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.
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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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
My Poulan Pro mower will not turn over, nothing. I replaced the battery; fuse is good. How do I test the starter?
By Roger
Try spraying WD-40 in the carburetor. It worked for me. Hope this helps.
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.
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.Here are a few things you can check:
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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?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.
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
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.
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
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.
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