Craftsman Riding Mower Won't Start And Just Clicks? (Fix It Now!)

Riding mowers are a great piece of machinery to have especially if you have to mow a large property. They come in a wide variety of styles, depending on the brand. For example, Craftsman is a famous brand that makes riding mowers. However, what happens when your Craftsman riding mower clicks but won’t start?

If your Craftsman mower is clicking but won’t start, check for a dead battery. If the battery is okay, then look for issues in the connections to the battery, the solenoid, starter motor, as well as the engine. If you cannot find the problem, you can always take it to a professional for repair.

This article will act as a guide and take you through each scenario so that you can determine what’s wrong with your Craftsmen mower. That way, you can fix the issue and get back to mowing and towing. Let’s get started, shall we?

An easy way to clean the connections is to mix a couple of spoons of baking soda with a small quantity of water, creating a thick paste. Wear gloves and protective eye-wear. Use this to neutralize and remove the crystallized acid on the connections and battery poles.

Next, detach the connectors and clean well with a wire brush or sandpaper. Finally, coat with a fine layer of petroleum jelly to discourage future accumulation. Due to the vibrations experienced by mower blades and engines, it’s not surprising that bolts can be shaken loose. Ensure that both the positive (RED+) and negative (BLACK-) are secure and dirt-free.

A flat battery can be frustrating. The quickest way to deal with it is to jump-start the mower. Before trying a jump-start, check that the battery isn’t leaking. If it is, and it’s a sealed battery, you’ll need a replacement.

However, usually, only wet batteries leak. The best thing to do is to check the electrolyte level and add more if required. Use proper safety precautions, i.e., gloves, eye protection, etc. The purpose of PPE is to avoid acid burns to your skin and eyes. It’s just not worth risking accidents by taking short-cuts.

If there is significant leakage, don’t attempt a jump-start; replace the battery. It’s not difficult to install a new battery; ensure it’s the correct size and that the poles are correctly positioned.

A solenoid is a kind of large relay. Its function is to connect the battery and the starter motor, so the engine will crank while holding the key in place.

A clicking noise indicates that the solenoid is attempting to work by pulling in the armature and failing. This is very common, so don’t be surprised if yours needs replacing. There can be other reasons for the click, though there are less usual. These need to be correctly diagnosed, or else you may find that replacing the solenoid hasn’t resolved the issue.

Sometimes even finding the solenoid can be a challenge. If it’s not under the hood, it may be behind the gas tank, under the seat, or the back wheel.

The quickest way to locate it is to track the red cable from the battery. On specific models, especially Kawaski and Honda engines, the solenoid will be housed in the same unit as the starter.

Husqvarna prefers to position theirs below the back wheel fender or below the dashboard, at the side of the steering column. Craftsman positions them in different places depending on the model, so you will need to check your owner’s manual before proceeding.

Testing to see if the starter motor is bound can be carried out by turning the engine over by hand, anti-clockwise. Specific engines have a covered flywheel. In this case, try rotating the crankshaft using a ratchet and socket, accessing it from below.

If the motor is freed when turning anti-clockwise, binding is the cause of the issue. Typically, you can fix it by spraying some WD40 on the starter gear head. Take care with the straw to direct the lubricant onto the gear head, so you don’t have to remove any covers.

If the carburetor float needle seals are worn, they may cause gas to leak into the cylinder. Hydro-locking means that the cylinder is filled with gas, so the piston can’t move, and the engine will click when you try to start it.

Detaching the spark plug and turning the engine will expel the gas, but you will need to replace the carburetor and change the engine oil.

Look out for these other signs that the carburetor needle seal is leaking: an over-full oil level; white smoke coming from the muffler; an oil leaking originating the muffler; gas dripping from carburetor; or a strong smell of fuel in the garage.