Lawnmowers are really convenient for making lawn care super simple and easy. However, like any piece of machinery, there are times when your lawnmower malfunctions and refuses to work.
There are plenty of potential causes for this but the most important thing to know is how to remedy the situation. In this article, we will look at how to jumpstart your lawnmower with your car when it won’t start by itself.
Is It Possible To Jump A Lawnmower With A Car?
The short answer to this question is, yes. However, the reality is a little bit more nuanced than that. It is possible to jump-start your lawnmower using your car if your mower is a ride-on model and has a 12-volt battery.
If your mower is not a ride-on model or the battery is smaller than this, jumpstarting it is not an option and you will have to look into alternatives.
With that being said, even if your lawnmower does match the specifications above, jumpstarting your lawnmower can be risky and there are things that need to be considered when attempting this.
If you are unsure about the process of jumpstarting your lawnmower, it is always best to hold off and seek advice from a mechanic or simply replace your battery.
Things To Consider Before Jumpstarting Your Mower
Jumpstarting any motor requires the transfer of energy from one battery to another, this can be dangerous if the proper precautions haven’t been taken or if you don’t know what you are doing.
Below are some things that need to be considered before attempting to jump your lawnmower.
The most important thing to check is that your battery is 12 volts and that it is not leaking anywhere. Trying to jump a battery that is leaking can be incredibly dangerous and lead to an explosion.
If there is liquid on or near the battery and you are unsure if it is battery fluid, avoid jumping the lawnmower.
It is also important to check other aspects of your lawnmower’s motor before attempting a jump-start. Components that should be checked include spark plugs, filters, oil, and fuel levels.
If all of these are in order and the battery isn’t leaking or damaged, you can prepare to jump your mower.
How To Jumpstart Your Mower’s Motor
Once you have established that your mower is safe to jumpstart it is important to learn how to properly and safely jump the motor.
Things You’ll Need
There are a few things that you will need to successfully jump the motor on your lawn mower. The most crucial tool that you need is jumper cables.
Make sure that your cables are in good condition and that the rubber insulation is intact.
You will also need leather gloves to help protect your hands from any potential electric shocks. Goggles can also be a good choice to help protect your eyes from sparks and other debris that may be dislodged during the process.
Some other items that can come in handy that may or may not be needed include vaseline, baking soda, and a wire brush.
Preparation
Before you dive on into jumping your motor, there are a few preparatory steps that you need to take. First of all, you need to put on all of the protective gear that you are going to be using including leather gloves and goggles.
Next, sprinkle some of the baking soda onto the terminals of the lawnmower battery.
This will help to neutralize any acid that is on the terminals. This should then be removed from the terminals with a wire brush to make sure that they are clean.
Once the baking soda has been removed, apply some vaseline to the poles. This will help to prevent corrosion of the poles during the jump.
Finally, make sure that the terminals are not damaged and are in good condition. If the terminals are damaged in any way, this can affect the battery charging from the alternator.
Step One
Move your car to the mower or the mower to your car, whichever is easiest. Position the mower battery close to the hood of your vehicle to ensure that the cables reach.
Make sure that the car and mower aren’t touching each other as this will cause a short circuit.
Step Two
Connect the two batteries via the jumper cables. Remember that the cables need to be connected in the correct order for the process to work properly.
You should attach the red clamp to the positive terminal of the mower battery. Connect the other end of the red clamp to the positive terminal of your car battery.
Take the black cable and attach the clamp to the negative terminal on your car battery. Connect the other end of the black cable to a part of your lawnmower’s engine.
Make sure that it is not connected to the negative terminal of your mower battery. Turn the ignition switch in your car and allow your lawn mower battery to charge up.
In the event that nothing happens when you fire up your car, turn the engine off and remove the jumper cables in the same order that you attached them.
Step Three
When you have let the battery charge up a little bit, attempt to fire up the lawnmower motor while it is connected to the car. If the battery doesn’t fire straight away, allow it to charge for a little longer until it will fire up.
Step Four
When your mower battery has received enough charge to fire up, remove the jumper cables in the reverse order, starting with the black cable. Remove the clamp on the engine part first and work backwards to the red clamps.
Final Thoughts
If you find that the motor in your ride-on lawnmower isn’t firing up, the most likely cause is a dead battery. It is possible to jump your mower from your car to get it going.
If your battery is at the end of its life, it is best to replace it.
