Newer Craftsman GT5000 engine won't budge

[ErikQ]

Make/model 917.289472 GT5000, Serial # 051310A005218
Engine info: Kohler Courage 26hp, SN:4004905773

Here's my problem, I put in storage last fall after changing the oil, draining the fuel tank and checking the spark plugs. I make sure the battery is charged and go to start it up today and the engine won't crank, I mean won't even budge! I try to turn the engine by hand and I find resistance like it's fighting compression. I remove the spark plugs and try to turn the engine by hand again, this time it turns freely. I reinstall the plugs and same thing as before, it won't move. It's only 3yrs. old, I'm kind of at a loss with this.
Any ideas?

 

[sox3]

pull the plugs and crank it over with the starter for a minute. See if any liquid comes out of cylinders. Then reinstall plugs and try it.

 

[BigMike50]

of course it will spin freely by hand with the plug removed. You release all compression by doing this. With the spark plug in, it will be VERY difficult to move by hand depending on what stroke the valves are in for that rotation because of compression. This leads me to belive you have a bad ground and the starter isn't able to draw enough juice to turn it over. do what the other guy said and try to start it without the plug in there. if it does, put the plug back in and take some jumper cables and jump it with your car but take the negaitive lead going to the tractor and ground it to a piece of bare metal on the engine block of the tractor of on the frame. If it starts then either your battery has a bad cell and is trash even though it is reading full. Ill bet that the battery is bad. I have a wheel horse in the garage right now that has to get jumped even if I fully charge it because im too cheap to buy another battery

 

[ozley]

Make/model 917.289472 GT5000, Serial # 051310A005218
Engine info: Kohler Courage 26hp, SN:4004905773

Here's my problem, I put in storage last fall after changing the oil, draining the fuel tank and checking the spark plugs. I make sure the battery is charged and go to start it up today and the engine won't crank, I mean won't even budge! I try to turn the engine by hand and I find resistance like it's fighting compression. I remove the spark plugs and try to turn the engine by hand again, this time it turns freely. I reinstall the plugs and same thing as before, it won't move. It's only 3yrs. old, I'm kind of at a loss with this.
Any ideas?

Try Adjusting the valves.

 

[tcartwri]

The batteries that come in these things from Sears are good for about two seasons. They will test fine with a volt meter, and seem to take a charge, but as soon as you put a load on them they crap out. Try jump starting it with your car, to eliminate the starter as the fault.

 

[phiferpharm]

May sound silly, but be sure the blade switch is not engaged. I did that by mistake on my Craftsmen. Started up great when I realized I was having a senior moment...

 

[ErikQ]

I did think it originally was the battery but I have a 50amp start switch on my charger and tried that, but the gear on the starter just disengaged by spinning up. I'll try to jump it from the car tomorrow and see if it makes a difference.

 

[ErikQ]

May sound silly, but be sure the blade switch is not engaged. I did that by mistake on my Craftsmen. Started up great when I realized I was having a senior moment...

I read that idea in another post, but it wasn't the case here.

 

[94BULLITT]

How many volts does the battery have?

 

[ErikQ]

How many volts does the battery have?

It's reading 12.3v.

 

[94BULLITT]

It's reading 12.3v.

What does it drop to while you are cranking it?

 

[ErikQ]

Battery is shot, jumped it with the car and it started right up. Thanks fellas!

 

[dusty3030]

You know where you can get a really good U1 lawn and garden type battery? ................ Nowhere!

I gave up and just buy the cheapest at Wally World or AutoZone or where ever I can find that day. 2 years max, whether I leave it on a trickle maintainer all winter or not is all I have been able to get out of any of them.

Glad you figured it out.

 

[94BULLITT]

I have had really good luck with interstate l&g batteries. I had one that was still going after 6 or 7 years, I don't know if is dead now, I got rid of the mower.

 

[BigMike50]

Delete. Repeat post

 

[sox3]

the volts dont tell you anything really. With the meter on it, turn the key to start and see what the voltage goes to.
If less than 9, bad battery. Only true way to test battery is with a load tester.
Did you crank it over with the plugs out of it?

 

[BigMike50]

the volts dont tell you anything really. With the meter on it, turn the key to start and see what the voltage goes to.
If less than 9, bad battery. Only true way to test battery is with a load tester.
Did you crank it over with the plugs out of it?

He fixed it. Bad battery