Troybilt mower

[Oslo in NC]

I have a TroyBilt, 18 hp, I've had it two years but the last few times it wouldn't start. A couple of grunts and nothing else. It is either the battery or the electrical system, or it isn't charging. I don't know why those batteries have all kinds of warnings in three languages, but they won't tell you if it is a 6 volt or a 12 volt battery. I finally looked it up on the companies home page. It is a 12 volt system. I have removed the battery and am now charging it at about 2 amps per hour. Warning was not to exceed 6 or 8 amps per hour. I don't think it will start, if it doesn't I'm going to take the battery to an automotive store and have them test it. If bad I will replace, If not I'm going to tinker and that isn't a good thing. Any ideas before I really mess it up. thanks in advance. Oslo

[johndeere]

See how many volts the battery has at full charge and then while running using a voltmeter.

[Oslo in NC]

I charged the battery overnight and I think there are 12.8 volts. I put the battery in the tractor and the motor acted as before, it would give a little chug, pause, then another little chug as thought the battery were dead. Could my problem be elsewhere? thanks oslo

[glenn27]

Oslo- clean all connections- from back of ign. switch to solenoid/starter....Then like previous post-ck. voltage-that thunk 'sounds' like starter either trying to engage (low voltage), or starter stuck...gud luck..give some more info and maybe we can shed some light...

[fallon416]

If it's the 17.5 HP Pony that you have check the speed control on the left side of the dash. Push the brake in all the way and reset it to the lowest position. Then try putting the choke on and starting. Once it catches put it to the run setting. I have found on numerous occasions that if I didn't put the speed control all the way down the tractor wouldn't start. Over the winter my battery went dead and after a few chugs it kicked right over.

The other thing that you didn't mention was if the tractor was used over the winter or even started over the winter. If the tractor hasn't been started for months then the battery is dead. They recommend starting the tractor once a week just to keep the battery charged.

One thing you can try is to take a set of booster cables and jump it from your car. If it starts up then you know that the problem is the battery and it just isn't holding a charge.

Neil