I purchased a battery through Sears for my riding mower. It was shipped to me without acid/water in the six chambers. There were no instructions for filling either. I can purchase the acid at an auto parts store, but how much do I put in the battery? Do I fill it with acid or combine a certain amount of acid and distilled water?
Before attempting to do either one of these it is necessary to make sure the battery was intended to be shipped this way. if it was there should be instructions for filling the battery correctly. if not then you need to contact Sears and get the information from them before attempting to do this yourself. If you can't find this information take the battery to an auto parts store and get the help you need to fill it correctly. If you don't fill it correctly this can void the warranty of the battery.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a Craftsman riding mower. Every time I use it after about 15 minutes of cutting, it cuts off. It drains the battery which I then have to recharge. I have replaced the battery, ignition switch, had the starter rebuilt, solenoid switch replaced, and seat wiring. Any suggestions?
By NS
Check the part called "Protection Wire Loop". This nothing more than a diode that allows the stator (from your starter unless your model has a full blown alternator) to send one half of the a/c electrical signal (IE: just the positive part of the the alternating current (a/c) sign-wave) back to the battery to charge it. It's a simple way for getting "dc" voltage from an ac source and therefore recharging the battery. IF the diode is bad the battery can't be recharged.
Look at a wiring diagram for your mower and it will probably be labeled something like "Charging System Output." It may even state the rating - IE: 3 Amp @ 3600 RPM.
It's a cheap (maybe as little as 10 cents) part at Radio Shack or order one online for a few bucks. It's an easy cheap thing to check for a fix. My diode had a part number of 1N5404. Hope that helps. Good luck.
In my previous answer I thought they were using the stator from the starter. This is incorrect. The stator is part of the overhead flywheel assy. However, the diode issue is still likely the problem. The diode on my mower was located in the wire harness on the right side at the back of the engine. Trace the wire coming from under the left side of the flywheel around the back of the engine. Begin to open the wire harness just before it joins into the main harness.
I apologize for the misinformation. I'm surprised ThriftyFun does not allow for editing ones own post. Hope that corrected information helps someone.
I believe I have a ranchero by MTD, it won't hold a charge on the battery while it's running.
Hi NS, I believe you will find that your alternator is not keeping the battery charged as it discharges. For example, the electro-mechanical clutch used to engage the mowing blades consumes roughly 3 to 5 amps when engaged. As the battery voltage drops, there isn't enough electrical power to hold the electronic fuel shutoff solenoid. The solenoid will then close and block fuel from entering the engine. If you have headlights running with 1156 bulbs, which draw 28 watts x 2. To round it off, lets call it 60 watts. 60 divided buy 12 (volts) is roughly a 5 amp draw. A fully charged battery has the capacity of 12.67 (2.12 amps per cell) generally have a 25 amp hour rating. If the amperage draw causes the battery to under 10 volts, the fuel solenoid no longer has enough volts to keep it open after roughly 30 minutes or less when you factor in a 75 amp draw to start the engine.
To stop the battery from discharging when not in use install a toggle switch on the ground wire of the battery negative post and turn the switch off when mower is not in use
I've been having a problem with my riding mower. It's an older Craftsman DYT 4000 with a 18hp Briggs and Stratton engine model no 917.275640. I've tested the alternator and its putting out 28 ac volts and I also replaced the voltage regulator. Also I have two good batteries I switch back and forth between charging so I can use the mower. I'm lost on what else the problem could be. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.
Thanks.
If the alternator is good and you replaced the voltage regulator you need to now check and repalce the charging stator.
What about spark plugs? Maybe going out!
Never mind I figured it out! I was messing with the regulator that has a screw through the middle of it and it mounts to the plastic oil dipstick tube and added a ground to the regulator and ran the wire to the neg end of the battery and it fixed it. Thanks for your repsones
I replaced the battery on my Craftsman LT1000 mower and it worked just fine, but a week later the battery is dead. I turn the key to crank and it just clicks. What could be draining the battery so quickly?
On our tools that run off of battery power, we disconnect the battery after each use. It prevents this from happening as well as preventing possible conrousion damage to the tool.
This site provides tips on preserving battery life of mowers: knowhow.napaonline.com/
One advice that's good is to make sure the battery terminals are clean from residue - Corroded terminals can be messing up your battery. Also make sure that your battery does not require maintenance, such as checking water levels.
on the starter the cable has a nut then cable then another nut, that inner nut has a tendency to loosen, that will cause charging and starting problems
I have a MTD Pro 15.5 hp riding lawnmower that will not stay charged. The battery is new and once charged the mower will run until shut off and will then need to be re-charged. Any suggestions/comments?
By sdokis from Ontario
My John Deere does the same thing. So I bought a charger for 50 bucks at a auto supply store. Now a couple of hours before I mow the grass I hook up the charger.
Check the part called "Protection Wire Loop". This nothing more than a diode (P/N 1N5404) that allows the stator (unless your model has a full blown alternator) to send one half of the a/c electrical signal (IE: just the positive part of the the alternating current (a/c) sign-wave) back to the battery to charge it. It's a simple way for getting "dc" voltage from an ac source and therefore recharging the battery. IF the diode is bad the battery can't be recharged.
Look at a wiring diagram for your mower and it will probably be labeled something like "Charging System Output." It may even state the rating - IE: 3 Amp @ 3600 RPM.
The diode on my mower (Craftsman 16HP LT-1000) was located in the wire harness on the right side at the back of the engine. Trace the wire coming from under the left side of the flywheel around the back of the engine. Begin to open the wire harness just before it joins into the main harness. You will find the diode spliced into a wire. The diode starts the split so that one wire (the continuous one) runs the lights and the diode goes to recharging the battery. The diode will likely be broken and literally fall apart.
It's a cheap (maybe as little as 10 cents) if you can find someplace that has them. Or I ordered one online for a few bucks. It's an easy cheap thing to check for a fix. The diode used had a part number of 1N5404. Hope that helps someone. Good luck.
After you're done using your mower turn it off and raise the seat up and leave it up. Pop had the same problem until he tried that and it works.
I have a John Deere lawn tractor. The new batteries keep draining after three weeks. It is getting expensive. What could the problem be and how do I repair it?
I took it to the dealer and they said it ran fine. But after mowing twice the battery was drained.
It could be the alternator or voltage regulator.
Just like cars - the alternator could be bad. Or, the voltage regulator.
Did you run your tractor at mower at full throttle when cutting grass? The right RPM can keep your battery recharging.
Reference: homeguides.sfgate.com/
I started in full throttle then moved it down a bit.
Why won't my Murray riding lawn mower battery hold a charge?
You could have a faulty diode.
Check the connections on the solenoid to make sure they are clean and on there tight.
It may be too old. I just had to replace my lawn mower battery too. I may have gotten another season out of it but I left it in the mower all winter. I've since learned that you are supposed to take the battery inside for the winter.
I have a 16.5hp MTD riding mower and the battery keeps being drained. We purchased a new battery. As soon as we put it in we had to jump it off. Now it won't even jump off. This is only the second time we have tried to use it since the new battery was installed, 2 weeks ago!
By Michelle
1. I would have the battery checked to see if it indeed drained.
2. What kind of engine do you have.
Reason I ask is I have a John Deere L120 with a Briggs and Stratton engine and it would not start. I though it was the battery. I had it checked at a battery store and they told me it had a full charge. They told me there may be an open ground on the mower. I bought a new battery with more cranking power. I installed the new battery and not even a burp from the engine. I asked a JD dealer what could be the problem. He said the valves were out of adjustment. ( Two dealers have told me the same thing.) He explained I had a Briggs and Stratton engine and they have made junk engines for the past 10 years. He gave this bit of information for me to try. On the top of the engine is the air intake screen. With your hands move the screen in reverse or counter clockwise until you have resistance to the turning. Stop and try starting the mower. It worked for me. So every time I want to start the machine I have to counter turn the air screen untill I feel the resistance. Then it starts. As for the open ground,I checked all the connections as well as the safety connections and found nothing. Maybe this will be of some help for you.
My Craftsman mower battery is dead after 2 uses. Is this normal? I had to push mow my yard today with a dead $1900 machine in my garage.
I have seen other posts that indicate this is an ongoing problem.I don't know the answer but your experience is similar to mine. I also had a Craftsman riding lawn mower. I'd bought it used, at a real good price, after a lawnmower shop refurbished it. At least twice a year, the battery died. I would have to buy a new battery. A few times, the tire went flat and they'd have to put on a new one. I loved doing the lawn in less time and getting to ride my "mowing go kart" as I called it. But so many problems, and expenses, I ended up getting rid of it and buying a self-propelled mower. (Which I don't like at all!) This is my second riding mower to go kaput; the first one was a used Murray brand (sold by Walmart) and it was even worse! From what I can gather, none of them are real reliable.
If you bought it new, i would think the warranty is still valid. I would return it to the store.
I have a 1963 IH Cub Cadet original lawn tractor and I just recently replaced all the wires and the 12 volt battery. I don't use it that much, but when I want to go and start it, it won't even turn over the engine once. I have to put a car charger on it and wait like 5 minutes and then it turns over just fine. But if I take it off the charger and try to start it it just dies really quickly.
You have to check all the wires running from and to the battery to make sure they are good.
well I did replace them all but I can use a continuity tester on them and look at a wiring diagram. But could the battery just be shot?
Last year it was working perfectly. After the first lawn cut I turned the tractor off. On the next use it was dead. I noticed the black negative battery cable was all messed up and melted. I bought a new cable and battery and it fired right up, but after each use the battery is dead and needs charge. Any suggestions? I have no way to take it to a shop nor do I have the money. I am living on SSD. It's not the battery. Help! It is an old, but in good shape, Poulan Hyrodrive.
By Roger B
My John Deere Sabre riding lawn mower battery keeps dying? I have changed the starter and the solenoid, but the battery keeps dying between uses. How can I find out if there is some short or if there is a constant drain on the battery?
By David
I have a Poulan pro rider. Something is draining the battery. I replaced it twice and I still have to charge every time we mow.
By Julie from MO
I have a Murray riding mower. It has a brand new battery and solenoid, but I have to jump it off because the battery won't stay charged while running. How can I fix it?
By stephen from Memphis, TN
