Tag: how to test lawn mower battery

Lawn Mower Repair Tips, Riding Lawn Mower Repair

Riding Lawn Mower Not Charging Battery

Some lawn mowers have a charging indicator built into the dash or an “Amp Meter” as they call it. This is a meter that is connected in line with the engines charging system and will give you a visual clue as to what is happening with it.

On the amp meter, you want to see it reading in the 13.7 to 14.7 volt range to ensure that battery is property charged. A fully charged batter will have somewhere around 12.7 volts and could be higher depending on the condition of the battery.

If you do not have an amp meter, a simple volt meter test can be performed. With the engine running at full RPM and nothing running on the mower, place the positive lead on the positive terminal and the negative lead on the negative battery terminal and it should read be in the 13.7 to 14.7 volt range. If it is not or if it is reading higher, your alternator or the associated wiring is faulty and will need replaced or repaired.

You also should perform a test of your battery to see if it is still good and that the acid levels are correctly filled. A lawn mower batter today will only last about 3 years before it needs replacement.

If you need help troubleshooting why your lawn mower battery will not charge, visit our Locations page for a professional near you.

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

My Riding Lawn Mower Battery is Dead

So you turn the key and nothing happens right? But is your battery actually dead or is there another problem that is causing this symptom?

The first item to check is your main fuse. On most riding lawn mowers it is either under the hood or under the body near the drive system and usually on the left side. Remove it and see if the wire inside is burned in two. If it is, replace it. If the terminal blades are corroded, clean them and reinstall.

The second thing you want to do is an actual test of the battery to make sure that is has no volts and amps. You probably don’t have a fancy battery tester to do that, so you can disconnect it and take it to an auto parts store to have it tested.

If your battery is over 2 years old, it could be on its way out. While you have the battery out, it is a good time to clean the battery terminals with a wire brush and apply some terminal protector when you hook the terminals back up.

Those are the most common items that fail on a riding lawn mower that causes the battery to appear dead. When my riding lawn mower battery is dead and these tips will not fix that, visit our locations page to find a lawn mower repair expert near you.