How To Start A Riding lawn Mower With A Screwdriver?

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Did you lose the key to your riding lawnmower? Or perhaps misplaced it somewhere.

Now you must be stressed because you can’t start your lawnmower. Well, don’t panic. Here, we will give you a super ninja technique for starting your lawn mower even if you misplaced your key.

Two methods of starting your riding lawn mower with a screwdriver. Both methods are user-friendly and pretty simple. It’s not that you need some technician to do this for you.

So, even if you don’t have anyone around to help you, you can take out a screwdriver from your toolbox and get your lawn mower moving.

At the very conclusion of this blog piece, you will find additional upkeep advice that will be of great use to you.

How to Start a Riding Lawnmower With a Screwdriver?

How to Start a Riding Lawnmower With a Screwdriver
Image Source: usedlawntractorparts

If you have misplaced or damaged your key, this article will provide you with two different ways to start your lawnmower using additional equipment, such as a screwdriver.

Also Read:- 7 Excellent Riding Lawn Mower Reviews – Choose the Perfection in 2022

Method 1: Bridge the Mechanism

Method 1: Bridge the Mechanism
Image Source: gardentoolexpert

This method is to be used by wearing rubber gloves for safety and also as a way for you to get your lawn started.

Step 1: Put the Mower’s Brakes Into the Parking Position

This step might be different for you depending on the kind of lawnmower that you use. You must pull a lever to activate the parking brakes on most lawnmowers. But on other models, you have to push the brake pedals to get the job done.

Step 2: Make Sure the Cutting Blades Aren’t Engaged

This process is carried out as a safety measure to ensure that there would be no risks associated with a quick back start.

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Step 3: Locate the Battery as Well as the Ignition Coil

Once the parking mode on the mower has been chosen and the blades have been turned off, it is time to locate the battery associated with the lawnmower.

When you raise the hood of your vehicle or other equipment, the position of the fuel gauge is often not hard to find. The batteries of specific models of lawnmowers are stored in compartments under the seat of the operator’s chair.

If you have previously located the battery, you may try to find the ignition coil by following the connections that link the battery to it. This may be successful.

It shouldn’t take you more than a little bit of time. You may find information on the specific position of the components of the lawnmower that you are looking for in the owner’s manual.

Step 4: Bridge the Mechanism by Using the Screwdriver

Find a little box connected to the engine compartment’s wall. You can use the screwdriver to aid you in activating the bridging mechanism after you have discovered it. And when you have found it, you may use it to help you activate it.

It is essential to build a bridge across the space that exists between the solenoid (ignition coil) and the starter (crankshaft position sensor). You may need a screwdriver to complete this task.

The screwdriver with two heads should be used to make contact with both of the connectors. Following the activation of the lawnmower, it will finally start when you can begin the grass-cutting process.

Put on some rubber gloves as a precautionary step to avoid being burned by any sparks that may go off while doing this activity.

Method 2: Screwdriver in the Keyhole

Screwdriver In the Keyhole
Image Source: toolsdoctor

This method is to be used by inserting the screwdriver into the keyhole. The steps below will guide you to reach the ignition chamber and start your lawnmower.

Also Read:- How To Make A Riding Lawn Mower Go Faster? (7 Possible Ways)

Step 1: Put the Brakes in Motion and Disconnect the Blades

In the same way as the prior procedure, you should apply the brakes and disengage the blades as a preventative measure against any potential dangers.

Step 2: Find a Screwdriver With a Flat Head

A screwdriver that has a flat head can complete this technique. It is a kind of a screwdriver with a flat tip in the shape of a wedge and is used to remove screws from the head of the screw with a linear or straight notch.

Find a screwdriver with a flat head and a size that is just a hair smaller than the hole where the ignition key goes. This will allow you to get the key in and out of the ignition.

Step 3: Place the Screwdriver in the keyhole in a Cautious Manner

In this process stage, you will use the screwdriver instead of the misplaced key. Now, very gently insert the screwdriver into the keyhole so that it lines up properly inside without causing any damage to the ignition chamber.

Step 4: Rotate It in the Hole

Move the screwdriver around in the aperture in the same manner that you would move the key around in the ignition chamber. Keep the rotation going until the engine starts moving. As soon as it starts, the engine’s sound will growl.

Note that some lawnmowers have a safety feature that prevents the ignition hole from being started by anything other than the mower’s unique key. Possibly this won’t work for them.

Safety Measures And Tips

  • Ensure that you always keep your lawnmower in an appropriate location so that you can preserve both its performance and its health. The lawn mower should be brought inside and kept in a garage to shield it from inclement weather.
  • Never go back inside after leaving the machine out in the rain. It is always preferable to make use of high-quality replacement components wherever it is workable to do so.
  • However, the use of select OEM components of acceptable quality is not only acceptable but also sometimes more cost-effective.
  • A location with adequate ventilation is preferable for tasks such as cleaning and maintenance. Make use of a surface that is level and flat. Check to verify that the parking brake is set before continuing.
  • If you spend a lot of time working on your lawnmower, you may want to consider investing in a lawnmower lift. The mower will be raised, making working on it much less complicated.

Recommendations

  • Some lawnmowers have parking brakes that can be engaged with a pedal press. On the other hand, some lawnmowers have a brake that is applied through a lever rather than a pedal.
  • The two steps necessary to park your lawnmower are applying the brake and adjusting the handle to the correct position. However, the exact steps will depend on the capabilities of your mower.
  • You can prevent an accident from happening if you disengage the cutting blade if the brake begins working suddenly. You should not miss this step since it is necessary for your safety.
  • Drop the screwdriver into the notch. Your mower’s key won’t fit, but this will function as a suitable replacement.
  • Keep turning the screwdriver until the car starts. Using the flathead screwdriver, you have successfully started the lawnmower. Turn the screwdriver as you turn the key in the ignition.

FAQ’s

Can I use a jump start to get my riding mower going?

Push- or tow-starting is not an option for riding mowers. A dead battery, a clogged fuel filter, or a broken starter solenoid are typical reasons a riding mower won’t turn over. They may be “Hotwired” or “jumpstarted” instead.

In what way do you deactivate the lawnmower’s parking brake?

Put the gear selector forward, depress the parking brake, and then step on the gas pedal.

When starting a lawnmower, how often should you pull the cord?

To start a lawnmower, you should give the handle three or four pulls. When you’re ready to mow, give the mower a few nudges to begin the wheels spinning, then pull the lever quickly and far back. Getting it started quickly depends on how well you pull it.

Is it possible to use a vehicle charger on a lawnmower’s battery?

The battery charger for your vehicle may be used to charge the battery for your lawnmower; use the jumper wires to connect the two. Only 12-volt batteries may be used in this procedure.

What do you do if the battery in your lawnmower is dead?

The lawnmower’s engine block must be grounded to the vehicle battery, and the negative (black) wire must be connected to the battery. The correct order is to start the automobile first, then the lawn mower. Allow the engine to run for a few more seconds if the vehicle doesn’t start, and then try starting it again.

Final Remarks

You could not use the key to your lawnmower for various reasons. Possibly the key is missing, the ignition chamber has been damaged, or anything else has happened.

Therefore, a person may use a screwdriver to start their lawnmower to engage the bridging mechanism in that scenario.

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