wrote in message
...
On Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:31:16 -0400, wrote:
Right now, it is some 4 hours later - the battery reads 12.3V and the
mower starts, but with its usual reluctance.
It sounds to me like the engine turns over tougher than it should, or
the starter is inefficient for some reason.
Hmmm I wonder if a new starter would improve things. No idea what
that'll cost.
Thanks for suggestion.
Duke
I have a riding mower (Wards Signature 2000) that may have the same engine.
It always pauses when I first try to start it then gets going and then turns
the engine OK. Mine has a fairly new battery. I always recharge my
batteries (on everything) occasionally, some more frequently than others. I
use a 40 amp Smart Charger and periodically run the Desulfate cycle and
Equalize cycle. On my mower I had a situation where it would not start
(overheated or something) and the battery was ran down after only about six
attempts at starting it. My conclusion is that the battery is too small. I
have cleaned/checked/replaced all of the connections on mine (got mine used,
for free). I have not yet pulled the heads and decarbonized the
pistons/heads or taken apart the starter and checked the brushes and slip
rings but it probably should be done. My spark plugs do not look carbonized
so I suspect there is not very much carbon build-up plus unleaded gasoline
supposedly will not cause as much carbon problems as old leaded gas used to.
Your voltages sounds good and it sounds like it's charging when it's
running. Do you have an ammeter on your dash? Mine is not real great but
at least it indicates that it's charging and not discharging.
I have another riding mower with a Tecumseh 12.5 HP engine and I installed a
car battery instead of the little Lawn and Garden battery but I had the room
to do it. Now I can sit there with the headlights on with the engine off
and have no worries. Plus it adds some weight to the rear tires and helps
increase traction.