Lawn Tractor help needed

2000Durahoe

2000Durahoe

Forum Member
If my lawn tractor sits more than two days the battery goes dead. What could be causing it? There aren't any lights of anything to go dead. Hell, the headlights don't even work. There is a starter, sensor on the bowl of the carb (no idea what it does), a sensor on the seat that is unplugged, and what looks to be a voltage regulator. Under the seat next to the battery there is a solenoid with a 20a fuse next to it. All connections are tight and clean.

Edit - Its a little Simplicity Regent with a Vanguard 14hp engine.
 
Is this with a new battery in it or old one? Went through same issues with a Cub Cadet, finally I wired in a battery shut off with the big red "fisher price" looking key. This year with a good battery from last year, it fired right up without a charge, no drain or loss from the winter.

Could be shit$y battery that only holds charge that long.

A drain, circuit drawing current when turned off, this will take some time to find. But the cut-off switch is easy quick fix, find them at Harbor Freight for cheap.
 
Its a brand new Interstate but I like that idea! I already have them on my Tahoe and F250 because i'll go weeks at a time without using them. It finally killed the battery last year and this one has been in the tractor probably 3 days.
 
New batteries aren't "new" either =-}' How long has it been on the shelf? etc........

Good luck, I hate fukin' with the tractor every year, we buy a new battery just about every year since it sit's in the shed with no electricity to put a "tender" on it. Cheaper than haulin' it to a shop for a "diag" and repair.
 
you could put an ammeter between the battery and cable and start disconnecting wires/ sensors until you see a significant drop in current. or maybe you wont see a draw which will tell you its likely the battery.

instead of investing a few bucks and time installing a cutoff, try just disconnecting the battery cable next time your finished with it, then reconnect it when you want to use the tractor again (a few days later) and see if the battery is still good.
 
mine ate batteries until i replaced the starter. battery stayed charged all through the winter and started right up! just follow the power wire everywhere and make sure its good. then make sure the grounds are good, disconnect each ground and clean the connections with sand paper.
 
I put a safety switch on for, well, safety sake but I did diagnose it. There is a sensor on the bottom of the carb that was drawing a bit of power. I don't really know what it does. I know a lot of diesels have them for water but this is a tiny gasser.
 
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