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The old John Deere Sabre riding mower is 13 years old and will not start?
I replaced the clutch switch and the starter and the battery is fully charged. The most it will crank over is about 1/4 turn and then stops and acts like the battery is dead. I checked the trouble shooting manual and everything is good. The only solution I could give my boss was not to waste $75 an hour in repair cost in the shop but to get a new mower. He agreed and will be getting a larger new riding mower. I still would like to know what it could have been wrong with the old mower because most likely my boss will give me the old mower as a gift to tinker with and sell.
Smokey da Bear was correct about the piston rings starting to stick. The penetrating oil set it free, thanks. I found out the hard way with this and my 3 chainsaws that ethanol gas goes bad in less than 2 weeks and if left in the equipment it will cause the engines to sieze up.
Honey was also correct about the battery having the right voltage but somehow still not producing current. As long as I had the booster cables hooked up from my running vehicle the mower would crank over. When I took the booster cables off and tried to start it it acted as if it was dead. Auto Zone checked the battery and it was bad even though it had the correct voltage. They sold me a higher cranking amp battery and it starts fine now. Thanks Honey.
My boss is happy because we don't have to buy a new $1500 mower. We just have to find a service station that still sells gas without ethanol in it or find an additive that we can use in the fuel.
The 13 year old Sabre John Deere is still running strong fo
10 Answers
- HoneyLv 79 years agoFavorite Answer
Sometimes a battery appears fully charged but fails to deliver sufficient current to do the job. Try using booster cables from a running vehicle and see if the engine turns over any better. If so, it's probably worth replacing the battery for about $25.00.
Of course, you have removed and thoroughly cleaned the battery terminals and the insides of the battery terminal clamps with a wire brush made for the purpose?
Next check the other end of both battery cables. A poor ground can produce the situation you describe. Also a corroded terminal connecting to the starter.
Since the engine turns over a little, it is not seized but make sure the oil and filter are at least reasonably clean.
Not likely, but if the switch or solonoid that controls the blade is shorted so the blade is engaged while you're trying to start, that could also prevent the engine from turning over freely.
It's clearly a fixable problem -- and 13 years is not terribly old for a JD lawn tractor unless it is used commercially every day.
- Anonymous6 years ago
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RE:
The old John Deere Sabre riding mower is 13 years old and will not start?
I replaced the clutch switch and the starter and the battery is fully charged. The most it will crank over is about 1/4 turn and then stops and acts like the battery is dead. I checked the trouble shooting manual and everything is good. The only solution I could give my boss was not to waste $75 an...
Source(s): john deere sabre riding mower 13 years start: https://tr.im/5hla1 - renpenLv 79 years ago
You don't say what engine is in the mower but some of those small engines like Briggs and Stratton use a compression release assembly that is made to reduce the compression while cranking the engine to start it. It is part of the cam shaft and keeps the exhaust valve open at cranking speed. The fix is to adjust the valves. If the exhaust valve is too loose the release will not work and the engine will be hard to crank.
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- Smokey da BearLv 69 years ago
This too stupid, but I will just ask if the oil is full? Seeing as you have nothing to waste at this time, take the plug out and shoot a bunch of penetrating oil in the cylinder, put the plug back and give it a shot, you might have a ring that broke or popped out of the groove and is locked up. Maybe the penetrant will unlock it.
- 9 years ago
I'd start by checking all the wiring going to / from the ignition switch, starter and battery. Chances are you either have a short or the old wires have gotten some corrosion in them and need to be replaced.
- Anonymous5 years ago
The first thing you should do is check, or bypass, that key switch. Intermittent contact inside the switch will cause the the starter to start on and off as you describe.
- Anonymous9 years ago
Is this a "Sabre" model with a Briggs and Stratton engine?
If it is, pull the engine (it's toast now after 13 years) and replace with another used motor in the same hp range. I did, motor for 50 bucks and away it went.
- Anonymous5 years ago
Don't believe that this is correct
- Anonymous5 years ago
Was about to submit this question too this morning
