Hello, I am posting for my husband. He is physically handicapped

[RobertKG]

so I'm hoping to make what work he can do, easier. We have a 1720 Cub Cadet Lawn Tractor with a 60" deck. Seems everytime we use it or get it fixed, something else goes wrong. Now it will crank good but will not fire. I have down loaded the key switch diagrams, also wanting to know if anyone knows how many safety switches are on this. He's worked on this mower seems constantly over the last 4 years. We'd sell it, or maybe burn it if we hadn't already done so much to it. It was running fine last time we were on it, shut it off last year & now this year it won't start. Our grass is almost to our knees & can't afford to take to a shop.
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[aczlan]

If it is cranking, the safety switches aren't the problem. That means fuel, compression or spark.
Do you have a way to remove a spark plug to check for spark?

Aaron Z

 

[deerseeker001]

Welcome from Wisconsin,did you put fresh gas in the tank?I would pull Spark Plug and see if it is wet with Gas if it is install a new plug with same number.

 

[George2615]

Welcome to TBN from Upstate NY.
Agreed that its not a safety switch if it cranks over, Could be bad gas but probably spark plug related. Remove the plug, reconnect the wire to the plug, lay it on the cylinder and crank it over to see if you have spark.

 

[newbury]

Welcome to TBN from Upstate NY.
Agreed that its not a safety switch if it cranks over, Could be bad gas but probably spark plug related. Remove the plug, reconnect the wire to the plug, lay it on the cylinder and crank it over to see if you have spark.

Be very careful of gas fumes. Explosions may happen.

 

[Briana03]

Welcome to TractorByNet.

We moved your thread to the Cub Cadet Lawn & Garden forum. Best of luck with your repairs!

 

[aczlan]

For an easier way to check for spark, they make an inline spark tester: OEM/In line ignition spark tester (25227) | Ignition Tester | AutoZone.com

$9ish and it plugs in between the spark plug and the spark plug wire.

Aaron Z

 

[whistlepig]

Remove the spark plug and lay it so the side of the plug is laying on metal so that the plug is grounded. If you crank the starter and see sparks from the plug the ignition is working. Reinsert the spark plug into the motor, crank the starter, and then remove the plug to see if it is wet with gas. If the plug is dry you are are not getting any gas to the plug. And yes, it is that simple.

 

[RobertKG]

He put new plugs in. But has not checked spark. Good idea. He wants to know if it could be the key switch? We put new gas in it. We will try the spark plug being wet idea. He just hadn't tried that because he said where the plug is we need two hands & didn't have help. He is very mechanically inclined, worked on "stuff" all his life so he's done all the obvious things, but you never know, one of you may have an idea that he hasn't thought of. Thank you all so much for your help.

 

[tourglide]

Tony, from Wisconsin, not likely in the key switch if the engine is turning over, my guess if it sat all winter with gas in it the needle valve in the carb. is probably stuck. if he does the plugs wet check and they come out dry that would indicate a stuck needle valve, then you would have to look into removeing the carb. and pulling it apart and cleaning it then putting it together, back on and that should take care of it.