may be something electrical, but I have no meters to check for electrical problems. I have checked and the battery was not holding a charge and now I have to wait to get a new battery. Sorry if this is so long. I just can't check the electrical system to see what is the problem.


Thanks.

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
October 2, 20171 found this helpful
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There is a safety switch under the seat. It makes sure the mower doesnt run unless someone is sitting on it. If it is disabled or broken, the mower wont run even if someone is sitting on it. I would check that first.

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March 15, 2011

We have 2004 Poulan Pro 18.5 hp, 42 inch cut. I got it out to start the mowing and it won't start. The starter will engage, but will not crank. When we put the jump cable to the starter it spins. Does anyone have any ideas what my problem may be? I would greatly appreciate it. I'm 67, live on my little SS check and unemployment with no work in sight. Thanks a bunch.

By carla from Winnabow, NC

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March 27, 20110 found this helpful
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We were having trouble with our mower, turned out to be the gas, we put gas that had ethanol in it!
Drained the tank and put in new gas with no ethanol, works beautifully.

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March 19, 2016

I have a Poulan Pro riding lawn mower. It will turn over, but won't start. We checked the fuses and it has gas in it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.


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March 20, 20161 found this helpful
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I would suggest new spark plug and fresh gas. You could also take our the spark plug, spray some starter fluid in, put plug back in and try starting again.

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September 5, 2015

I have a Poulan PB195H42LT and I am unable to get it to turn over. There is no click or any other noise. The battery is fully charged and it was running good the previous day. I checked the user's manual and it suggested that it might be the fuse, but I have been unable to find it.

The manual said that it was located in the seat with the safety switch, but we took the seat completely off and we could not find it. Is there any other place that we might look? Also, if the seat safety switch is unplugged, will the mower start?

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September 9, 20150 found this helpful
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I found the answer to one of my questions. The fuse is located beneath the solenoid, clipped onto the frame. There is a red wire going into it and one coming out of it. Fuse is good and it still will not turn over.

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December 20, 2013

I have a Poulan Pro 18.5 hp rideon mower with a Briggs and Stratton engine. Petrol has leaked into the oil and the engine will not start.
What is the cause and how do I fix the problem?

By Noel

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May 5, 20140 found this helpful
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This happen a lot with all type of mowers best thing to do is put a shut off valve on your gas line coming from the gas tank.

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October 31, 2011

I replaced all necessary maintenance stuff on this mower, battery, filters, plugs, etc. and it still won't start. It cranks over ok but won't start. I fed fuel in carb and it will start and runs until fuel in carb runs out. Can anyone help me figure out why it won't start and run without feeding fuel into carb?

By Lou

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October 31, 20110 found this helpful
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Sounds like fuel starvation. There must be a fuel blockage some where between the gas tank and the carb. Could be anything from a kinked fuel line to blocked fuel line.

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June 17, 2012

My Poulan riding mower cranks, but won't start. It is a model #27147 with a 13.5 Briggs engine. It is an older mower that a neighbor gave me, but there is no manual.

By Brent

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