RTZ wont crank

gonegreen · Oct 27, 2015

Hi all. I am having an issue with the wife's RTZ. The mower started and ran fine until I tried to engage the PTO. The mower stalled the engine and then it would not restart. The top of the motor will barely budge (less than a 1/4 inch movement) and I hear a light squeal when trying - sounds like an electrical strain under the seat area. I can get both the mower belt and drive belt to move. The battery voltage drops to 6v at the starter when the key is turned. I tried jump starting first at the battery and then directly at the starter (big arc) but it would not budge. Did I somehow bend something in the motor (btw - Kawasaki)? Any ideas?

rcbe · Oct 27, 2015

almost sounds as if the starter gear is jammed in the flywheel gear.. might try removing plugs (safely tie back plug wires from grounding) and then attempt to turn engine by hand. If stuck, remove upper engine sheet metal to chk starter gear. If gear OK, problem is internal to engine.
If you go to Kawasaki engine website, maybe able to d/l service manual forthat engine... would help.

gonegreen · Oct 27, 2015

OK, thanks rcbe, I'll try a few things this weekend.

savageactor7 · Oct 28, 2015

Maybe you can get a grip in the drive shaft and with moving it back and forth will dislodge it?

rcbe · Oct 28, 2015

dunno, savage... ain't that ZT engine a vertical shaft setup? Mebbe he could get a strap wrench around one of the bottom pulleys.. But - OP - be careful not to fram on the side of the starter motor whilst trying to free up that gear - easy to do internal damage to the starter motor.

gonegreen · Oct 29, 2015

I won't have time to try anything until this weekend but keep the ideas coming. Yes this is a v-twin vertical motor. What is stumping me is when I crawled underneath I could get both belts (drive and mower deck) to move in both directions. Having said that, I wouldn't bet my paycheck that the drive belt wasn't just slipping on the pulley. I think my first attempt will be to remove the spark plugs and put a zip tie down the hole, and then try to turn the pulley to see if the motor is free. Anyone ever had or heard of a shorted starter on one of these mowers? Just trying to think what could have happened by just trying to engage the PTO...

gonegreen · Nov 2, 2015

rcbe, you were correct, the starter nut came off and the starter disassembled itself. There was a thick rubber piece (its part of the starter - approx. 1/4 inch thick) that was jammed into the flywheel. I was really thinking the worst. Sure glad that it was a somewhat easy fix (tightening the nut was the biggest challenge since the shaft turns with the nut). Thanks for the input guys!