Common Battery Charging System Problems
A key, which includes an electrical charging system with a battery and alternator for the small engine, can cause problems when used to start your lawnmower, snow blower, or outdoor power equipment.
Is Your Lawn Mower or Small Engine Battery Dead?
If your lawn mower battery isn’t fully charged after 8 hours, replace it; if problems persist, use a multimeter (service part number 19602) to see if your battery drains power when not in use. Warning: Improper use of the battery and charger can cause an explosion and burn hazard.
How to Check Alternator on Your Small Engine
Alternators keep the battery charged while the small engine is running; if the lights dim, the alternator may be broken; if so, follow these instructions on how to test alternators.
Attach a Multi-meter to Your Engine
The color of the wires that extend beneath the blower housing and connect to the stator will tell you whether it’s AC volts or DC amps.
Take the Multi-meter Voltage Reading
All tests should be performed with the engine running at 3600 RPM; if your results do not match the specifications, you will need to replace your alternator stator. WARNING: Before starting, operating, or servicing your engine, always read the engine and equipment manual(s).
Shop Related Maintenance Parts
Learn how to use, troubleshoot, and maintain your lawn mower, tractor, snow blower, and other lawn and garden equipment properly and safely, as well as learn about the latest Briggs products in our How-To Articles section.
How does a riding mower battery charge?
The battery is charged by magnets on the flywheel, which create current that is sent to the battery to store when the engine is running and the flywheel is spinning. If the engine is not running fast enough, the battery will not receive enough current to charge.
Why won’t my riding mower charge the battery?
Is Your Lawn Mower or Small Engine Battery Dead? If your lawn mower battery won’t hold a charge, connect it to the charger; if it isn’t fully charged within 8 hours, it’s dead, and you’ll need to replace it; if it holds the charge through testing, you might have an alternator problem.
Why does my tractor battery keep dying?
A loose connection makes a battery work harder, draining it of power faster. Cleaning the posts and tightening the connections should restore the battery’s ability to hold a charge. A larger problem is a cracked battery case.
How do I know if my riding mower is charging my battery?
When the engine is running, you should notice a noticeable increase in the overall voltage reading at the battery because starting and running the engine draws voltage from the battery, which the charging system compensates for by sending voltage back to the battery to charge it.
Does a riding lawn mower charge its own battery?
To keep the battery charged, most lawn tractors have one of two charging systems: a belt-driven alternator, which is typically mounted on the engine and continuously generates power to recharge the battery as the belt turns the alternator.
Can you recharge a dead lawn mower battery?
Maintaining a fully charged lawn mower battery can extend battery life for four to five years if you charge it for a few hours. If that doesn’t work, testing it with a multimeter will determine if the battery is dead or if another part of the electrical system is at fault.
How long do tractor batteries last?
A riding lawn mower’s battery should last about four years on average, and as it approaches the end of that lifespan, you’ll notice that the battery isn’t holding its charge as well as it once did.
How many volts should a lawn mower battery have?
Allow the charger to charge the battery for up to eight hours at 12 volts, which is the industry standard. Most lawn and garden devices have this voltage rating to keep consumers safe from any shock.
How long does it take to charge a mower battery?
A standard 10-amp charger takes about an hour to fully charge; this time decreases as the amp value decreases; for example, a five-amp charger takes about two hours to fully charge your lawn mower battery.
How do I find out what’s draining my tractor battery?
If the test light does not light or glow when touched to the ground battery post, there is no drain in your battery; if the test light does light or glow, you have detected a battery drain in your tractor.
Does a lawn mower need a battery to run?
Unfortunately, most riding lawnmowers require a battery to operate properly, and your lawnmower will not function properly unless your battery is in good working order.
Can you jumpstart a mower with a car?
You can jump your mower with your car battery or a portable jump-starter, but only if your mower has a 12-volt battery; if your mower has a 6-volt battery and you don’t have a 6-volt jump-starter, your options are to trickle-charge the battery or buy a new one.