Just for starters (groan) make sure that you haven't developed some corrosion on your battery terminals. Sometimes there will be enough of a circuit to "burn" the lights but only click when asked to motor the starter. As for "starter coil" being hot: if you are referring to the starter motor on the engine.....it will be nearly as hot as the engine itself if engine has been run for a while. If you are referring to the "solenoid switch" or starter relay switch: that shouldn't be any hotter than ambient air temperature unless it has been engaged for an excessive amount of time. My bet is on the battery terminals.

Ask your dealer to fix it. You paid a premium for the JD brand and the service that goes along with it.

-Deerslayer

I believe that you purchased the extended warranty. Why not use it?

Benefits include:

* 4 and 3 years worth of coverage available
* 100% parts and labor coverage for mechanical and electrical failures
* Fast, reliable repairs provided by pre-screened, authorized technicians
* From day one, convenient onsite or pick-up service for riding mowers and products $800 and over. All other products qualify for carry-in service.
* Fix It FastSM Guarantee  if we can't fix your riding mower within two weeks, we'll pay to have your lawn cut (see terms and conditions for details)
* Power surge protection begins date of purchase
* No Lemon Guarantee  if your product requires more than 3 repairs for the same problem, we'll replace it
* Transferable, at no charge, to a new owner

-Deerslayer

Im going to use it if i have to.Pick up isnt free(i dont have a trailer).Im hoping they can just fix it here but im not holding my breath.

The same thing happed to my new LA120 vtwin (5 hrs), it wouldn't start when engine warmed up. I bought it from a JD dealer and they came right over and picked it up and I had it back the next day or so. The service guy said they adjusted the valves and replace a spring , I think something to do with the compression release. Works great now. He said they got a service bulletin on the faulty spring. Not sure if the B&S single would be the same as the vtwin....but don't think it is a serious problem.

Ok! Did some troubleshooting this mourning and this is what i game up with.With cable disconnected from starter i get 12v when i turn the key.When i connect back the cable voltage gets sucked down to around 6v.I did a resistance check to starter and i get around 10 ohms,dont know what is the norm.After a few tries with the key the bottom of rhe starter near the cable lug starts to get real warm.Im guessing that the starter has died.Anyone agree with this??

I'd say the battery is junk. Put the jumper cables on it and try again. Use caution, as it could blow up.

I got it to run YA!!!.disconected spark plug and tried to turn engine manually.It seemed to be jammed!after playing with it alittle whatever jammed it unjammed and it started right up.Im hoping this was a fluke and wont happen again.

stanleyjohn, it sounds as though the starter drive (Bendix) was jammed in against the flywheel, effectively locking the starter motor up.....until you rocked it by hand and the teeth fell back into alignment. It might not recur but if it does....use that warranty.

I knew you should have knocked on wood when you posted this:

RE: How long before your CHEAP lawn tractor fell apart.

* Posted by stanleyjohn (My Page) on
Sat, Jun 16, 07 at 16:41

Hmmmm! seems that if you have a LT with a real small yard and all you was going to do was mow!buying a real cheap LT is the smart way to go!unless you have money to burn.

Very funny Metal!but this problem could of happened to any LT you can buy.With all the cheapie things ive bought in the past i was bound to have one that had a problem so early in getting it.

Just teasing. I have a $1,000 John Deere in my garage. Hope your problem turns out to be a one time occurance. By the way, every time someone posts about how reliable their tractor is you can count on a "which Kohler engine has the head gasket problems?" thread by them the next week : )

No problem metal!No bad feelings.I called lowes today to register my extended warrenty and put info about what happened this weekend on record!Hopefully it dosnt happen again.Say hi anytime! Stan