Briggs and stratton advice

[Gaz38]

I own a Castel twincut ride on mower, which is fitted with a Briggs and Stratton Diamond I/C 13.5 HP Engine. When I go to start it cold, I turn the key to engage and nothing happens - mower does not turn over - nothing. I can sit like this for anything from 10 to 60 seconds and then it turns over and starts straight away. Once the engine is warm however, it will switch off and start up immediately (first click).

I changed the battery last year - to no avail, and recently stripped it down and cleaned up the commutator - which was a little rusty. I have also done basic checks on the electrics and it seems that the power is going where it should, and there are no shorts to earth etc.

Could it be a problem with one of the exhaust valves? Otherwise, I'm stumped. Please can anyone help a new user from Scotland!?

[Sparky James]

Solenoid would be my first thing to check if the starters not engaging.

[Gaz38]

Thanks VM for the quick reply. Would a dodgy solenoid cause the mower to sit dormant (with key engaged) for 30+ seconds, and then decide to engage? Also, why does it then engage every time when the engine is hot?

Please don't think I'm doubting your advice by the way - I'm just keen to work it out in my own head.... Thanks again.

[village idiot]

where abouts in Scotland are you?

[Gaz38]

Pretty much right at the top. Any further North and you get wet!

[village idiot]

Pretty much right at the top. Any further North and you get wet!

know that area well, i'm down nr Inverness

i will ask at work what would cause a delay on starting when cold, sounds like something's sticking or bad contact

[mikew1972]

Damn I typed a long reply but in the meantime the other topic on this was locked and all my typing lost.
I agree solenoid (sealed unit)

Connect jump leads direct from the battery to the starter motor terminals. If it starts straight away it proves its the solenoid.

I have one of these mowers and a spare that I strip for spares as required. I have a spare solenoid if you are interested but they don't come cheap even second hand. Let me know if you are interested and we can work something out.

[Gaz38]

Cheers Mike. Appreciate that. I will have a go at bypassing the SN and let you know. Might well be interested in buying the spare from you if it is the problem. There is a local garden centre nearby, so I will check them out for second hand SN's as well.

I will let you know the outcome whatever.

By the way, should have mentioned before, the mower is nearly 8 years old, so don't know if this is 'retirement home time' for SN's??

[Gaz38]

To Mike and co. After a weekend of kids birthday parties and mothers day etc. I finally got a chance to take heed of your advice and zeroed in on the solenoid unit. I took it off, cleaned it up, remade all the connections etc. and refitted it to the mower, and hey presto - starts first click now.

Once you (Mike) had advised me to look at the solenoid, I suspected a bad connection due to the intermittent nature of the fault (only there when cold), and it now seems that this was the cause. So thanks very much for all your help and advice. This was my first go at using the ultimate handyman forum, and I am most impressed with the help I've received.

Thanks again.

[mikew1972]

Glad I was able to help and you got it all sorted.

[Agile]

ther first thing to note is if the solenoid is getting power and operating, they usually give a click !

BUT a common fault is dirty contacts so that even when powered the contacts dont put any ( much ) power to the output connector. All that is easily tested with a voltmeter so see how far the voltage is getting.

Tony