AboutEric A. Jones Expertise Lawnmower Repair . Certified Master Service Technician from B&S. Have 13 years experience on B&S, Lawn Chief, Weed Eater, Echo, Peerless, Wheel Horse, Snapper, Atlas, MTD, McCulloch, Homelite and many other numerous brands. Specialize in electrical repair.
Experience Born and raised in the midwest. Started tinkering with engines when I was about 14 on my Suzuki RM-80. I began lawn mower repair at a small hardware store. I knew absolutely nothing. I read lots of repair manuals and met an older fellow who taught me many lessons. I continued working on small engines through high school and paid my way through college working on mowers at the same hardware store. Decided to get away from the midwest and mower repair so I joined the Air Force. I repaired air traffic control electronic equipment and ended up in Hawaii where I got a part time job at Small Engine Clinic. I gained a lot of experience from the Small Engine Clinic and had a blast repairing small engines. I then took the Briggs and Stratton Master Service Technician test and earned my MST. I then traveled to Wisconsin where I attended the factory update training seminar and received formal training. I received a scholarship from the Air Force and am currently pursuing another degree.
Question I have an 18HP twin cylinder B&S engine on the mower. The engine barely turns over and will not start but there is no unusual load on the engine; it still turns just as easy by hand as it always has. It almost seems like it isn't getting juice but the battery and solenoid are fine. I tried my car battery (but my car was running so I guess you could say I tried my car alternator). I have even bypassed the solenoid with a direct connection to my car battery to the starter and it seemed to act the same way. I took the starter apart and inspected/cleaned the brushes etc. so they are fine but this didn't help. What else can go bad in the starter? Is the starter most likely the problem or could it be something else. For some time the mower would be hard to start but a little turn by hand before another try usually got it going.
Answer It could be a battery battery cable, connection or ground connection. I have fixed 99% of all starting problems by removeing and cleaning the battery connetcions; cable ends, ground connections and battery terminals.
The starter armature could be bad. You can use a DC shunt and measure the current draw and starter RPM or you can use a growler to check the windings. Most people do not have these tools but I rarely use them to troubleshoot and fix starting problems.
Man, taking that starter apart is a real pain. Have you done a specific gravity test on the battery cells or had it load tested?
Will the starter spin the engine rapidly with the spark plugs removed?
Let me know.
Eric
