XT 1 Driving me nuts

[XT1 Guy]

Help with diagnosis.
The Cub Cadet XT! Kohler engine had sat for a while during the dry spell. Started it to mow, since then the back yard back yard has shot up like anything after about two weeks of constant rain. Started it after the grinding a few times, start up and started to mow. Hit a section of trees that had fallen and hidden by the grass. The mower stopped. Tried to restart no luck, just barely turned the engine like a discharged battery. Took the battery out that set it on the truck battery (with cables). for about 15 minutes. By this time its late, starting to sprinkle light going down and the mosquitoes were out in force. So in my haste to put the battery back in, I hooked it up backwards. Turned it on, the started spun (obviously backward) Too late tp carry on so that night I put it on an actual charger. Put it on and a thump like noise from the starter, tried it again and again the same noise.
Sounds like alignment is messed up and it can't engage the flywheel. Take the starter off and try to realign (not sure how that works. By a new starter for $50.00 and just go that way. Any ideas. Thank you.

( I got the Cub Cadet because green paint is very expensive).

I took the starter off and put it on a battery and it spun, not very aggressively but it did and the gear came up. The fuse under the seat was blown so that was replaced. I can hear the solenoid clicking. Any secret fuses or anything else to consider.

[XT1 Guy]

I was pulling the mower out of the back yard using some straps and chain with the Maverick. when my neighbor asked me what was going on. I told him the story and being a good neighbor and a good mechanic he offered to come over and checked it out, after a while he went back and brough one of his better than average battery testers. It said the battery was shot (Advance auto told me it was good and just needed recharging. He put a good jet ski battery in it and it tried. to start. Jumped the jet ski batter from the truck it started up.

The mower stopped almost at the far corner of the acre lot. Being 75 and with ankles that should have been replaced a couple of years ago no way I could push it uphill and back to the driveway. There was not an opening wide enough for the Maverick either. So I spent the afternoon pulling the thing about 150 feet with a come a long.

[evhevh]

How long after it was running did it stop? I would check and make sure your Cub is charging the battery. After hooking up the cable backwards, I wonder if that damaged the charging "rectifier?"

[Road_Clam]

Dont be "guessing" and buying new parts that may be in good working condition. Do the proper diagnostic steps to avoid wasting money. First test is to fully charge your battery and test . It should read about 12.8V.

[XT1 Guy]

Originally Posted by evhevh

How long after it was running did it stop? I would check and make sure your Cub is charging the battery. After hooking up the cable backwards, I wonder if that damaged the charging "rectifier?"

Damaging the charging hadn't thought of that. The battery is 5 years old. It started and ran for about a minute before I hit the tree (not a stump by more like a log. Tried to start and the just the solenoid. Like I mentioned Advance auto said it was good and my neighbor's battery tester said it was shot. How do I check the charging rectifier?

[finsruskw]

5 years old??
What with batteries these days.....
You are lucky it lasted that long.
Was it maintained over the winter months?

[evhevh]

You test the charging circuit by running the lawn mower and checking the voltage at your battery. It should test around 13.5 volts. (i.e. greater voltage than your battery tests when it is not running).

I agree, a 5 year old battery is usually in poor condition. It may test at 12.5+V but have no power to turn a starter.

[Road_Clam]

And then there is the issue of poor corroded grounds on the XT's especially on older machines that sit outside .