New battery not charging?

16 years ago

Hello all, I have an older Jacobson lawn tractor. It works and mows beautifully but I have one problem. Every time I want to use it I need to put it on a battery charger for a while :/

The battery is brand new as I thought at first the old battery might be the problem.. After I charge it, it starts up just fine and runs/mows just fine. I can mow as long as I want as long as I don't shut the mower deck off.. If I shut the deck off it (the deck) won't get going again? The actual engine still runs fine unless I've been mowing a while, then the motor needs to be pull started. Then I put it on a charger for a little while and everything works fine..

Obviously the charging system isn't charging the battery. I'm no stranger to engine work, but the electrical side of things has me stumped.. Where should I even start to track down this problem?

Thanks for any help or advise :)

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Comments (4)

mownie
16 years ago
***"Where should I even start to track down this problem?"***
You have given a good description of the behavior of the machine, now you need to crawl around the engine and find the model number and type number if it is a Briggs & Stratton engine, or the model number will suffice if it is a Kohler engine. The brand and model/type numbers are needed to find online manuals so we can see what is needed for checking the charging system of the specific engine (they can vary in form).
User
16 years ago
The simple test for a charging system...

Charge the battery and install it.

Put a voltmeter across the + and - terminals of the battery

Should read higher than 12.7 volts

Start the tractor and run at wide open throttle.

If the voltmeter reads higher than 12.7 you are charging.

If the voltmeter reads the same as just reading the battery you are not charging.

If you are not charging then you need to get more detailed info one the exact model engine as mownie posted.
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whyme26
Original Author
16 years ago
Hey fellas - Thanks for the reply's.

It's a Briggs motor, 10HP
Model: 256707
Type: 0109 01
Code: 89111711

Or at least that's what's stamped on the engine shroud. Not sure if I seperated them right as the number's are one string with "model, type, code" written above them.

I don't have a multimeter or anything to test it with, but am fairly certain it's just not getting a re-charge. All is swell if I charge the old girl up right from the get go..

Thanks for any advise or pokes in the right direction. Not much for small engines (and really not much for electrical systems). Give me a busted Mini Cooper clutch and I'm your man!

Thanks again, much appreciated.
mownie
16 years ago
poke in the right direction: get a volt/ohm meter and study justalurker's lead!
For the test offered by justalurker, a cheap volt-ohmeter from Walmart, any auto parts store, or Horrible Fright will do. It ain't gotta be a Simpson or Fluke brand.
Iffa Mini clutch doesn't scare you you need not be afraid of this either. Last time I checked, a Mini had a much more complex system of electrical spaghetti, this is a breeze by comparison,