Mend > Lawn Mowers

John Deere LT160 not start, battery is fully charged (100%). ?

My son was using the tractor and it was running fine. At one point when he went to restart the engine it would crank but not start. I jumped it and it started. Eventually it got to the point where it wouldn't crank and now it only clicks when I turn the ignition key and won't crank when I attempt to jump it. For whatever the reason, the (condenser?) at the bottom of the carburetor gets quite hot. The solenoid coming off the battery seems to have activity when the ignition key is turned, it feels as if it is operating...but when a volt meter was put on the solenoid it showed 12 volts going to the solenoid but zero volts exiting.

Thanks,

Rob

Rob Diehard Whaler Fan
April 2009

John Deere John Deere LT160 Garden Tools, Lawn Mowers John Deere Tractor

John,

Thank you very much for your advice to replace the starter solenoid. I changed it today (4/30/09) and it starts!!!

Thanks Again,

Rob Diehard Whaler Fan
April 2009

Replace the solenoid that controls the starter motor - I guess its internal contacts have burnt away. On the large terminals, you should get 12v in from the battery and 12v coming back out again, but its best to disconnect the starter for this test. The other solenoid on the bottom of the carb is a fuel shut off and it does get warm - but not so hot that you could fry chips on it!

John
April 2009