Trying to help a 70+ year old Vietnam vet with an LT 1500

[mrgadfly]

I don't suppose anyone could help me out. I've got a 70+ year old buddy from the local VFW who was a Vietnam Marine gunny.* He's got no friends (other than me), and no close family.

He lives by himself in a trailer (and won't let anyone inside because he said he doesn't like to clean it).* He's on a fixed income and can't afford a new mower

The one thing he likes to do is mow his lawn.* Big hoss that he is, he rolls his mower over to work on it.* After rolling it over one time, he couldn't get it started again.* He kept talking to me about it over some cold beers over a few weekends, so I told him I was a piddler, and if he wanted me to, I'd look at it for him.

Problem is, I'm a fifty-year-old stock boy in a warehouse, not a mechanic.* I piddle with stuff like this as a hobby until I figure it out.* He's offered to pay me for my time and parts, but I told him I wouldn't charge him even if I did this for a living.* Just trying to help a Vet.

I've kept my Craftsman riding mower running for quite a few years, but I can't figure his out.

I've had his mower for over a month, I've torn the motor down, lobes on camshaft and rest of engine look brand new, I've adjusted the valves, checked the starter solenoid (it clicks), checked the fuel solenoid cut off valve* (plunger is fine), put on new gaskets and I just replaced the starter with an OEM Briggs and Stratton starter.*

The problem is the same as it was before I did all this:
the starter just spins but doesn't pop up to engage the flywheel.* I've swapped batteries with my mower's, and both batteries start my mower fine, but again, his just spins.

The engine is a Briggs and Stratton, 17.5 HP motor, 31C707.3346.G6.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[SJay]

Starter Motor Spins But Does Not Crank Engine
Sticking pinion gear due to dirt or damaged spline.

Damaged pinion or ring gear.

Starter motor clutch slipping.

Battery faulty or damaged.

Incorrect rotation due to reversed motor polarity or reverse battery connections - all motors rotate counterclockwise viewed from pinion gear.

This is from the Briggs website - maybe some info here will help.

 

[mddorange]

mrgadfly, thanks for helping out a Vet. Us old vets seem to need more help, at least that is what my wife keeps telling me.

 

[mrgadfly]

mddorange,

Thank you and all the Veterans, past, present and future!

I didn't serve, but my dad and all my uncles served. Unfortunately, they're all gone now, so when I can help a Veteran, I feel a little nastalgic, almost like I'm helping Pop (yup, that's what I called him in his later years instead of Poppa).

SJay,

Thank you for the info! Seems like installing the brand-spankin' new Briggs starter pretty much eliminated all except crossed wires.

Yes, the starter pinion(?) gear is spinning clockwise when installed, and I understand that's backwards. Took the starter off, attached jumper cables to battery, (negative battery post to starter bracket, postive battery post to starter terminal while holding starter between my feet), and the starter spun counterclockwise, the correct way I understand.

I found a wiring diagram online that's supposedly for Craftsman LT1500, but I'll be danged if I can figure it out. His wiring hardly matches up at all.

So, I had to break the news to him last night that I was throwing in the towel because it was beyond me. He's wanting me to take it to a repair shop, but he's wanting me to pick. Told him I had never used a repair shop, so it was up to him.

He suggested Sears, so I stopped by the local Sears today and spoke to an employee. He said he needs to schedule a home appointment online, then they come out for $75-100 and troubleshoot it. Money is applied towards repair if you let Sears fix it.

So, end of the story. Thanks gain for the input!