Mend > Lawn Mowers

20A Fuse blows when mower engaged?

Hi
I have a Craftsman Riding Mower, model 917.274632. I made the error of reversing the cables when I jumped the battery to start it this year.
Once I realized the error and fixed the connection, the engine started. The engine however stopped as soon as I engaged the mower and I couldn't start it again.
I read some forums and found the 20A Fuse blown. I replaced it and repeated the above steps and the Fuse blew again.
I then disconnected the Clutch cable and repeated the same and the Fuse still blew. I didn't know how to move forward from her. Please help

Thanks

Bakiya
May 2013

Craftsman Garden Tools, Lawn Mowers Craftsman Riding Model

Your battery reversal undoubtedly destroyed an electrical component so that it now presents a dead short and the dead short is causing the fuse to blow.

I know nothing of mowers particularly but would suspect that you would do well to examine the battery charging circuit - particularly any over voltage protection Zenner diode or SCRs in the circuit. There are some electronic components that do not like reverse polarity.

Good luck...

Peccavi
May 2013