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Tools
Tools
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On this page I'll list a number of tools and supplies you may find useful for working on your mower. You certainly don't need all of these, so please read to see when you might need them.
Multimeter
Multimeter
In order to do even basic troubleshooting, you'll need a multimeter. You can find a basic multimeter sometimes for as little as $5 on sale at Harbor Freight to over $1000 for a top-of-the-line Fluke meter. Generally, as the price goes up, the quality, features, and accuracy increase, but sometimes you're just paying more for a name brand. For troubleshooting these meters you don't need anything fancy or expensive.
You'll want t o make sure the meter has 3 settings:
DC Voltage (⎓)
This is for measuring the voltage of batteries and connection points
Continuity (⪡)
On this setting you can connect to two points and, if they are connected, the meter will let out a tone
This is useful for testung fuses and switches
Ohms or Resistance (Ω)
This is for testing components against specifications
When comparing mulimeters you may want to look at:
What functions / settings it provides
And also the ranges of those functions
Count / Resolution
This is how high a range can go.
For example, a 2000 count meter on 2V range can measure up ±2.000V
A 4000 count meter would have twice the range on each setting
Accessories
What leads and other accessories are included
Here are a few options. You can get much fancier meters than these, but you won't need one for working on these mowers.
This is a very popular entry-level multimeter that consistantly gets good reviews. It's pretty basic, uses 2 AA btteries, has manual range switching, and has a 2000 count display.
Available on Amazon for $15 or less.
Also from, AstroAI, this meter has more features including auto range switching and a temperature probe. The test leads also have removable covers to reduce the contact area on the tips. Uses 3 AAA batteries and has a 4000 count display.
Available from Amazon for $25 or less.
This meter has similar features to the AstroAI DT132A, but is from a name brand and includes lead holders integrated into the case. For many functions, AC and DC are the same switch position and you have to press the SEL button to select between them. Uses 2 AA batteries and has a 4000 count display.
Available on Amazon for $50 or less.
Load Tester
Load Tester
With lead acid batteries, even if the voltage is good, the only way to really know if they are good is to load test them. Many auto parts and battery stores will test them for you, but that can be inconvenient. I like to have a load tester on hand because it also allows me to check the battery in my vehicles when I suspect the battery is failing.
This is a basic load tester, but get the job done. It runs off the battery you are testing, so nothing else is needed. For the stock batteries, I select AGM and use the default setting for a load test. With a fully charged battery, I look for a 100% SOC and around 5mΩ of internal resistance or less when the ambient temperature is around 77 F (25 C).
You can by this tester on Amazon. The price for this tester tends to fluctuate a lot, but there are often very large coupons. In January 2025 it's $18 after a 40% coupon is applied.
Step Drill
Step Drill
If you're looking to add new meters to you're mower, you may need to enlarge existing holes or create new ones. For example, the popular TR16 100A meter requires a 2-1/8 inch hole while the stock meter is only 1-15/16 inches. There are a few ways to do that, but the easiest is to use a step drill. You will also want some cutting oil for a cleaner cut and to extend the life of the tool. Also be sure your work is secured to prevent damage and injury.
There are definitely better step drills than this one, but this is the cheapest option that will make a large enough hole and you will find the same drill selling under different names for more. Unless you plan on using it all the time, this one should work for what you need. Typically runs around $20 on Amazon.
Hydraulic Crimping Tool
Hydraulic Crimping Tool
If you're modifying or making new battery cables, a hydraulic crimping tool makes it much easier to crimp larger sized terminals. This one has dies for 12 AWG all the way up to 2/0 AWG. I did find it often made sense to go back over crimp with the next size down with some connectors to get a really tight connection.
Sells for around $40 or on Amazon.
If you won't be using it often enough to justify the price, consider a hammer crimping tool.
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