# Craftsman Lawn Tractor won't start

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/craftsman-lawn-tractor-wont-start/92436>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [February 3, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/craftsman-lawn-tractor-wont-start/92436 "2016-02-03T16:58:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Skal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Skal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Skal)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/craftsman-lawn-tractor-wont-start/92436/1 "2016-02-03T16:58:04Z")

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I bought a 2013 Craftsman Lawn Tractor with a 21 HP Briggs and Stratton motor  
It has been good but this fall I started to have trouble starting it.  
Replaced the battery,cables,solenoid and starter. Still the same problem. I tried rotating the engine to make sure the motor wasn’t locked uo.  
When I rotated the engine until it tighten up(pistons were at the top of the cycle) it started. I’ve had to repeat this each time I want to use the tractor.  
Any ideas on what happened or how or what I need to do to fix this I appreciate any insight

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**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/craftsman-lawn-tractor-wont-start/92436/2 "2016-02-03T18:32:57Z")

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What are the symptoms when it doesn’t start?  
Does it crank?

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**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/craftsman-lawn-tractor-wont-start/92436/3 "2016-02-03T19:45:40Z")

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Perhaps a faulty compression release?

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/craftsman-lawn-tractor-wont-start/92436/4 "2016-02-03T20:35:37Z")

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Pull the valve cover on top of the engine head and make sure the valve tappet bolts are tight. These engines have a problem with them coming loose after a season or two. I have this engine and have to set these valve adjustments every year to make sure the engines starts and runs.

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**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/craftsman-lawn-tractor-wont-start/92436/5 "2016-02-03T20:43:41Z")

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Yes, adjust the valves.

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**Author:** ![Sloepoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sloepoke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sloepoke)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 9:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/craftsman-lawn-tractor-wont-start/92436/6 "2016-02-03T21:22:20Z")

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I had a 17 hp briggs powered mower that did the same thing even with a good battery & the valves properly adjusted . Do these engines have a compression release ?

Just googled it & it seems they do . Watched a short u-tube video of how it works . It holds one of the valves slightly open at very low rpm’s .