Craftsman riding mower starting problems...

Hello,

This is my first post here on these forums and I am looking for some advice.

I have a Craftsman riding mower Model #917.255581 with a B&S motor Model # 286707.

The problem is it does not start. I was simply giving my 2 yr old a ride around the yard and I then shut off the mower to let her off and it has'nt started since. I will turn the starter switch but I get nothing. No clicking noise or anything.

I am not the most handiest person in the world. I went to the Sears website to enter my information and I found a diagram of parts for my mower, but I don't know where or what part to buy.

Can someone guide me on the right path?

Thanks for any help at all.

 

The first thing to check is your battery. Make sure it has a charge and is not dead. Check the cables from the battery to where they connect make sure they both have clean and tight connections.
Located the fuse on your rider, remove it and check it to see if it is good and that the connections where it plugs in are clean. If the fuse is blown replace it with an automotive blade type 30 amp fuse.

If all of the above check out then there may be a problem with one of your safety interlock switches (on blade and clutch) or the starter solenoid or possibly even your ignition switch.

 

More times than not, you may have simply forgotten to disengage one of the controls. Double, even triple check that all the controls are in neutral postion.

 

One common switch I have found on your type of manual PTO lever sometimes will ride up from pressure on the switch. Hold the lever down while turning the key.
The return spring gets weak and can be replaced.

 

I will attempt your suggestions and I am very thankful.

Good day.

TigerFan

 

SAME PROBLEM; 1999 16.5 HP.
Ran 4 days ago. Now I have no spark. Dead. No starter.
Battery Good
Replaced Neurtal Safety Switch under seat
Replaced Selenoid
Replaced key switch

Made sure mower is disengaged.
Clutch/Brake Pushed and Locked "ON"

Sit on seat when trying to start

NO JOY

 

DaveFiehtner,

I went through much the same. After several hours of troubleshooting, I found that the in-line 20A blade fuse was mechanically intermittent. It looked good and checked good with my ohmmeter, but when I went back and checked the fuse while mechanically twisting it, it was intermittent. A new fuse fixed my problem, even though to all outward appearances I didn't need one.

Good luck!

Bernie Skoch
Arkansas

 

Dave, three areas of possible trouble: Battery-cable connections (six total); deck safety switch; And, clutch safety switch. Also, you mentioned "no spark", how do you know this? Since you need to spin the engine over to know this, are you assuming so or have you spun the engine over, by hand, and noted no spark?

Arkie, I doubt the fuse, itself, is to blame. The fuse holder is much more likely to be the culprit. Did you test the fuse or the wire on each side of the fuse?

 

"Arkie, I doubt the fuse, itself, is to blame. The fuse holder is much more likely to be the culprit. Did you test the fuse or the wire on each side of the fuse?"

Oh, it was SO the fuse. I pulled the fuse and ohmed it out. Short circuit under no stress, open when wiggled.

On close inspection, I can see corrosion on one side of it--inside the plastic fuse body itself--and it was affecting contact on one side. I can manipulate the fuse body and re-create the open circuit. I replaced it with a new fuse and all is well all the time.

The contacts on the fuse holder are nice and shiny, so it is good.

 

can anyone help, mine wont start due to no spark but if i pull the ground off of my coil it gets spark someone said it is the safety but not sure how to fix the safety can anybody help? is it the one under the seat or is there another one?

 

My craftman rider keeps stalling out. I replaced fuel filter. Still keeps stalling out after 10 minutes of cutting. Help!!

 

Some info would help. What engine is on it? Does it start back up immediately? What does it do when it stalls? There are probably a thousand reasons it could stall... we can narrow it right down with a little info.

 

I'm having the same problem as Demello.

Craftsman, 42" mower deck, about 6 years old, B&S engine.

Ran fine until about 3 months ago. Runs for 5 or 10 mins, cuts out, leave for 2 mins, starts, usually with a loud backfire, runs for 5 or 10 mins, repeat again and again.

I've changed the fuel filter, the air filter and tried seafoam yesterday, but it is still doing it.

Lots of great advice on here, thanks to those who take the time to reply.

JW

 

That's usually a restricted fuel flow to the carb or an ignition coil that's heating up and failing.

As soon as it dies check for spark. Ground a good plug and with the ignition on spin the engine over and look for a blue spark at the plug. It's easier in the dark or under a tarp - something to cut off the outside light.

If you have the spark you're half way there. The problem is in the fuel delivery = fuel pump (if you have one), lines from the tank, filter, or in the tank itself.

Just disconnect the fuel line from the tank to the first fitting you run across and let the gas run out for about an minute. If it doesn't flow freely work your way back toward the tank to get to the problem. It could have a plug vent in the cap or a collapsed line or a problem in the tank valve.

Post back with what you find.

 

I suspect the coil too, especially if it has an opposed twin cylinder briggs (what engine do you have?).

 

Thank you for the great suggestions.

It does seem to happen when it warms/heats up, so we'll try the coil first.

As for which type of engine? I'll have to go & check.

........................

Its a 17.5hp Briggs & Stratton

 

I have a Craftsman rideing mower with a 17.5hp, 500cc,OHV Intek that will not start. I ran out of gas. Added fresh gas, no start. Replaced air filter, gas line filter. Disconected gas line from carb. and gas flows freeley. Went to replace plug and saw cylinder was completly dry, this after several attempts to start, plug should have been wet. I wanted to remove bowl, but there is a long (1.5")silver cylinder with a plastic nut on the end at the bottom of the bowl. Can I find a diagram or something that will show & tell me how to clean this carb. out?

 

Clamp the fuel line shut to stop fuel flow, remove the silver cylinder (anti-backfire solenoid) from the bottom of the carb with a 1/2" wrench placed on the flats at the top of the solenoid right where it contacts the bowl. Drop the bowl and you will probably see water and/or trash in the bowl. Use automotive spray type carb cleaner to clean the bowl and the carburetor parts exposed by removing the bowl. Spray up through the post that the solenoid screws into. This is a basic minimal carb cleaning, but will likely be enough to get you going again. If not, a more detailed cleaning might be in order.

 

Thank's for the advice! I'll give it a try and let you know how it works out.

 

Cheese...While I was removeing the anti-backfire solenoid I got to thinking, how would this device work. Surely it must be connected to something electrical to work (this is rocket science thinking here). After removeing the solenoid, i looked at the bottom and saw a place for a plug in. I started searching for wires, found a loose one with a recpt. on the end. Screwed the solenoid back in, pluged the wire in (it will only go in one way) and she cranked right up! Makes sense to me. How it worked itself loose is not known, but we are ready to cut grass now. If you hadn't told me how to take off the solenoid, i never would have seen the electrical connection. Thanks, for the help.

 

I have a Craftsman Riding lawnmower, I was mowing the lawn and shut the mower off...jumped back on and turned the key to start the mower and nothing...... checked the battery no problem checked all the safety switches....all ok. I then decided to jump the starter solenoid and bang she fired right back up.
I finished the yard....and put the mower in the shed. I pulled the solenoid off and replaced it......thinking I nailed this one.... were good to go.....put the new one on and turned the key.....NOTHING... Does anyone have any other ideas here?

 

I have a Craftsman law tractor with B/S 19HP twin engine. I have to use starting fluid to get it going when cold but restarts all the time warm.

 

Sounds like the choke isn't closing all the way.

 

I was mowing yesterday and got stuck with the mower still running I tried to get the mower to move but it would not so I cut it off. After getting the mower out of the hole it would not start, this is a new Crafstman 17.5 BS only two months old and it will not start will do nothing.

 

Are the blades turned off?

 

bL...I moved your post to it's own thread here http://www.doityourself.com/forum/ou...-starting.html.

Adding on to a post originally from 2006 just causes confusion.

 

have same problem. what did you find was the fix?

 

I have a 2007 craftsman 18.5 hp b&s engine riding mower. When I engage the pto clutch the engine dies and the fuse blows. I have by-passed the switch and the clutch engages and the mower runs. Question # 1, what is the correct fuse amperage for this model? And question # 2, does anyone know what my problem may be with the engine dying and the fuse blowing?

 

Try this,,,,,take the saftey switch out of the seat and tape it closed, I have seen and had to fix a couple of these this way, but ended up putting new switch in seat because the mounting taps were broken off,,,not mounting correctly.

 

Please check for a mud dobber plug or a small spider in fuel cap vent.

 

Please check for a blown fuse.