Any harm in always jump starting kohler 7k series?

[StillLearning]

I have a 46" Cub Cadet XT1 with the Kohler 7000 series 2 cylinder engine. The original battery gave up the ghost and became too weak to turn over last season. Since then I have been using a jumper pack to start it and just keep it running until finished.

I will eventually get around to replacing it, but is there any harm or risk of damage to the charging system if I continue to just jump start it every time I use it for now?

 

[DriveHard]

If it has an alternator, I would think you are taxing the crap out of it trying to charge a dead battery...shortening the life.

 

[StillLearning]

If it has an alternator, I would think you are taxing the crap out of it trying to charge a dead battery...shortening the life.

I think it just has a "Magneto" charging system, but I am not sure.

If that is the case it would certainly be a motivator to get it replaced sooner rather than later.

Would that be a belt driven accessory on a small lawn tractor? I know the engine does not have any belts, unless they are internal.

 

[Brian123]

I have a 46" Cub Cadet XT1 with the Kohler 7000 series 2 cylinder engine. The original battery gave up the ghost and became too weak to turn over last season. Since then I have been using a jumper pack to start it and just keep it running until finished.

I will eventually get around to replacing it, but is there any harm or risk of damage to the charging system if I continue to just jump start it every time I use it for now?

I see you are in Connecticut, during the offseason I would either start this mower up every 2 weeks or put this battery on a Trickle Charge.

1) Do you blow this Mower after each use?
2) How many hours are on this Mower?
3) This is the most important thing, every time you start this mower, I do have the same mower, LOL. You must speak to it before starting the mower, and say, Please Start.

4) How old is the Mower and how many years do you have on this Battery?

 

[Dave Sherman]

Depends on the failure mode of the battery. If the battery has a shorted cell, then yes, it could be overloading the charging system. I can't speak for a Cub Cadet, but the charging system on my Deere riding mower is just a stator coil and a transistorized voltage regulator. If the battery has developed a high resistance or just can't hold a charge to crank, but stays at 12 volts, then the charging circuit probably won't even notice. My Deere has an ignition relay to kill the ignition for the seat/PTO/transaxle safety switches, so it can't keep running if the battery voltage is too low, but if I jump the dead battery long enough to get some charge in it, it's fine.

 

[StillLearning]

I see you are in Connecticut, during the offseason I would either start this mower up every 2 weeks or put this battery on a Trickle Charge.

1) Do you blow this Mower after each use?
2) How many hours are on this Mower?
3) This is the most important thing, every time you start this mower, I do have the same mower, LOL. You must speak to it before starting the mower, and say, Please Start.

4) How old is the Mower and how many years do you have on this Battery?

1) I do use compressed air to blow off the deck, transaxle and engine compartment after each use.
2) Just turned 200 hrs
3) LOL! Knock on wood this is the easiest starting mower I have ever owned. Push the lever up to start and it usually starts after 1 or 2 turns of the engine. I then immediately drop it down to the lowest engine speed for a couple minutes to give it a chance to warm up. I will admit a warm start is a guessing game of do I push the lever up to choke, try starting it at low speed or somewhere in between.
4)Mower and battery are about 6 years old. Original battery.

I used to throw a trickle charger on it for the first few years as it was a new toy and was kept in the garage. Last few years have been outside storage, so no access to power for a trickle charger.

 

[Brian123]

I think it is time for a new Battery, a trickle charger can prolong a battery for so long.

I see you have a 2009 Corvette, please tell me that this car is not the same color as your Cub Cadet XT1?

 

[mk378]

The charging system consists of a coil under the flywheel and a rectifier / regulator mounted near the flywheel, on the opposite side of the engine from the starter.
These systems tolerate abuse well. If the blade clutch works the battery is probably not shorted.

 

[jeepman3071]

While I don't think it would cause any damage unless you arc something hooking the cables up, I'd want to pay the money for a battery over the pain in the neck it is to jump start it each time. I mean a lawn battery is what 40-60 bucks?

 

[Lubener]

While I don't think it would cause any damage unless you arc something hooking the cables up, I'd want to pay the money for a battery over the pain in the neck it is to jump start it each time. I mean a lawn battery is what 40-60 bucks?

For eight months, my neighbor used his booster and jumped started his Ford Escape everytime he needed to drive it. There are those who do it.

 

[cptbarkey]

Less than $35 at walmart. Your welcome.

 

[SC Maintenance]

No idea if this is pertinent, but growing up we had a very old Briggs engine riding mower - like 12 hp - with magneto charger. It never had a battery in it at all - ever. Simply jumped it every time. It never quit. Burned a ton of oil. I think the undercarriage - all the pulleys and such finally wore out beyond the point of repair but never failed to start.

Clearly there were no solid state controls on this thing - so that might be the determination?