How To Test Your Ride On Mowers Starter

Is your ride on mower experiencing problems when you try to start it up? If the starter (which is responsible for spinning the flywheel and, therefore, starting the engine) has gone bad, it is very likely that you will be experiencing these sorts of problems. Before you put your mower in for a repair, however, you might like to test the starter yourself.

Step 1: Lift up the hood and locate both the battery and the starter. Then, find the electrical posts where the wires are attached to both of these components; the red wire is ‘hot’ and the black wire is 'ground'.

Step 2: Using a stiff bristled brush, give these posts a good wipe down to remove any dirt and debris that has gathered (very common with a mower). Clean posts will ensure that a solid electrical connection is formed.

Step 3: Put on a pair of rubber gloves and find a pair of jumper cables. Attach one end of the black cable to the black wire (or negative post) on the battery. Attach the other end to any metal part of the mower.

Step 4: Attach one end of the red cable to the red wire (or positive post) of the battery. Then, touch the other end of the cable to the red (or positive side) of the starter. It will turn over if it is working.

If your ride on mower does start, you can rest assured that the starter is in good working condition and that the problem exists somewhere else. If the starter doesn't turn over, however, this means it has gone bad and will need to be replaced if you want to continue using your mower.