ZG227 Starting Problem

[TxDoc]

Keep my Battery Tender on my mower. Everything normal as I applied pressure to the seat so the switch was depressed to start. When I turned on the key, as normal, the light illuminates showing power, ticking noise from rear, as normal. Throttle set at about 1/4 and choke pulled out, like usual.

Engine turned right over, but, I accidentally let up pressure on the seat and the process stopped.

Now, no light, no ticking after turning off key and back on. My battery tender light is flashing.

Acts like no power from battery as if a fuse is blown. Just like no bettery connected.

I'm not sure, but believe, there's a blade fuse, but have forgotten where.

Does this sound like a blown fuse? And where to see it?

Thank you
On Edit
I checked the little plastic fuse box, under the seat. They are all good. None blown.

Not whining, just fact.. I had a stroke and it's VERY hard to pull the seat release and use my forearm to pull the seat forward... But I got it.

The dash light comes in with key on now, with the seat up... But goes out with the seat down. And everything seems dead.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Here they are:

 

[TxDoc]

Thank you
North Idaho Wolfman

I'll try to get down there and pull them and check
I really appreciate the time and effort to do this for me

 

[TxDoc]

North Idaho Wolfman

The two you highlighted in yellow, I can't see them. With the seat pulled up I can't see them and from the outside, they appear to be behind the gas tank.

I took a headlamp and flashlight and just can't visualize them.

I can't get on the ground and look up.

I'll try again tomorrow. Sorry to seem inept. Things that were simplistic are difficult physically after a stroke. I change my blades with one hand. I have that process down.

I don't understand why I can simply see the fuse boxes.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Does this help you anymore?

 

[Hugo Habicht]

There is a reason the fuse blew. You have to find the problem first before you replace it, otherwise it will simply blow again.

From what you describe there may be a short to the chassis of the cable of the seat switch or a short of the seat switch itself. See if you can find the cable to the seat switch and check if it is chafed somewhere.

I could not find schematics for this mower, but maybe @North Idaho Wolfman has a copy of it.

 

[TxDoc]

North Idaho Wolfman
Yes, the most recent diagram is the one I found, easily. They were all good. Both visual and ohm meter tests.

Hugo Habicht
When I was cranking the motor over, and it started to fire up and my hand slipped off the seat and interrupted the process... I feel like that might have damaged the switch and nothing can occur, now.

Yesterday, with the seat down and me sitting on it, after the trouble occurred, when I turned on the key, no light beside the key was on. But, with the seat raised, the light was illuminated, but no startup as you would not expect it to be

Today, no light beside the key with the key turned to on position, one click, not cranking position... No matter seat down or up or with me sitting on it.

Thank you for y'all's time, help and effort with me.

I think maybe the safety switch under the seat might have been damaged by a surge when my hand on the seat slipped and I was cranking the starter.

 

[Hugo Habicht]

There should not be any problem or damage to the electrics no matter what you do with the seat.

But I think it is a sign that it is seat switch related. A friend of mine had a very similar problem on his tractor recently. The seat switch gets 12V and when the wire is chafed or squeezed against the chassis of the tractor (or the switch faulty itself) it is shorted and the fuse blows.

Depending on what else is connected to the fuse this may effect other parts of the electrics too, like lamps or the dashboard. That's why I would like to see schematics.

But for the moment check around the seat switch cable, the seat is moved and so is the cable and this is when the damage could have happened.

 

[Russell King]

@TxDoc

I know you are in Texas but that doesn’t mean you are close enough to me that I could help you out! If you are close to Austin I would be happy to come over and see if we could get you going on your mower. Let me know by starting a private conversation (click on my name on the left).

You seem to have an odd electrical problem since you blew a fuse if the fuse is now good but you have lights sometimes and not other times. That sounds like a wire that has a break in it going to ground or being open or partially connected at times. When grounded the fuse blows, when connected the lights work, when open then nothing is working. That could certainly be the switch you are describing.

You may want to just bypass the switch operation if that is easily done. I would recommend you also check that the battery cables are clean at the battery and that they are tight. You may want to clean where the ground cable is connected to the frame.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Here is a long shot.
Check both end of both battery connections.
If you have a charger or booster try charging/ boosting the battery.

 

[TxDoc]

I have a battery tender mounted inside part of the ROPS and is pretty l permanently connected to my battery. It's lit as normal.

I will check the other parameters y'all suggested and report back.

I'm so far Northeast in Texas a you can go without crossing into Arkansas or the Red River. Both are ONLY a few miles. The Red River is only about two miles north of me and flooded within a mile years ago. I'm elevated above the river bottoms and safe.

I'll report back. I'm sorry for taking up so much of your valuable time and effort.