Troubleshooting: Why will my ride-on mower not start?

Battery issues

Dead battery after storage—After long periods of inactivity (especially winter), the battery may be discharged.

Solution

Charge the battery according to the operator’s manual. If it does not hold the charge, replace it.

Parking brake not engaged

The mower won’t start unless the parking brake is engaged.

Solution

Check and engage the parking brake before attempting to start.

Cutting deck is lowered

For safety reasons, the mower won’t start if the cutting deck is down.

Solution

Raise the deck before turning on the ignition.

Old or stale fuel

Fuel degrades over time.

Using old fuel can make it harder to start your rider.

Solution

Drain old fuel and refill with fresh fuel.

Dirty or damaged spark plug

Faulty spark plugs are a common starting issue

How to check and replace a spark plug

Clogged air filter

A dirty filter restricts air flow, making starting difficult.

How to clean or replace an air filter

Sleep mode activated

If unused for a while, the ride-on mower may enter sleep mode when the battery drops 40%.

How to wake it up:

• Hold the START button for 10 seconds.
• Plug the ride-on mower into the charger.
• If that fails, charge constantly for 48 hours to reactivate.

Electric parking brake lock is on

A warning symbol may appear if the parking brake is not disengaged.

Solution

Release the lock and move the lever left to disengage the electric brake.

Charger still connected

The mower won’t start if the charger is still plugged in.

Solution

Always unplug the charger before starting the ride-on mower.

Cutting deck is engaged

Safety systems prevent the ride-on mower from starting if the cutting deck is activated.

Solution

Lift the cutting deck and start as usual.

Low battery level

If the battery display shows only yellow stripes, the ride-on mower won’t start.

Solution

Fully charge the battery, unplug the charger and try again.