Question for Zero Turn Mechanics - won't crank

[KX500]

2016 Dixie Chopper. Bought last year with about 90 hours on it, has about 123 hours now.

Nice mower, 100% reliable starting the first time you try. After setting all winter, it fired right up like I'd used it last week.

Did some mowing & shut it off to move junk out of the way.

Hop back on & it won't crank over. Leave it alone for maybe 30 minutes, hop back on & it fires right up.

Had this problem last year & had pretty much forgotten about it over the winter. It did seem like the more we used it, the less this happened.

But, last year I did trailer it a few times to mow elsewhere & I never shut it off until it was back on the trailer & ready to go home. Of course I'd tried starting it after it was back on the trailer & it started every time.

I've mowed with it from 95 degrees to 50 degrees and I can't say that makes any difference. Very much an intermittent thing.

Am I right to figure it has to be a switch? If I can get it to crank, it starts within a couple seconds.

The problem is the times I turn the key switch & nothing happens.

I know it has safety lockouts for the blade, seat, hand controls and oil level. It seems like one of these could be the issue, but when you walk away for 30 minutes, change nothing & it fires right up - well I don't know what to fix.

Ideas?

[Dale Moser]

It's probably the safety switch for one of the hand controls. The "button" under the body that the lever pushes is not getting activated right. I have to pull one of mine in some. I think they are adjustable, but I havn't looked in a while.

[Palmetto]

Try moving/wiggling the hand controls to see if you can get the safety switch to activate. The parking brake, and seat usually have a safety switch as well.

[CabezaBlanca]

It's probably the safety switch for one of the hand controls. The "button" under the body that the lever pushes is not getting activated right. I have to pull one of mine in some. I think they are adjustable, but I havn't looked in a while.

Yep. I would check the one under the seat and the one on the brake pedal if you have to push the brake to start it.

Could be that the ignition switch has an intermittent attitude also.

[sailor]

yep, it's a safety switch...……….
The trick is, the getting off and getting back on....
I'd be checking, the seat switch and the handles switch...…
I'll bet the thirty minutes.... Ain't got nothing to do with it....

[mfarmer]

If its not a safety switch, could be one of the ignition coils. I had one go out and it wouldn't start. Same as you with the intermittent starts. Then once running and blades engaged would "bog down" like in tall grass. Once started- pull one of the spark plug cables off, if still running put back on and then try the other. If dies with one disconnected one of your coils is bad.

[LogFlinger]

I have had the same intermittent issue on my Scag with the clutch/pto switch. Have to cycle the switch a couple of times.

[Walker]

My bet is starter soleniod. Cheap and easy to replace.

[Codypatt1]

As others have said, sounds like hand control switch. Make sure the bracket that pushes it down is actually pushing it down all the way. Sometimes you have to angle that button as it can get in a bind.

[KX500]

Pulled it up to the garage tonight ready to adjust those hand controls. And realized as soon as you move the hand controls 'in' about an inch, the plunger releases, like it is supposed to - and those safety switches are where they are supposed to be. So nothing I could to do with those.

Then looked at the parking brake. That switch needs to have the plunger compressed. Nothing to work on there. Simple, starts with brake off, but not with brake on. Never had a mower with a brake before - never use it.

Seat switch seems to be in the center of the seat, really nothing to adjust.

So, by the process of elimination, I found a few things that seemingly can't be the problem.

And of course of course it started fine, 4-5 times - but then I never got it really warm either.

I'm not really sure if I made any progress with it or not.

I am still at the 'don't turn it off until you are done using it' stage.

[BarW]

Next time it wont start lay a screw driver across the starter solenoid and see if it starts.

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[Bowtech38]

Could have a relay get hot,

[doghouse]

Mine does that from time to time. Not the 30 minute wait, but I sit down readjust everything, rock it back and forth and it starts. No clue what fixed it.

[Bdub25]

One of the safety switches: Seat, PTO, handles, parking break


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[Hunting4fun]

Solenoid 100%. Try jumping the solenoid. They are about 12-15 bucks at lowes and easy to replace. Had the exact same issues that you did.

Edit-- Now that I reread your post replace the battery as well. They are cheap. Walmart has them for 25 dollars. (I know Walmart doesn't carry the best batteries.) Old batteries and solenoids go go together well. And unless you have a new battery you will have to replace it after a few years anyhow so it's a no lose situation. I noticed you have a 2016 model so unless you have replaced your battery your battery is on the last year or 2 of it's life anyway.