On Apr 3, 7:15*pm, panabiker wrote:
I have a TroyBilt (MTD made) riding mower and the battery is dead
after only 4 summers. I figured I used it no more than once a week for
no more than 25 weeks a year. If I start engine twice each time I cut
the lawn, that's 50 times a year and 200 times in 4 years. Compared to
a car, it's about 3 and a half months of worth of starter usage. My
question: which is the main cause of very short battery life?

Only 50 starts a year, and 6 months unattended is considered NEGLECT.

Batteries perform best when used frequently and kept fully charged.
That's why a car battery lasts so long. It never goes more than 24
hours without being charged back up. Your lawn mower sits 6 months.

If you want longer life, invest in a Deltran Battery Tender and keep
the mower plugged in during the 6 months you don't use it.