Why won't my riding mower jump start from the battery?

[SAWYER]

I know my battery was dead, so I was going to jump it. It would not turn over or anything, but I connected my + cable directly to the starter and hooked the - to the - battery post and it would turn over.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

All I read was "why won't my riding mower jump?" and now I'm a bit disappointed.

 

[The Stig]

Don't most mowers have a kill switch if the seat is unloaded, so it wouldn't turn over unless that kill switch was turned off i.e. butt in the seat. Same with engaged blades? just a thought

 

[Modular]

Originally posted by: The Stig
Don't most mowers have a kill switch if the seat is unloaded, so it wouldn't turn over unless that kill switch was turned off i.e. butt in the seat. Same with engaged blades? just a thought

This

 

[Modelworks]

Bad battery.
Too weak so it drains anything you attach to it, not leaving enough for the mower.
Shorted plates inside battery.

Same thing happens to cars if you try to jump start them immediately after connecting the cables.
So you let the other car run for just a bit before turning the key on the car that has the weak battery.

 

[SAWYER]

What exactly does the starter sylinoid do?

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Bad battery.
Too weak so it drains anything you attach to it, not leaving enough for the mower.
Shorted plates inside battery.

Same thing happens to cars if you try to jump start them immediately after connecting the cables.
So you let the other car run for just a bit before turning the key on the car that has the weak battery.

This too. Had the same problem. You may need a new battery.