Any riding mower gurus?

[Rev_D21]

I have a Kohler MV20 powered riding lawn mower and a couple months ago I had to jump off of it while it was still running, attacked by wasps if one must know. The tractor hasn't run the same since. It started out with a hard start, it would crank and crank eventually starting and running fine till the next time it was shut off. I replaced the fuel filter which looked a little old. I replaced the plugs which looked OK, just worn. It would run fine for the next few days after that but the hard starting returned. 2 weeks ago I had the tractor running, got about 4 rows in and it just quit. It didn't even putter down, it just stopped. I checked for spark and found none. It cranks and cranks but it doesn't even sputter like it's going to start anymore. I replaced the ignition coil pack and got same results, cranks but no start. I am at a loss here. Can it be that I damaged something when I jumped off the tractor that one day? Could the seat/kill switch need to be replaced after an event like that? I did test the switch for ohms and it appears to be working but who knows? I am not a tractor person, just a tractor driver. Anyone?

[krash]

Sounds like the cut off switch under the seat may have gotten messed up. I can't really think of anything else that would make the mower cut off like that.

[Rev_D21]

That's kind of what I am thinking here. Looking at the schematic that switch will ground out the IGN coil if it opens. I hate throwing parts at things like this but I know so little about these things I seem to have no choice.

[krash]

Try wiring that switch together and see if it works properly. Did it cut off when you jumped off?

[Rev_D21]

It did cut off like it should have. Of course who knows how old that switch is? It looks cheap enough to gamble on.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Yeah, I'd try just bypassing the switch altogether. I'd probably do that with any riding mower I bought anyway. If you cut off any limbs I take no responsibility.

[Rev_D21]

I'll be sure to not have my manhood dangling anywhere near the thing when I fire it up.

[Dattebayo]

It does use a battery, yes? If not, I'd try checking the magneto.

[Rev_D21]

It's a 12v battery system.

[Dattebayo]

Maybe you're just not sitting in the seat right. I'd try bouncing in it a bunch when starting.

[Rev_D21]

That's not a bad idea either. When I was checking the switch for resistance I did notice the readings were all over the place. I figured since it's a 'dumb' switch that only has to make contact I didn't think much of the fluctuations at the time.

[Dattebayo]

SO, did you mow the lawn yet?

[Rev_D21]

Yes, in fact it ran awesome all day long. All I did was charge the battery for 2 hours at work and wiggle the seat switch around. Something worked because it started up just fine and mowed for 2 hours without any problems. It even restarted with no problems. I haven't replaced the switch yet but I think it was the root of the problem. It runs like a raped ape now with the new ign coil too. Thanks for helping me out.