Ride on mower problem......

[NDA]

My ride-on suddenly stopped today - very annoying having returned from hols and set today aside for mowage!

Was working perfectly, stopped it, and now won't start. Not battery, not petrol, not fuses. It's not even 'clicking' as sometimes happens if the battery's a bit low and needs a boost.

I reckon it's a sensor that's given up the ghost.

Most of the sensors look fine (black plastic spring-loaded plunger types) and they're looking fine cosmetically - reaching the end and start of their travel fine, so I think they're OK.

The one sensor I can't examine is the seat sensor - most probably the likely culprit. Can you jump wire these? Or how can you test them to see if they have failed?

Any thoughts welcome..... thanks!

[markjo]

Depends on the mower type, mine is a westwood and i have simply wired the loop to always be !. Its a simple change under the seat to just wire the two leads together before they get to the sensor...
I did it so the mower does not stop when i get off

[Condi]

Either cut the wire or loop it together, depending on which way the sensor works. Should be pretty easy to do, they're not complicated things.

[AstonZagato]

They need regular servicing. If you have not had it serviced, then it's your own fault.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[netherfield]

markjo said:

Depends on the mower type, mine is a westwood and i have simply wired the loop to always be !. Its a simple change under the seat to just wire the two leads together before they get to the sensor...
I did it so the mower does not stop when i get off

Same here,Countax,I defy anyone to be able to reverse a trailer without lifting their ass of the seat,that's when the engine cuts out.

[singlecoil]

netherfield said:

markjo said:

Depends on the mower type, mine is a westwood and i have simply wired the loop to always be !. Its a simple change under the seat to just wire the two leads together before they get to the sensor...
I did it so the mower does not stop when i get off

Same here,Countax,I defy anyone to be able to reverse a trailer without lifting their ass of the seat,that's when the engine cuts out.

Well, I stay in the seat when reversing, too lazy to lift off. Never been a problem. Maybe you are trying to see over the top of the trailer?

[NDA]

AstonZagato said:

They need regular servicing. If you have not had it serviced, then it's your own fault.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Fekoff.

I've established it's not the seat sensor. Checked every fuse, every sensor.... Just completely dead. No power getting to the starter motor.... Earth clean.

Got me foxed.

[chris1roll]

Ignition switch itself then?

Can you jump the terminals on the starter/solenoid? (Use a piece of wood with a nail in it).

[AstonZagato]

I think I had this once. It was some piece of electrical kit in the engine bay. It needed you to hotwire the thing to get it going. Might go to the garage. You on facetime at the moment?

[AstonZagato]

chris1roll said:

Ignition switch itself then?

Can you jump the terminals on the starter/solenoid? (Use a piece of wood with a nail in it).

Exactly this. I used a very thick screwdriver to short the terminals. Scary but it gets it going.

[NDA]

Sorry, have been off line.

I'm going to try wiring out the sensors - there's no actual power going to the starter motor, so I'm not sure jumping it would work.

[AstonZagato]

The thingumy fires the starter up. A black cylinder half the size of an aerosol - two big wires going to it. short the contact and the starter turns (and lots of sparks.

[NDA]

If I die of a heart attack it'll be your fault.

Edited to add:

Sooo, I'm going to connect the positive wire from the starter motor to the earth? Is that what I should be doing?

I await replies as I've never shorted something before and I'm not entirely clear.

Thanks

Edited by NDA on Monday 15th August 15:01

[AstonZagato]

No you only need to short it for a few seconds. Enough for the starter motor to turn over the engine and for the engine to run (as long as you'd hold the key). No wires to disconnect.

Once you establish that its the capacitor, then you need to fit a new one (that was impossible without a manual as I couldn't work out how to get the old one out.

[NDA]

Fixed.....

Turned out to be a dry joint 'twixt battery and ignition.

I feel like some kind of crazy gliding agricultural engineering God.

[lewis s]

Talking of ride on mowers, just seen this whilst browsing

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?...

[roofer]

lewis s said:

Talking of ride on mowers, just seen this whilst browsing

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?...

Quality !