GT275 wont restart

[Mark4510]

I need some advice from the experts here.

Running short of time I took our little JD GT 275 into town to have the blades sharpened, replace the belts, tune up etc.

Everything seems fine except that, after running it for 10-15 or longer, when it is shut off it does not restart. It just sort of clicks when the key is turned. (dont you mechanic types love it when people like me say it goes "click, click; click, click" and expect you to know whats wrong? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

I probably need to take it back to have the dealer fix this but its a bit of a haul and wonder if this might be something simple to help me diagnos and fix?

thanks,
Mark

 

[mwood]

My JD216 does this in the winter. Same thing, just sort of clicks.

For me (not saying this is the answer) it is that the starter has condensation in it and freezes and therefore, won't re-engage. What I would try, if it were me, is to find a piece of wood and give the starter a few good whacks. Don't use a metal hammer and risk denting it, but if you can find the side where the starter gear retracts to and hit it good and hard, it usually will free up a stuck starter.

Hope this helps! I talked to the dealer about mine and he says that the starters do this on occasion and that there was no guarentee that a new starter would fix it... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[BrokerBob]

Typically, your problem is somewhere in the starter circuitry. I think that I would first check the battery. Make sure it is still alive and well and fully charged. I would also clean-up the battery terminals and make sure that the cables are clean and all oxidation removed.

Although I have not worked on the GT275, I recall that the Sears unit I once owned had a solenoid which failed occasionally. I would suspect that you need only trace the starter circuit out and you will come upon the equivalent in your GT275. It is usually an inexpensive and easy-to-replace part.

Although it may very well be the starter motor itself, I think that I would first explore all of the easier (and cheaper) possibilities.

Good luck.

BrokerBob

 

[Mark4510]

Thanks Gents,
I will clean up the battery terminals and follow the wiring back. That is something I can do easily.

The odd thing is that it fires right up the first time and if it sits for an hour it will fire right up again.


Thanks again for the help.
Mark

 

[Molerj]

Sounds as if the electric pto is still in the on position when you shut it down or may be a problem with the Pto switch itself. If that isn't the case, try this. Place the key switch in the on position & take a set of jumper wires directly to the starter. Neg. from battery post to ground & positive from battery post to the starter post that has the wire from the solenoid going to it. Touch the positive & see if it starts or cranks. If it does, then your problem is in the starting circuit, ie; safety switches, key switch, pto switch, ground, etc.

 

[Mark4510]

Ron,
That is something I can try also. I will go home tonight and see if that makes a difference.

thanks for the detailed instructions.....I am pretty ignorant with things like this.

thanks.
Mark

 

[Mark4510]

So I tried all the things that Ron suggested and it seemed to work. I was headed on a vacation so I decided to take it in and have them fix it so I could pick it up when I got home. Just before I could take it in I found that it would not start at all. The battery is good but when I turn the key nothing....no lights on the dash, no clicking or anything. So I pull the button to start the mower blades to see if it was left in the "On" position. Nope but when I pulled it up the lights on the dash came on......once and not again.

After droping it off a while ago I just picked it up. Runs great and they did not even charge me thier min service charge. I asked them what the problem was and they told be the carburetor was pitted.

Gosh......thanks......really glad I asked.........I should have known that a pitted carburetor would cause the electrical system to not work /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I think I will just be happy it runs and was pretty cheap to fix.

 

[bontai_Joe]

If it is working, great! But your description of it running fine, and then when shut off, not being able to restart for an hour is classic symptoms of a failing coil. Once the coil gets hot, it's ability to make spark weakens, but one cooled down it will provide enough spark to start the engine. I am assuming the battery is good as is the charging system?

 

[Mark4510]

The battery is good and does not seem to lose a charge so I assume the charging system is good. It seems like the restart was the first set of symptoms and then we sort of moved into this other set where there seemed to be nothing happening.

Is there a way that a coil problem would impact all the idiot lights on the dash and not just the restart?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[rcmike]

That makes absolutely no sense. If it was a carb problem it would at least turn over. I could understand if it cranked but didn't start. I think there is another problem there.