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2 weeks old & won't start. Went through all the obvious issues over the phone with a very knowledgeable person looking at the tractor. Sears guy is supposed to be here "sometime" Thursday.
Anybody else having problems with this one: Model # 917?
I'd check the safety switch under the seat. These things have so many safety features, they've become difficult to start, but the connections (like the one mentioned) seem to have a small threshold of play before they no longer connect.
Could be the battery. Mine did that shortly after I got it and when the Sears guy came, he said the battery it came with was old. He switched out the battery and all was well. He also told me the batteries on these things die if you don't at least start up the motor every week if you're not using it much.
Thanks! Still waiting for the call back to confirm the repair guy's visit. I'm really disappointed, I thought everything with the Craftsman name was of good quality.
Not starting is typically electrical in nature or bad gas. What all the wiring diagrams don't tell you is that the standard motor can be disconnected from all of the safety harness wiring and run just fine.
I hate to admit it, but one time after I had not run my rider for a few months, I forgot that the clutch pedal had to be fully depressed in order to start the thing. Crank crank crank - nothing. Crank crank crank - nothing. Oh. Yeah.
Sears tech showed up. It was the battery. (Right on! "teatime!") So old it wouldn't hold a charge. No wonder it was on sale! Now I'm scared what else might go wrong. If I have to baby this thing, I might as well take him back to mama right now. I have a lot of mowing to do, usually 2 days a week, depending on rainfall. Can't be down like this again.
If you do a lot of mowing, I don't think you have to worry about the tractor not working for you. The Sears guy told me that the tractor batteries drain fairly quickly if you don't use them regularly. For someone like me, who only had to mow once every two weeks, it was an issue because I had to remember to go out and start it periodically. But you're going to use it all of the time so it won't be a problem. There's nothing wrong with the Craftsman tractor -- I really liked mine.
I'd check the safety switch under the seat. These things have so many safety features, they've become difficult to start, but the connections (like the one mentioned) seem to have a small threshold of play before they no longer connect.
Yep;very likely the problem on a new mower. Safety switches everywhere. If you know anyhting about wirng try jumping the switch. They all seem to go bad after awhie anyway. No one is going to do thsi for you as a repair person tho. Always best to recharge those batteries as once you let them go down it hurts the battery.Lead acid starting batteries are meant to stay fully charged and don't like to be discharged especailly fuly discharged.
how to replace switch 176138 on craftsman mower 917. 288250
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for the call back to confirm the repair guy's visit. I'm really disappointed, I thought everything with the Craftsman name was of good quality.
If I have to baby this thing, I might as well take him back to mama right now. I have a lot of mowing to do, usually 2 days a week, depending on rainfall. Can't be down like this again.
