Lawn mowers are one of the most commonly used lawn maintenance tools. The average lifespan of a battery-powered lawn mower is six to ten years, and the batteries typically run out before this time. You might be wondering if a lawn mower will run with a dead battery.
The answer is yes! Lawn mowers can still operate because there is plenty of power in the engine. If your lawn mower has an electric start, then you’ll need to charge or replace the battery before using it again.
Lawn mowers use a lot of power
Lawn mowers use a lot of power, especially on a sunny, warm day. When the mower is moving at a fast speed, a lawn mower can use up to 350 amps of power. This is the same amount of power that would be used to operate your dryer. With this kind of power, the engine of a lawn mower can go for a long time with a dead battery.
Many lawn mowers have a kickstart mechanism. This is an electric start with an optional electric ignition. It is a mechanical device that uses a small contactor to start your mower. It’s not necessary to use a kickstart on a lawn mower with an electric start, but the kickstart is convenient for you and your neighbors.
Lawn mowers can be connected to a charger Most lawn mowers have a jack and a clamp at the bottom of the frame to hold the mower off the ground.
Dead batteries don’t always mean that a lawn mower will stop running
Many people assume that if a battery is dead, that a lawn mower will stop running. This is not always true. Most lawn mowers have a switch on the front of the mower, and that switch will make the mower stop when the battery is too low.
In this case, it’s not a technical question, it’s a mower choice. Other than the battery, batteries are another common maintenance issue for lawn mowers. It’s important to keep the batteries in good condition to prevent overheating or draining.
Clean your lawn mower’s battery box every six months. Check your battery charger to ensure that it’s being used properly. Clean it off and check the internal components of the charger to make sure it’s not overcharged or that it isn’t pulling too much current from the battery.
Replacing your battery before it dies
A low battery warning light can appear on your lawn mower. When this happens, you’ll need to check the mower’s battery, charger and battery terminals. You can replace the battery, charger and battery terminals with a battery-charging and/or battery-terminal changing kit.
With the right tools, this procedure is quick and easy. However, you should not simply yank the lawn mower’s key out and place it in the charger.
The battery shouldn’t be removed if it’s not charging, so wait until it is completely charged before you use the mower again. A battery charging and/or battery terminal changing kit won’t be the right tool if you need to replace the battery in your mower.
It is possible to fix a dead battery
If you buy a new battery for your lawn mower and it still runs without a problem, this might mean that the machine uses so much juice that the battery has become overloaded. While an overloaded battery won’t make the mower run without a charge, it is possible to fix a dead battery if you are willing to disassemble the mower and do a little maintenance.
1. Gently pull on the cord to see if the mower is turned on. If the engine turns over on its own, then the battery must have become too hot.
2. Remove the spark plug.
3. Remove the engine from the deck.
4. Locate the left-hand drive key in the ignition switchbox.
5. Connect the ignition key and the battery terminal to a battery charger and turn the mower off.
6. Remove the wheel to the drive axle.
7. Locate and remove the clutch disc.
Conclusion
You now have all of the information you need to know about your lawn mower’s battery. The amount of power in the engine determines how long it will take to charge the battery.
A lawn mower that requires a charge will take much longer to run because the engine doesn’t have the power needed to get it going. Some lawn mowers are equipped with a key to unlock the gas tank and access the engine. This is a great feature for charging batteries.
Other lawn mowers are equipped with a pull switch, so you can operate it from the back of the mower. These kinds of lawn mowers can be stored in your garage, under the house, or even outdoors with the engine and battery fully exposed to the elements. A lawn mower with a pull switch is usually easier to use than a battery-operated lawn mower.