How to Start a John Deere Lawnmower, Step by Step

Have trouble getting your lawnmower started? We’ve got the answers you need. Follow our step-by-step guide, and you’ll return to your lawn maintenance routine before you know it.

Before mowing, check oil and gas levels. Sit in the seat, push the brake pedal, and unlock the parking brake. Insert key, but don’t turn yet. For a cold engine, move the throttle to choke; for a warm one, move to half speed. Turn and hold the key for 5 seconds to start. Let the engine run at half speed for 2 minutes to warm up.

Can’t figure out why your lawnmower won’t start? It’s a common problem, but one that can be solved with a bit of know-how. Our guide provides step-by-step instructions to help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Read on to get your lawnmower—and your lawn maintenance routine—back on track.

Starting Procedure of a John Deere Lawnmower/Lawn-tractor, Step by Step:

Starting a John Deere lawnmower is not tricky. All you need to do is to follow six easy steps. Before you begin with the actual procedure, keep the following essential things in mind:

– Start the mower in an appropriate area:

We recommend you never start your John Deere lawnmower in a closed space, such as a garage or a shed, where the fumes can’t escape.

The engine exhaust fumes contain toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, which is so dangerous that it can cause severe injury or even death if inhaled in an enclosed space. So, start the mower outdoors or open the doors and windows if you intend to start it in the garage.

If you cannot create adequate ventilation for the exhaust fumes in your garage, attach a pipe extension to the exhaust and run it outside. This way, the fumes will be directed away from you.

– Sit in the seat:

You must sit in the chair facing the tractor’s front to start it. This step may sound “too obvious,” but it is necessary. This is because the new models of John Deere tractors are equipped with safety switches that won’t let the engine start unless an operator is sitting in the seat.

Rex Allen

Lawnmower Expert

In my two decades of experience, I’ve found that the first thing to check before starting a John Deere lawnmower is the fuel level and the condition of the mower blades. Ensuring the blades are sharp and not damaged is crucial for optimal performance.

With these two things ensured, proceed to the starting procedure.

● Step 1: Prestart checks and starts the engine

Before you start your John Deere lawnmower, you should do some prestart checks. They involve checking the oil and gas levels and seeing if the blades are ok. Check that the blades are sharp and there is no visible damage.

If all is ok, you can begin the process of starting the engine. Put the key in the ignition slot, often located on the right side of the steering wheel. Locate the slot and put the key into the slot, but don’t turn it in just yet.

Turning the ignition key turns the ignition switch on, allowing current from the battery to start running through the ignition system. When you insert the key, it will be in the stop position; let it be in this position

● Step 2: Push the brake pedal and unlock the mower’s parking brake

Depending on your model, the brake pedal could be located on your lawnmower’s left or right side. Put your foot on the brake pedal, push it down, and hold it there.

With the brake pedal fully pushed down, push the parking brake lever to unlock the brake. The parking brake lever is often located below the ignition.

● Step 3: Move the throttle lever into the choke position for a cold mower or half-speed position for a warm mower

The throttle lever is positioned on the left side of the steering wheel. Locate the throttle lever. If your engine is cold, put the throttle lever in the cold start (choke) position. If you are starting an already warm engine, move the throttle lever to the half-speed position.

Keep in mind that your John Deere lawnmower might have a choke knob instead of a choke position. In this case, put the throttle in the half-speed position, then pull out the choke knob.

● Step 4: Turn and hold the key to the start position for 5 seconds

The next step is to turn the key to the right (start position). Hold it in the turned position for five seconds, no longer. Release the key when the engine is starting..

If your engine does not start with one turn of the key, wait for around ten seconds, then turn and hold the key like before, and release it after no longer than five seconds. Repeat this procedure until your engine starts. A healthy engine with adequate fuel will start on the first or second try.

Remember that holding the key at the start position for more than five seconds can damage the starter. So, be careful in this process.

● Step 5: Let the critical run to its initial position

Your engine will start running when the key is in the start position. Once the engine starts, let go of the key. The key will automatically return to the run position.

On the ignition switch, the run position is located to the immediate left of the start position. The key will stay in the run position as long as your John Deere lawnmower runs.

Rex Allen

Lawnmower Expert

Over the years, I’ve realized the importance of thoroughly reading the user manual before operating the lawnmower. It contains specific instructions for your model, which can prevent accidents and damage to the machine

● Step 6: Let the engine run at half-speed

The mower needs to warm up properly before it starts operating. So, let the engine idle for around two minutes before you begin operating the mower.

Don’t let the engine idle for more than 2 minutes. If you are operating the mower and need a break longer than 2 minutes, turn it off instead of letting it idle. Please turn it on when you are ready to operate it again.

– Safety Precautions After Mowing

We hope you enjoy mowing the yard with the engine started and the John Deere mower running. Once done with the mowing, you must also turn the mower off. In the next section, we’ll show you how to turn off a John Deere lawnmower.

Turning off Procedure of a John Deere Lawnmower/Lawn-tractor, Step by Step:

Follow the steps given below to turn off your John Deere lawnmower:

● Step 1: Move the throttle into the slow position

The first step is to move the throttle lever past the fast setting to the choke setting and let your mower idle at this speed for around 30 seconds. If you don’t perform this step before turning the engine off, unburnt fuel will stay in the engine.

When the engine idles at a slow speed for half a minute, the engine’s amount of unburnt fuel is considerably minimized. Ensure your mower is parked in an area with proper ventilation while idling slowly. This step is crucial because it doesn’t work in some scenarios.

● Step 2: Turn the key to the stop position

The next step is to turn the key to the left. With the key in the stop position, you’ll hear the engine turning off.

Don’t remove the key yet.

● Step 3: Engage the parking brake

Depressing the brake is essential. Push the brake pedal down and hold it in this position. With the brake pedal compressed, pull up the parking brake lever to lock the parking brake. Once the parking brake is closed, take your foot off the brake pedal.

Once the parking brake is locked, take your foot off the brake pedal.

● Step 4: Remove the key

Once the mower is successfully turned off, remove the key from the ignition slot. Keep the key in a safe place. Remember, seating and depressing the brake are crucial steps in this process.

Rex Allen

Lawnmower Expert

Regular maintenance is key to ensuring the lawnmower starts properly every time. This includes regularly changing the oil, cleaning or replacing the air filter, and keeping the blades sharp

John Deere Mower Starting Problems:

John Deere’s mowers are reliable, but even the best machines can get into trouble. It is always possible that your John Deere lawnmower does not usually start because of several reasons. Most of these issues are not too severe and can be fixed by the user.

This blog contains many step-by-step articles on how to deal with these problems. Let’s look at some of these issues:

The issues mentioned in the table are pretty standard for all lawnmowers. The best way to deal with these issues is to avoid them with regular maintenance of your John Deere lawnmower.

You can consult the manufacturer’s manual to learn all the maintenance routines to keep your mower healthy. Maintenance increases both the performance and life of machines.

Remarks:

It is common for new lawnmower owners to get confused about the starting and turning off procedure. If you are a new John Deere mower owner, it is time for your confusion to go away. The guidelines provided in this blog post will help you with the starting and turning off procedures.

After performing these procedures two or three times, you’ll begin to remember them and won’t need to refer to the instructions anymore. Perform regular maintenance to ensure that your John Deere mower starts up and runs smoothly.