Tell us if this has ever happened to you: you're preparing to mow your lawn with your trusty riding mower, only to be met with the disappointing sounds of an engine struggling to start. Recharging with a battery charger may take hours, but there's a quicker solution that might work — jump start your lawn mower with your car battery.
Messing with electronics can be dangerous, which is why our helpful team of engineers at Mowrator have written this guide to assist you. If you want to learn how to jump start a zero turn mower or lawn tractor, read our complete guide for safety precautions and a full step-by-step. You'll be mowing your lawn in no time!
Key Takeaways
- A lawn mower jump start can be done with a car battery, but not the other way around.
- To jumpstart your lawn mower, connect the red cables followed by the black cables and attempt to start your lawn mower again.
- To prevent your lawn mower battery from discharging during a long storage period, you can use a trickle charger to maintain it over the off-season.
Is it Safe to Jump Start your Lawn Mower Battery?
Yes, it is safe to jump start your lawn mower if you're careful. Riding mowers that use a lead-acid battery can be especially dangerous, as they contain highly acidic liquids that could injure you if mishandled. Lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, while not acidic, will still suffer damage if you don't jump start the lawn mower battery properly. Keep in mind that not all lithium-ion batteries can act as a jump lawn mower battery.
Ideally, your lawn mower battery how many volts should be at least a 12-volt battery. If you have a small engine that uses a 6-volt battery, there's a high chance that it could become damaged if you attempt to jumpstart it.
How to Jump Start your Riding Mower Battery with a Car?
- Prepare yourself. Before you jump start your riding mower battery, you need to wear safety goggles and gloves. For extra safety, make sure to clear the area of any flammable materials like grass or cloth, and check your owner's manual for additional tips.
- Find and check your battery. Open your lawn mower and locate the battery. Once you've found the battery, make sure to check it for any cracks, swelling, and leaks which may indicate that it may be damaged. Also ensure that your battery's terminals are clean and that your jumper cables are not frayed or broken.
- Prepare your car to jump start. Park your car close to the riding mower, preferably on a flat surface where your car has minimal chances of rolling or moving while you jump start. Turn your car off and wait at least 30 minutes to avoid burning yourself when you connect the jumper cables to its battery.
- Connect your jump start cables. Always begin with the dead battery. Start by attaching the red jumper cable to the positive terminal of your riding mower's battery, followed by connecting the other end of the red cable to the positive terminal of your car engine battery. Then, attach the other end of the black cable to any unpainted metal section of your car frame or engine.
- Begin the process. Keep your car turned off and start the mower. If it doesn't start, wait a beat before trying again. Ideally, this process will start a riding lawn mower without needing to charge the battery to full.
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Disconnect the cables. Once your lawn mower has started, do not turn it off. Remove the black jumper from the car's frame or engine block and then from the negative terminal of its battery. Then, remove the red cable from the car's battery and finally disconnect it from the lawn mower's battery.
Charge your lawn mower battery. Allow your lawn mower to run for at least 30 minutes, so the alternator can charge the battery. - Charge your lawn mower battery. Allow your lawn mower to run for at least 30 minutes, so the alternator can charge the battery.
If you’ve been exploring the cordless lawn mower lithium battery market, you might also be wondering about the advantages of lithium batteries compared to traditional lead-acid ones. These batteries tend to last longer and charge faster, making them an excellent option for homeowners seeking efficiency. Finally, for anyone new to lawn care, do lawn mower batteries come charged? While many batteries arrive partially charged, it's always best to fully charge them before first use to ensure optimal performance.
Avoid the hassle of charging your riding lawn mower by using a full electric lawn mower like Mowrator's S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD. With a 3-in-1 system that includes rear-bagging, mulching, and discharging, you can enjoy a hassle-free start with a single press of a button. Shop your remote control lawn mower today.
How to Jump Start your Lawn Mower Battery with a Car FAQs
Will a Lawn Mower Battery Start a Car Battery?
No, unfortunately, your lawn mower battery is unlikely to start your car battery. Car batteries have much higher capacity and cold cranking amps that a lawn mower engine does not have the power to fulfil. It's advised that you don't attempt to jump start your car with a lawn mower battery, as it can cause damage to the battery — you can use a car's battery to jump start a riding mower, though.
Can a Dead Lawn Mower Battery be recharged?
Yes, you can recharge a dead lawn mower battery using a compatible charger (usually a 12 volt charger). This process usually takes several hours, but you can keep track of the voltage using a multimeter in the meantime. If you want to ensure your battery stays charged while keeping it over the winter season, you can use a trickling charger.
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