12 Reason John Deere Mower Won’t Start [Problem & Solution]

A well-maintained, healthy lawn is the cornerstone of a stunning property. It’s also a source of pride for any homeowner. But achieving and maintaining a gorgeous lawn takes work. Fortunately, your John Deere lawn mower can help you keep your lawn looking its best.

However, what do you do when your John Deere riding mower won’t start? It’s happened to all of us and can be frustrating, especially if you’re in a hurry.

So, what’s the problem? And more significantly, how do you fix it? In this post, we’ll look at 12 possible causes why your John Deere mower won’t start and provide solutions for each one. Let’s get started.

How to start John Deere lawn mower- and how to fix it?

Following are the most common causes of John Deere lawn tractor starting problems:

1. No Gas in Your Snapper Fuel Tank 

If your lawnmower’s fuel tank is empty, it won’t start. Forever check the fuel level before starting your lawnmower. Landscapers typically forget these primary steps and wonder why their John Deere lawn mower won’t start.

2. Old or dirty gas

In a container or your unit, gas can go stale and lose its volatility in as little as 30 days. Old gas can cause many problems, including making your John Deere start problems.

Solution:

Drain the old gas from the tank and add fresh, unleaded gas. Be sure to utilize a fuel stabilizer if you store your mower for more than 30 days.

Be sure to drain the old gas and add fresh gasoline before you try to start your lawnmower. Fill gasoline that has 87 octane number or higher and has no more than 10% of ethanol.

3. Check the battery whether it is dead or not charged:

If the battery dies, it will not have enough power to start the engine. This may be the reason John Deere won’t start.

Solution:

Check the battery voltage with a voltmeter. If the voltage exceeds 12 volts, the battery will need to be charged or replaced.

4. Fouled spark plugs or Loose Spark Plug:

Black carbon deposits on the spark plug are an indication that your engine is running too rich, meaning there is too much gas and not enough air in the mixture.

This can be caused by several things, including a dirty air filter, an incorrect fuel mixture, or a problem with the carburetor. This will prevent the John Deere won’t turn over from starting.

Solution:

Extract the spark plug from the machine and clean it with a wire brush or spark plug cleaner. Check the adequate gap on the spark plug and adjust it if necessary.

A loose spark plug can also cause your engine to misfire. Remove the spark plug and tighten it with a wrench to fix this.

5. Clogged or dirty air filter:

Tipping an engine onto its air filter side can cause the air filter to become clogged with grass and dirt. A clogged or dirty air filter will slow the flow of air to the engine, causing it to run lean (too much gas, not enough air). This can lead to John Deere not starting initially or damaging the engine.

Solution:

Remove the air filter and clean it with soapy water. Rinse it thoroughly and allow it to dry completely before reinstalling it.

6. Dirty Carburetor Symptoms

A dirty or defective carburetor can cause your engine to run lean (too much gas, not enough air), resulting in a John Deere won’t start no click.

Solution:

Firstly, disconnect the spark plug wire and ground it to the engine. This will prevent the engine from starting while you’re working on it.

Remove the carburetor and clean it with carburetor cleaner. Be sure to pay attention to the small passages and jets, as they can quickly become clogged.

7. Failed engine ignition coil:

If your engine ignition coil is not working, it will prevent the spark plugs from firing.

Solution:

To test for electrical activity, use a spark plug circuit-testing tool (available at most auto parts stores for a few dollars).

It will allow you to inspect the circuit safely to see if electricity travels from the ignition coil to the spark plug terminal. If no electrical activity comes from the coil, the ring will need to be inspected and replaced.

8. Clogged Fuel Filter:

If your fuel filter is clogged, it will restrict the fuel flow to the carburetor, causing the engine to run lean (too much gas, not enough air). So, it will not start.

Solution:

Remove the fuel filter and clean it with solvent cleaner. Be sure to pay attention to the small passages and jets, as they can pass out easily.

9. Bad Safety Switch

A lousy safety switch prevents the engine from starting because it will not allow the current to flow to the spark plugs.

Solution:

To test the safety switch, use a multimeter to test the continuity of the button. If there is no continuity, the switch will require to be replaced.

10. Incorrect Operating Procedure:

Maybe you are a new landscaper or first-time mower user. So, you don’t have any knowledge about the starting steps.

Solution:

In this case, you should study the user manual before starting your mower because it will guide you in every step of the operating process.

11. Damaged Flywheel:

Flywheel assists in making the engine work smoothly through inertia. When it isn’t working correctly, it will prevent the mower’s engine from working.

Solution:

If the flywheel brake’s key was sheared, the mower might have run over something that got trapped in the mower’s blade. It is possible to remove a flywheel key, but it does need to take apart the mower.

12. Starter Solenoid Not Working:

If you’re thinking, why won’t my John Deere start? It may be a solenoid problem.

The starter solenoid is responsible for sending the electrical current from the battery to the starter. If it isn’t working correctly, it will prevent the engine from starting. This is a general problem of mower socially in John Deere beginning problems.

Solution:

• Check the battery. Make sure it is fully charged.
• Check the connections at the starter solenoid. 
• Please make sure they are tight and clean.
• Check the starter solenoid itself. Make sure it is not damaged.
• If all of these things are check out, you may need to replace the starter solenoid. After that, you can quickly sort out John Deere problems.

Helpful items to have extra on hand:

• Clean air filter (if the unit is equipped with one)
• Fresh fuel
• New spark plug
• Spark plug wrench or socket tool. – the most common sizes are 5/8″, 3/4″ and 13/16″

Keep the following maintenance tools on hand:

Socket & Allen Wrench Set:

This will come in handy for removing the gas cap, removing spark plugs, and changing the oil.

Multimeter:

If your lawn mower won’t start, you may have a loose connection or a burned-out fuse. A multimeter can help you test for these issues.

12-Volt Battery Charger:

This can jump-start a lawn mower battery if it’s not holding a charge.

Oil Drain Pan:

You’ll need this to catch and recycle old oil when you change it.

Carburetor Cleaner:

The carburetor may be dirty if your lawn mower is having trouble starting. This cleaner will help dissolve any buildup.

Spark Plug Gap Tool:

This tool helps you ensure the spark plugs are the right distance apart. This is important for proper engine function.

Fuel Stabilizer:

This additive keeps gas from going bad over time. Using it is a good idea if you know your lawn mower won’t be used for a while.

Battery Powered Inflator:

If your lawn mower has flat tires, this will come in handy to pump them up.

This can inflate tires if they’re low on air.

FAQs

What Should I do If my John Deere is Running Rough?

If your John Deere is running rough, it could be due to a few different issues. Check the air filter to see if it’s dirty and needs to be replaced. You may also need to adjust the carburetor or replace the spark plugs.

Where Can I find the John Deere Mower’s Spare Parts?

You can get Spare parts for John Deere mowers at most hardware stores or online platforms like Amazon, homedpot.com, cubcadet.com, ebay.com, etc.

How Can I Extend the Life of my John Deere Lawn Mower?

To extend the life of your John Deere lawn mower, follow the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual. This will help keep the engine and other parts in good working condition. It would help if you also stored the mower in a dry, sheltered area to protect it from the elements.

To download a FREE copy of an MTD Operator’s Manual.

• Have your Model and Serial Identification Numbers from the Product Identification Tag handy
• Use the Online Manuals site to look up your manual.

Where can I get an Engine Manual for an independent brand engine?

Some engine manufacturers do not allow us to publish or print their engine manuals. Please use the following links to visit the independent engine manufacturer’s websites for their copyrighted manuals.

• Briggs & Stratton
• Honda Power Equipment
• Kawasaki
• Kohler
• Kubota
• Continental-Linamar-Onan

How can I find a John Deere Service Center near me?

Major chain store retailers, such as; Home Depot, Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers, and The Tractor Supply Company, should have local service and repair provider information available to support their retail customers. Please get in touch with them for this information.

John Deere lawn tractor cranks but won’t start?

If the lawn tractor cranks but won’t start, there could be a problem with the fuel system.

• First, check the fuel tank for debris or water.
• Next, check the fuel line for clogs or leaks.
• Finally, check the carburetor for dirt or debris.

If all of these things check out, the problem may be with the ignition system. Call a certified John Deere dealer for further diagnosis.

Conclusion:

We hope that this article will be helpful for you in fixing your John Deere Lawnmower. Because it will provide you with the possible causes behind this problem with their solution, you can quickly identify the main issue and fix it using the given key. Thanks for staying with us.

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