LT 2042 not cranking

[ssallday]

Hello everyone, I made a post a while ago before the winter in regards to my tractor not running correctly but wanted to wait until the spring to address the problem. It was working fine until this past fall. Usually, I start it and raise the throttle up to medium to keep it running. When I started to use it this past fall for leaves, it took me about 4 or 5 times to get it running. I know it gets a bit cooler, but it never took this long to get the machine to run. I also noticed that after an hour of use, it would stall about 5 seconds after lowering the throttle which it has never done before. Another issue that occurred was it would stall out when I stepped off the mower with the brake lock on. Fast forward to today, I tried starting the mower, but it refused to crank. Not even a single click. I was able to get it running after jumping power from the solenoid to the starter so I know it's not that. It doesn't seem to have power to the solenoid after testing. What can be causing my mower not to start? I was thinking the safety switch underneath the seat.


Sidenote: I discovered that the 5 amp fuse was blown. I replaced it, but still no luck.

 

[tomplum]

You could have a few things happening here. From the hip, it would seem that you have fuel system issues such as old fuel or a carburetor that would need cleaning. If the park brake is set and you can't get off the mower, one would think that either brake switch isn't working, not being fully actuated or the PTO switch isn't completing the circuit to indicate that it is off. But then you get this running by jumping it. So are you doing so with the brake set? Is this an intermittent issue? One would have to dig a schematic to know what was on the 5 amp fuse.

 

[ssallday]

You could have a few things happening here. From the hip, it would seem that you have fuel system issues such as old fuel or a carburetor that would need cleaning. If the park brake is set and you can't get off the mower, one would think that either brake switch isn't working, not being fully actuated or the PTO switch isn't completing the circuit to indicate that it is off. But then you get this running by jumping it. So are you doing so with the brake set? Is this an intermittent issue? One would have to dig a schematic to know what was on the 5 amp fuse.

It was fine all summer then it started to act up in the fall. I'm pretty sure it will only jump start if I have my foot on the brake, but I will double check that today. It runs fine when cutting the grass at full throttle except when the throttle is lowered. Then it stalls out. All of the lights work, but the starter doesn't click when I turn the key. Went to the place I bought it from 13 years ago and all they wanted to was sell me a battery.

 

[JRobyn]

Likely one of the safety switches. Download a schematic from CubCadet and start tracing. On mine it was a brake switch up underneath the "passenger side" fender. The starter solenoid on these is also a poor design but a (fairly) easily replaced $10-$15 part.

For the stalling issue, the easiest things to check first are the air cleaner and get a fresh set of the correct spark plugs.

 

[ssallday]

Likely one of the safety switches. Download a schematic from CubCadet and start tracing. On mine it was a brake switch up underneath the "passenger side" fender. The starter solenoid on these is also a poor design but a (fairly) easily replaced $10-$15 part.

For the stalling issue, the easiest things to check first are the air cleaner and get a fresh set of the correct spark plugs.

I finally figured out the problem. It was a rectangular piece of metal that connects to the brake. The piece is suppose to hit into a switch that enables the lawn mower to start. Although I fixed that issue, a bolt on the solenoid snapped. I took the solenoid off, but the top piece doesn't look like it will come off.