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I understand I can jump my riding lawnmower with my car, but should I attempt to start the mower in process?

The battery being under the seat, proximity to terminals, etc. made me leary of trying to start my mower while it's accepting the charge. Could be a dumb question, but I gotta ask...

10 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    It would not cause a problem except you probably have a safety switch that need to be in contact for starting. Most riders have this switch to keep you from getting off the mower while it is running. Find the switch and use a piece of wire to jumper it from the seat to the contact on the body. Or just use the car to charge the battery and then disconnect and start it. Most, but not all, mowers are 12 volt now. Make sure.

  • renpen
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    Let's shorten this up a bit. Yes it will work. Most if not all batteries are 12volt today. Make sure first. You don't have to be in the seat to start. The clutch/brake pedal must be depressed and locked. Don't touch the body of the mower with the cables.

    As stated a safer way is to charge the mower battery. Or replace it.

  • 1 decade ago

    Jump starting is not a good idea as a lot of small batteries may be 6 volt. At any rate starting the mower is not the way to solve the problem. You need to fix what prevents the mower from starting.

  • 1 decade ago

    Depends on the car and the mower, so I couldn't say.

    They both MUST be 12V systems!

    I have jumped off plenty of motorcycles this way. It will degrade the battery if done very often. Problem is a car provides the wrong current, so it will overpower the mower battery.

    Best thing is to pick up a cheap charger

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  • 1 decade ago

    As with the other answers - yes its acceptable - only IF both batteries are 12 volts.

    The other point brot up is the seat switch - now mine ( due to being all used and wiring pre hacked up) dont use them - cept some still use clutch/brake sensors - so youd need to press the clutch as well while trying to start it.

    To avoid too many issues- it might be easier to just charge the battery or purchase a new one ( id suggest a battery with over 300 CCA - cold cranking amps).

    Source(s): 12 years of tweeking my 15 lawntractors
  • 1 decade ago

    Generally the seat must come down on a hard surface, so it shouldn't bother the jumper cables. But in general you should make sure your jumper cables don't short to any body component. If you have someone doing this with you, you will be able to have them remove the cables after you start it.

    You can also defeat the sensor that requires you to be in the seat, and then start the mower without the seat being down.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I have jumped off my old mower many times, but hey a mower battery only run around 20 bucks. to be on that safe side just replace it kimosabe.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Used to own a landscaping company, we did it all the time, but you have to remember your going from a 12volt to a 6 volt? or other small battery, it can be bad, but I have never had a problem, just get the terminals off as soon as it is running. also if it just needs a little extra you do not have to crank car just hook up without it running and the extra juice can do it.

  • 1 decade ago

    LOL, sorry I was imagining you setting up a ramp and getting a running start and "jumping" your car with your riding lawn mower.

  • Dan S
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    Starting it would be fine just like a big truck starting a small car.

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