Mine was a similar fix. Still overall very pleased with this mower. It's saved me plenty of fuel, no seasonal service needed. I'm vested in the 40v Ryobi tools with 4 tools, 5 batteries. The weed eater is one of the best I've owned. Use the red string vs. the green and it lasts so long you'll forget how to load it!
Thanks for the video . The 20 torx and a phillips was all I needed. Bypasses the red button safety switch and all seems good. Will do the other modifications if needed in the future. Thanks again for your help.
@@mattywomp5167 1 more q as I go through this. 😂 I got the area off to see the switches. 1 of the switches failed, I can see it. Its just not holding its place when the gray bar applies pressure. Will any "on off" switch do? Or how would I go about that . (I've only ever done an oil change on my bug so any help is appreciated, I feel like I can do this.)
@@MedusaMaple I just took the switch out completely, once you twist and enclose together the two wires attached to it, there’s no need for the red switch
@@mattywomp5167 thanks I did this today. I spent $24. The switch under the gray button still worked so I used a on/off with pigtails to avoid cutting a hole in the box. Thanks again
Man what you did was awesome! I haven't had any issues with mine but if I do, I now know how to troubleshoot and fix it if this issue arises. Thanks man.
Thanks a ton, I was able to get mine going again by jamming some paper against the button and the bar but wouldn't have figured it out without your video
i just tighten the handle bars at bottom with align key..and its running again..try that 1st before taking apart..still a good video..you did great building switch
There's also some type of cutoff switch in the telescoping handles and if not fully extended and locked won't run either. I haven't had issues with those but others have (though not as frequent it doesn't seem) something to be aware of
Thanks for the video. One method that may also address this issue: that red safety switch, when depressed, has to be as snug as possible against the pole. However the bracket that the switch is mounted to--it's also part of the stand that allows the mower to stand vertical and upright for storage--if it gets the slightest bit bent inward, the switch will not make a snug contact with the pole. After watching the video and inspecting that area where the switch is located, I bent the bracket/stand back towards the pole ever so slightly...problem fixed...at least temporarily. So not only do they make a crappy switch, the metal stand is too flimsy, as well.
I just did this - bent the bracket to make it tighter against the red switch - and voila! We’ll see how long it lasts when I start mowing. I will check the bolts connecting the handles before I do. Thanks for the tip!
Well I made it 9/10 of the way through my overgrown front lawn until it conked out. Further tinkering with the button (tightening every nearby screw, packing thin plastic between button and handle, using wood shims behind the top part of the bracket) did not revive it. Guess I'll take that switch out if it ever gets below 95 degrees again...
Excellent,, that was my issue as well. What I did to fix it was that I put 2 layers of duck tape over it to get to be pressed in all the way.. thank you 👍
Great vid. I've loved mine for two years so far and started having similar connection issues lately. Thanks for the concise instructions. These certainly look like easy fixes to me! I mean, everything needs maintenance and probably especially after the incredible wear you'd expect from the act of mowing. Why are so many people surprised by this? Easy repairs are even easier now thanks to youtube. How did we learn anything before youtube? This is great. Thanks again!
Yeah, kind of ridiculous comment in my opinion. If you paid attention to his video at all, he says he had the problem right away on TWO mowers. I have a small lawn shaded by trees and am in my midwest. I probably don't have to cut my grass 10 times a year and it takes me about a half an hour and the actual runtime is less than that. I started having problems after the first year. So if you consider that an acceptable level to require this sort of maintenance, I would consider raising your standards for quality.
Great Video. I have two Ryobi lawnmowers. One I bought in May 2015. I bought another one in May 2017 because it was better to buy a new one instead of buying another battery. The first one broke down in Nov 2017. Took to Home Depot, gave me a hard time about the bill. I told them it was under warranty and the bill was waived. The breaker in the unit's key was tripped. They reset the breaker. Used it once and broke down again. The second one I bought in May 2017 just went bad today. Got 5 years out of this one. It won't start. Was cutting last night, this morning and tonight. Not sure if the grass is too thick and/or wet that caused it.
My start switch is still ok. I replaced the safety switch on the bail handle with a 30-amp blade type fuse, no additional wiring needed, it just slipped in (snugly). Thanks for the tips! I just pull the key to shut it down.
It's possible to leave the switch and just put a shim there that will push the button in further. I wrapped a cable tie around the handle tube at the correct height and it works. It's also worth using a bolt to hold the handle to the machine rather than the plastic thing they give you. That way when you are mowing there is no flex near that button.
Im going to wire mine up like this, after 4 yrs of owning it the handle bar bump switch just messed up today... was hard to start , then it kept running without being pulled/held down... i got mone as a refurbished unit 4 yrs ago and already had to bypass that red switch the 1st week.... love the mower though, works great for my little yard. Thanks for the great info... I'll try this fix before i either tear into it further or buy a new one this coming payday
I like your hacks they have changed the mower some and the switch is now in the swivel handle locks and if they are not locked it dies. I imagine that the switch will eventually need mods. Great Video
I had the same problem after about 2 months of use. I brought it to Home Depot for a warranty repair, and they sent it out to an outside contractor. It came back and they wanted over $200 for the repair. They said I abused the mower. It was pristine. I went to the store manager and he waived the fee when he saw the condition of the mower. The repair shop replaced the wiring harness. If it happens again, I know how to fix it! Thanks
I'm not sure if there is a safety switch when the grass bag or "plug" goes but my mower wouldn't start and after checking everything else, I noticed the plug was lose so I pushed it in and now it works. I think there is a switch there because if you run the machine without the grass bag or plug there, a rock can be shot back at you.
Bro you are awesome. I just bought one last year and this year my ditch keeps growing cuz I can't start this thing. They're shipping me a battery cuz the charger blinks red/green on this one and that means a bad cell. If that don't work I'm doing some surgery lol.
The Safety switch design is silly and superfluous. More points of failure. Great improvements with those toggle switch upgrade. 👏 cool video overall . Thank you.
Great video. Thank you. Mine tries to start, but wont fully kick over if that makes sense. So frustrating. 4th time I ever used it it just stopped mid cut and wont kick over again. UGH.
If you dont have time to replace all the safety switches you could instead tighten the bottom of the handle by the button with a T 30 torx screwdriver with the hole the middle.
additinonally, on my electric ryobi lawn mower - the arms must be fully extended and locked lock in place or it won't start. see the gray latch about halfway down the arms.
Because we have become a disposable world. Cheap stuff throw it away but new. I love my mower but I am having trouble a year after having it. Wish this guy lived close by and could fix it.
The wire to original gray Ryobi button switch to the black button(1red/1black ) The on/off switch , the wires (2-black/1- yellow ) , lights come on , won't start !
If you run over a rock, cement or wood with ryobi mower and it shuts off or stalls out, it shakes the mulch plug off balance. Make sure the MULCH PLUG is all the way in and the handle is pushed down. Ryobi 40V Mower has to have either the Mulch Plug or the Mulch Bag on the back or it will not start. This has happened to me three times (when I ran over something). Taking the Mulch Plug out and putting it back in securely, will start the mower - if mower stopped from running over something.
Ryobi has since redesigned it eliminated that switch down there but there still is a problem with your cheap switches now it's up in the handles look in there if you still have a problem
I have the same lawn mower and I ran over a piece of wood in our tall grass and it stopped immediately and I can't get it to restart. I've looked at a bunch of these how-to-videos but nobody has addressed this particular issue. Do you have any suggestions please? Could it be that by hitting that piece of wood it put the blade out of balance? Fantastic solution by the way bypassing all those garbage switches! Thanks and help!!!
Yes it could be out of balance. The lawn mower won't start /stay started if it senses a load on the blade while spinning (more than just tall grass) if it hit hard enough to bend the blade this could be it. I would remove the blade and try to turn the motor on without the blade attached (removed entirely and put in a safe location so you don't die or lose a limb) . If it turns on, the blade is your issue.
I've only had mine for 4 to 6 weeks. It's been used 4 times I woke up this morning. It statt, but wouldnt stay on. The bolts are tight on the handle, so that isn't the problem. I may be having the same issues you were experiencing with the connectors. I have 90 days to return the item, so it's going back to the store. I will give Ego a try.
I watched your video on the Ryobi 40V , I've done the same to mine . I took out those cheap switches . I put in a off/on switch , and a push button. I've got power to the lights , won't turn over. How do you wire the switches up ? It's down now and I need one ASAP . Thanks 😊 🙏 Rick
Any advice on the size of the "butt connectors" to use? Gauge? Does it have to be a certain kind to hold a certain amount of power through without melting?
Also.. What about the button and switch added on the top handle? Any specific Amps / VOlts that I should use? Im not an electrician but enjoy doing Diys like this. Seems fairly straight forward. Thank you
Tractor supply. You probably could do it that way but it would be more involved. I did the switch and button since that was the setup they already had. I imagine you could probably route both wire from the toggle and the button to the toggle only to make it on off with just the switch but I can't say for sure without trying it.
I followed your instructions to the letter. I changed the connectors as well and all three switches. The best I got was the headlights go on but not the mower. So I repeated the process with the same result. Any help you can offer would be most appreciated.
Hmm my thinking would be , 1) loose wire connection somewhere or a cut wire potentially. 2) i would test the actual motor with a volometer, www.moleymagneticsinc.com/how-to-check-if-an-electric-motor-is-going-bad/#:~:text=Inspect%20the%20Motor%20Windings%20With%20a%20Multimeter&text=To%20begin%2C%20set%20the%20multimeter,or%20shorts%20in%20the%20windings.
One more issue i have heard of with these that i did not address , is that there is an additional safety in the telescoping handle. If the handle is not fully extended it will not turn on. I have not had issue with that one so i havent done any troubleshooting on that one yet.
Thanks. I am about to give mine away on Craigslist. These mowers suck. Ryobi support and warranty suck. Mine was in the shop for 4 months. Then the mower worked 1 time and then stopped working again. Now they want another $30 eval fee. This is supposed to have 5 year warranty. Do NOT buy one.
Ryobi is Junk and Home Depot knows it. I mow 14 times per year. I do not trim every mow, Weed trimmer failed in first year. (way less than 14 uses) The charger failed in summer of second year. .....Unusable Leaf blower is a nice shed decoration.
Buy it! You won't regret it. It's a great unit. You get a very good warranty to start with so this issue he showed us how to fix will not be a problem for a long while most likely. I haven't used my gas mowers at all since purchasing mine. Good stuff.
One thing I will say is that I use my mower ALOT more than the average person. I mow my yard 2-3 times a week because I always like it to have that just mowed look so my mower gets more use than a normal person very likely
I got this issue after using it 4 times. Can’t find a red button. Thinking of returning it because I don’t know how to do what the guy is doing on the video. I don’t have any of the tools.
So i took the beam apart there is a lower and upper piece. Then I took some pliers and cut out the plastic pieces inside the beam in order to make room for the switches and wires. And used a paddle bit to drill holes to mount them.
Great video Will, I have the lawnmower apart as descibed in your video. I've already bypassed the switch (red button) that is engaged by handle assembly. I was looking for a little help with installing the two switches you mounted on the handle. If I understand correctly the toggle replaced the switch that was depressed when the handle bar was engaged. Did the momentary button replace the switch that was turned on when the rectangular push button was depressed? Also, can you explain a bit about wiring the toggle and the momentary button. Thanks for your help.
It's been awhile since I wired it but if I remember correctly there are two momentary rocker switches one for the bar that you hold down and one that was for the Grey button. How I did it was I wired the on/off toggle to the wires to the handlebar which eliminated needing to hold it down, and I wired a momentary push button to the Grey button wires. So basically the toggle was your 'ignition' and the momentary is your starter, essentially the function stayed the same just with a more robust button.
Awesome. I had the same issue with the bottom switch which I eliminated. But I made the mistake of disassembling the upper handle while troubleshooting and now it's almost impossible to put back together. I have no idea how they do it in the factory. I'm going to do the same hack. And this is the worst battery lawnmower I have ever had. My previous B&D 12V lasted for 20 years on the original battery. I have already gone through three batteries and 2 chargers with this one. And now the switch. Cheap, cheap, cheap components and poor build.
I managed to reassemble the upper switch handle but I had to drill holes into the tubes and secure the lower half of the clam shell before assembly. Then I broke out some of the plastic extrusions of the upper half so that wires weren't getting pinched (very tight). I then crazy glued the cheap little red switches into position so that they didn't shift when the two halfs were screwed together. At least now the safety bar still operates until these switches wear out and I'm forced to do what the OP did.
There is one more safety in the telescoping handles. If they aren't fully extended and locked in place it won't run. I havent had issue with that so I haven't got inside to look how that is in there. May want to check that area
Unfortunately I don't have the self propel model so im not sure how it operates. My neighbor does though so if his goes out ill likely be fixing it and ill let you know
This is terrible! While I commend you for your creativity, consumers should not have to rebuild the entire machine to ensure that it works. I want my money back -- I'm having the same issue. I've only used it once after purchase.
Yep, me too, only used once, 2nd time worked for 5 minutes then cut off and won't start again. Battery is fully charged and headlights turn on but no start. Really wish I could get my money back but I threw out all the packing materials.
Ryobi is JUNK, I have the same mower and I bypassed the stupid safety switches on the telescopic handle and it works better but if I run the mower with no load just sitting still it automatically shuts off after a minute and ten seconds every time. I see they have a new part number for the motor controller. If I mow through heavy grass no problem but when I hit a bald spot it shuts down. My next test is to weld or put more weight on the blade or try to find a heavier blade that will fit it to fool the controller. Why so much redundant junk on so many products from Japan. Anyone else have this problem ?
You are the 1st that I've heard having that issue I have both the mower and the weed eater and I've had them both a while so I've had pretty good luck with mine I wouldn't be able to speak to your issue though. My main focus for the video it was to help people fix a problem without having to pay For a new mellor when they don't have to.
@@theutahtexan6276 My Ryobi is a RY40108 and it has been doing this since I bought it. I called Home Depot and they said to take it to an authorized repair center. I yelped the repair center and every review was bad. To people stated that their mower had been there over six months. The Ryobi people were worse and kept asking me stupid questions like I was an idiot. Did you charge the battery. I may have found a heavier blade for it and will re-post if it solves my problem .
@@theutahtexan6276 Making some progress, I bypassed the stupid safety switches on the handle. Still it would shut down in one minute. Yesterday I replaced the blade with a new one from Home Depot and now it will run 2 :45 with no load before shutting down. The original blade looked damaged and that may have been part of the problem. When I purchased the mower at Home Depot I tried to buy one that didn't look like the box had been opened fifty times. So did I get a virgin mower ? Who knows, but at least now I can mow the entire lawn without it shutting down. When I recently mowed the lawn it kept running even over the sparse areas of the lawn. The new blade is a Ryobi and cost me $19.95 but it beats having to turn it back on every 20 feet.
@@cars654 you mentioned the blade was damaged, it may have been damaged enough to be out of balance and shut the motor down due to uneven load. Since replacing the blade seems to have corrected it (somewhat considering it still shuts off some? Not sure if that means 2 min or 2 hrs)
Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.
I'm an 80s kid so I grew up with skilsaws with no safety guard, lawnmowers with no kill switch, cars without low fuel lights....it was a crazy world..... lol
I did the same to another Model I have they are total garbage. These companies are crap and should be taken to court. All it takes are a couple of good switches and they work fine. When I see the name Ryobi I stay away.
Wowow what a piece of crap I just took mines back had it a week and that thing turned on once and never turned on again for over 550$ you would think it would be better constructed guy at home depot started to tell.me I couldn't cut grass early.morning when it was wet I was are you serious take this crap back bought me a zero turn at lowes...the thought and idea is good but way off to be perfected at least for consumer less stress inconvenience
Ryobi is crap I'm going back to all gas for lawn equipment I can't afford 160 dollar battery every 3 years. This is a push mower, blower, and edger Ryobi is pure garbage. Go green in the wallet and buy gas.
I haven't had any battery issues. As a matter of fact I'm still running the original ryobi 40v battery in my rotation (I have others as well) this article may help www.essentialhomeandgarden.com/ryobi-40v-battery-problems/
Wanted to say thank you. Took me 15 min to clean out screws. 2 min to cut and twist wires. 15 min to get it all back together.
Mine was a similar fix. Still overall very pleased with this mower. It's saved me plenty of fuel, no seasonal service needed. I'm vested in the 40v Ryobi tools with 4 tools, 5 batteries. The weed eater is one of the best I've owned. Use the red string vs. the green and it lasts so long you'll forget how to load it!
The string trimmer is rock solid for sure.
Thanks for the video . The 20 torx and a phillips was all I needed. Bypasses the red button safety switch and all seems good. Will do the other modifications if needed in the future. Thanks again for your help.
Thank you! Took me a bit to get the dirt laden screws out but this definitely solved my issue and saved me money! UA-cam needs a “tip” button. 🙏
what type of screwdriver did it need?
@@MedusaMaple it was a star shaped bit, not a standard screwdriver. Don’t know the exact size. The correct Allen wrench should do the job too.
@@mattywomp5167 1 more q as I go through this. 😂 I got the area off to see the switches. 1 of the switches failed, I can see it. Its just not holding its place when the gray bar applies pressure. Will any "on off" switch do? Or how would I go about that . (I've only ever done an oil change on my bug so any help is appreciated, I feel like I can do this.)
@@MedusaMaple I just took the switch out completely, once you twist and enclose together the two wires attached to it, there’s no need for the red switch
@@mattywomp5167 thanks I did this today. I spent $24. The switch under the gray button still worked so I used a on/off with pigtails to avoid cutting a hole in the box. Thanks again
Man what you did was awesome! I haven't had any issues with mine but if I do, I now know how to troubleshoot and fix it if this issue arises. Thanks man.
Thanks a ton, I was able to get mine going again by jamming some paper against the button and the bar but wouldn't have figured it out without your video
i just tighten the handle bars at bottom with align key..and its running again..try that 1st before taking apart..still a good video..you did great building switch
Exactly what I needed.. I love UA-cam ❤. Found this model at a yard sale and I came across your video to confirm there's a fix. Thanks will!
There's also some type of cutoff switch in the telescoping handles and if not fully extended and locked won't run either. I haven't had issues with those but others have (though not as frequent it doesn't seem) something to be aware of
I'll strip it down rewire and hope it starts, if not I'll double check those handles for sure. I learn so much here. Thx
Thanks for the video. One method that may also address this issue: that red safety switch, when depressed, has to be as snug as possible against the pole. However the bracket that the switch is mounted to--it's also part of the stand that allows the mower to stand vertical and upright for storage--if it gets the slightest bit bent inward, the switch will not make a snug contact with the pole. After watching the video and inspecting that area where the switch is located, I bent the bracket/stand back towards the pole ever so slightly...problem fixed...at least temporarily. So not only do they make a crappy switch, the metal stand is too flimsy, as well.
I am a senior lady who wants a refund. This was great when it worked but now I am frustrated.
I just did this - bent the bracket to make it tighter against the red switch - and voila! We’ll see how long it lasts when I start mowing. I will check the bolts connecting the handles before I do. Thanks for the tip!
Well I made it 9/10 of the way through my overgrown front lawn until it conked out. Further tinkering with the button (tightening every nearby screw, packing thin plastic between button and handle, using wood shims behind the top part of the bracket) did not revive it. Guess I'll take that switch out if it ever gets below 95 degrees again...
Excellent,, that was my issue as well. What I did to fix it was that I put 2 layers of duck tape over it to get to be pressed in all the way.. thank you 👍
Great vid. I've loved mine for two years so far and started having similar connection issues lately. Thanks for the concise instructions. These certainly look like easy fixes to me! I mean, everything needs maintenance and probably especially after the incredible wear you'd expect from the act of mowing. Why are so many people surprised by this? Easy repairs are even easier now thanks to youtube. How did we learn anything before youtube? This is great. Thanks again!
I've only hadine since March, it is now July and I'm having these same issues. Will try these fixes and see if it works
Yeah, kind of ridiculous comment in my opinion. If you paid attention to his video at all, he says he had the problem right away on TWO mowers. I have a small lawn shaded by trees and am in my midwest. I probably don't have to cut my grass 10 times a year and it takes me about a half an hour and the actual runtime is less than that. I started having problems after the first year. So if you consider that an acceptable level to require this sort of maintenance, I would consider raising your standards for quality.
Great Video. I have two Ryobi lawnmowers. One I bought in May 2015. I bought another one in May 2017 because it was better to buy a new one instead of buying another battery. The first one broke down in Nov 2017. Took to Home Depot, gave me a hard time about the bill. I told them it was under warranty and the bill was waived. The breaker in the unit's key was tripped. They reset the breaker. Used it once and broke down again. The second one I bought in May 2017 just went bad today. Got 5 years out of this one. It won't start. Was cutting last night, this morning and tonight. Not sure if the grass is too thick and/or wet that caused it.
My start switch is still ok. I replaced the safety switch on the bail handle with a 30-amp blade type fuse, no additional wiring needed, it just slipped in (snugly). Thanks for the tips! I just pull the key to shut it down.
It's possible to leave the switch and just put a shim there that will push the button in further. I wrapped a cable tie around the handle tube at the correct height and it works.
It's also worth using a bolt to hold the handle to the machine rather than the plastic thing they give you. That way when you are mowing there is no flex near that button.
Im going to wire mine up like this, after 4 yrs of owning it the handle bar bump switch just messed up today... was hard to start , then it kept running without being pulled/held down... i got mone as a refurbished unit 4 yrs ago and already had to bypass that red switch the 1st week.... love the mower though, works great for my little yard.
Thanks for the great info... I'll try this fix before i either tear into it further or buy a new one this coming payday
Your video just helped me prove my husband wrong lol Thanks!
Tell him I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention lol
Great Info. I eliminated the red switch and It is fine. Thanks.
Thank you sir..I will do the same for my ryobi which have the same start issue..
I'm having same problem. Both! Thank you.
Can make a video of you wired the new switches? I'm no expert in electrical wiring! Thanks!
Just started having trouble with ours. Seems to be a positional thing with the handle. Thanks
Yea some people have had luck just tightening the base of the handle , but this did not correct my issue. The switches themselves were my problem
I like your hacks they have changed the mower some and the switch is now in the swivel handle locks and if they are not locked it dies. I imagine that the switch will eventually need mods. Great Video
That turned out to be my prob ... a little overengineered and under sturdied, IMHO ...
awesome video! thanks for the fix ! I like the mower. I just hate the batteries! they suck !
I had the same problem after about 2 months of use. I brought it to Home Depot for a warranty repair, and they sent it out to an outside contractor. It came back and they wanted over $200 for the repair. They said I abused the mower. It was pristine. I went to the store manager and he waived the fee when he saw the condition of the mower. The repair shop replaced the wiring harness. If it happens again, I know how to fix it! Thanks
I'm not sure if there is a safety switch when the grass bag or "plug" goes but my mower wouldn't start and after checking everything else, I noticed the plug was lose so I pushed it in and now it works. I think there is a switch there because if you run the machine without the grass bag or plug there, a rock can be shot back at you.
Bro you are awesome. I just bought one last year and this year my ditch keeps growing cuz I can't start this thing. They're shipping me a battery cuz the charger blinks red/green on this one and that means a bad cell. If that don't work I'm doing some surgery lol.
Thanks dude! Just fixed mine
Right on, handle extension safety switch! Thanks
The Safety switch design is silly and superfluous. More points of failure. Great improvements with those toggle switch upgrade. 👏 cool video overall . Thank you.
Great video. Thank you. Mine tries to start, but wont fully kick over if that makes sense. So frustrating. 4th time I ever used it it just stopped mid cut and wont kick over again. UGH.
Nice work. I wonder how many ryobis ended up in the landfill because of a couple of 50 cent parts
On off toggle, wind the 2 black wires together for one connection, other connection is yellow. Momentary, black connecting wire and red/brown wire.
Great video. I am aving same issues as you had
Glad you liked it , hope it helps you out.
This switch "sucks",,,,,,Loved it!
Pure Genius you are.
If you dont have time to replace all the safety switches you could instead tighten the bottom of the handle by the button with a T 30 torx screwdriver with the hole the middle.
That did not work for me. I had seen that fix was out there however my bolts were not loose and tightening them did n othing to fix the issue.
I think it is time for a class action lawsuit to get our money back
Absolutely! They should be responsible for all the problems with this mower. Accountability is needed!
additinonally, on my electric ryobi lawn mower - the arms must be fully extended and locked lock in place or it won't start. see the gray latch about halfway down the arms.
But why if we buy a new lawnmower do we have to “fix” it. That’s not right…
AGREED
Because we have become a disposable world. Cheap stuff throw it away but new. I love my mower but I am having trouble a year after having it. Wish this guy lived close by and could fix it.
How did you wire up the on/off switch and the push button ? I've got lights but won't turn over ? Help ! Rick
The wire to original gray Ryobi button switch to the black button(1red/1black ) The on/off switch , the wires (2-black/1- yellow ) , lights come on , won't start !
Great video and thank you!
If you run over a rock, cement or wood with ryobi mower and it shuts off or stalls out, it shakes the mulch plug off balance. Make sure the MULCH PLUG is all the way in and the handle is pushed down. Ryobi 40V Mower has to have either the Mulch Plug or the Mulch Bag on the back or it will not start. This has happened to me three times (when I ran over something). Taking the Mulch Plug out and putting it back in securely, will start the mower - if mower stopped from running over something.
This may be on the new models but mine will run fine without either
I hope Ryobi has taken care of this issue.
Ryobi has since redesigned it eliminated that switch down there but there still is a problem with your cheap switches now it's up in the handles look in there if you still have a problem
I have the same lawn mower and I ran over a piece of wood in our tall grass and it stopped immediately and I can't get it to restart. I've looked at a bunch of these how-to-videos but nobody has addressed this particular issue. Do you have any suggestions please? Could it be that by hitting that piece of wood it put the blade out of balance? Fantastic solution by the way bypassing all those garbage switches! Thanks and help!!!
Yes it could be out of balance. The lawn mower won't start /stay started if it senses a load on the blade while spinning (more than just tall grass) if it hit hard enough to bend the blade this could be it. I would remove the blade and try to turn the motor on without the blade attached (removed entirely and put in a safe location so you don't die or lose a limb) . If it turns on, the blade is your issue.
Nice, thanks for the tip.
Great video. I have similar issue. I will try it. Thanks!
I've only had mine for 4 to 6 weeks. It's been used 4 times I woke up this morning. It statt, but wouldnt stay on. The bolts are tight on the handle, so that isn't the problem. I may be having the same issues you were experiencing with the connectors. I have 90 days to return the item, so it's going back to the store. I will give Ego a try.
How did it work out? Did you return it? Any issues? Did you go with Ego? Happier?
I watched your video on the Ryobi 40V , I've done the same to mine . I took out those cheap switches . I put in a off/on switch , and a push button. I've got power to the lights , won't turn over. How do you wire the switches up ? It's down now and I need one ASAP . Thanks 😊 🙏 Rick
Very nice mods. Gives me some good ideas for mine should the switches fail in the future.
hi that comes with the battery and charger when you buy one like this ? or you have to get separated.
what size torx screws take the mower and the handle part apart?
I just started having problems with mine after first time even using it
same its nuts
Any advice on the size of the "butt connectors" to use? Gauge? Does it have to be a certain kind to hold a certain amount of power through without melting?
Also.. What about the button and switch added on the top handle? Any specific Amps / VOlts that I should use? Im not an electrician but enjoy doing Diys like this. Seems fairly straight forward. Thank you
I wish you were local, I would request you to fix mine. 😎
That's too funny , my next door neighbor is named beau lol
I got mine to work by dragging it around backwards. I think I'll try your fix instead.
Cutting blades not working! I need help please!
Great solution, but I don't think it is my problem: motor won't turn blade but self-propelling wheels do turn.
Same here, any progress on this?
Same here did you find a solution?
I feel if I take it apart I’ll fuck up my mower even more. This isn’t my forté
Same problem but just the red switch. Just gonna splice em together and eliminate it.
Where did you get the momentary ON push button? Can it be a on/off button or only on?
Tractor supply. You probably could do it that way but it would be more involved. I did the switch and button since that was the setup they already had. I imagine you could probably route both wire from the toggle and the button to the toggle only to make it on off with just the switch but I can't say for sure without trying it.
Looks cooler with the new switches, I think I would do this mod just because. lol lol
The diamond plate was for cool factor haha. I had some extra laying around and though why not.
I followed your instructions to the letter. I changed the connectors as well and all three switches. The best I got was the headlights go on but not the mower. So I repeated the process with the same result. Any help you can offer would be most appreciated.
Hmm my thinking would be , 1) loose wire connection somewhere or a cut wire potentially. 2) i would test the actual motor with a volometer, www.moleymagneticsinc.com/how-to-check-if-an-electric-motor-is-going-bad/#:~:text=Inspect%20the%20Motor%20Windings%20With%20a%20Multimeter&text=To%20begin%2C%20set%20the%20multimeter,or%20shorts%20in%20the%20windings.
Before it stopped working , did you hit anything large with the blade ?
One more issue i have heard of with these that i did not address , is that there is an additional safety in the telescoping handle. If the handle is not fully extended it will not turn on. I have not had issue with that one so i havent done any troubleshooting on that one yet.
Thanks. I am about to give mine away on Craigslist. These mowers suck. Ryobi support and warranty suck. Mine was in the shop for 4 months. Then the mower worked 1 time and then stopped working again. Now they want another $30 eval fee. This is supposed to have 5 year warranty. Do NOT buy one.
I am a newbie. Can you provide links to the switches please?
Ryobi is Junk and Home Depot knows it. I mow 14 times per year. I do not trim every mow, Weed trimmer failed in first year. (way less than 14 uses) The charger failed in summer of second year. .....Unusable Leaf blower is a nice shed decoration.
wow, thought about buying this model.. but after some use you gotta mod the hell out of it.
Buy it! You won't regret it. It's a great unit. You get a very good warranty to start with so this issue he showed us how to fix will not be a problem for a long while most likely. I haven't used my gas mowers at all since purchasing mine. Good stuff.
One thing I will say is that I use my mower ALOT more than the average person. I mow my yard 2-3 times a week because I always like it to have that just mowed look so my mower gets more use than a normal person very likely
@@theutahtexan6276 Wow! You are even more dedicated to a great looking yard than I am! I mow mine once a week and my neighbor thinks I'm crazy. Lol!
lookahere I suck at this kind of shit. I’m lazy and don’t know any thing about this mechanical tweaking stuff.
I have abused mine and loaded videos about the incorrect uses I have done on purpose. I would still recommend the mower.
My headlights just stopped working. It's starting, it's mowing, but no lights. Ryobi wants me to take it to shop. Any ideas?
The lights are useless. Don't fix Just keep mowing
Haven't had any issue with the lights so I'm not sure on that one
How long did you own this mower before you had the "shutting off" issue? Thinking about buying one of these.
Over a year, and I mow 2-3 times a week. My neighbor has the same one and his has never had issues. He's had his a few years. Hope this helps.
I got this issue after using it 4 times. Can’t find a red button. Thinking of returning it because I don’t know how to do what the guy is doing on the video. I don’t have any of the tools.
Hos did you mount the new switches to the cross beam? I'm trying to replicate what you did with my mower, as I've had the same issues.
So i took the beam apart there is a lower and upper piece. Then I took some pliers and cut out the plastic pieces inside the beam in order to make room for the switches and wires. And used a paddle bit to drill holes to mount them.
That’s bad ass. Mine completely doesn’t turn on. I’m gonna look for other possible things if not then I’m gonna try this method 👀
Thanks for sharing. You have a new sub. 👍
Great video Will, I have the lawnmower apart as descibed in your video. I've already bypassed the switch (red button) that is engaged by handle assembly. I was looking for a little help with installing the two switches you mounted on the handle. If I understand correctly the toggle replaced the switch that was depressed when the handle bar was engaged. Did the momentary button replace the switch that was turned on when the rectangular push button was depressed? Also, can you explain a bit about wiring the toggle and the momentary button. Thanks for your help.
It's been awhile since I wired it but if I remember correctly there are two momentary rocker switches one for the bar that you hold down and one that was for the Grey button. How I did it was I wired the on/off toggle to the wires to the handlebar which eliminated needing to hold it down, and I wired a momentary push button to the Grey button wires. So basically the toggle was your 'ignition' and the momentary is your starter, essentially the function stayed the same just with a more robust button.
Ryobi has fails to acknowledge the faulty parts. Mine is also Frankenstein now.
Awesome. I had the same issue with the bottom switch which I eliminated. But I made the mistake of disassembling the upper handle while troubleshooting and now it's almost impossible to put back together. I have no idea how they do it in the factory. I'm going to do the same hack. And this is the worst battery lawnmower I have ever had. My previous B&D 12V lasted for 20 years on the original battery. I have already gone through three batteries and 2 chargers with this one. And now the switch. Cheap, cheap, cheap components and poor build.
I managed to reassemble the upper switch handle but I had to drill holes into the tubes and secure the lower half of the clam shell before assembly. Then I broke out some of the plastic extrusions of the upper half so that wires weren't getting pinched (very tight). I then crazy glued the cheap little red switches into position so that they didn't shift when the two halfs were screwed together. At least now the safety bar still operates until these switches wear out and I'm forced to do what the OP did.
thanks
mine cuts out. eliminated red switch, didn’t help. bypassed safety switch on handle. didn’t help. something else is going on
Make sure no other wires came loose under the hood.
Mine was doing that. Running for two minutes then cutting out. It was the battery, even though it had a full charge. They replaced it under warranty.
There is one more safety in the telescoping handles. If they aren't fully extended and locked in place it won't run. I havent had issue with that so I haven't got inside to look how that is in there. May want to check that area
Did exactly that and still won't start. But the light still turns on.
Mine did great at first had it a week now it’s stopping on me too🙄
My ryobi cordless mower has stopped self propelling any thoughts on that
Unfortunately I don't have the self propel model so im not sure how it operates. My neighbor does though so if his goes out ill likely be fixing it and ill let you know
will you fix mine?
I have 0 skill in doing something like this. I will try something but at this point not too sure.
Having trouble inserting the battery…
It has a 5 year warranty people take it back make them fix it
For electric lawn mowers everything has pinch points that is not good for the wires.
I just bought the damn thing
This is terrible! While I commend you for your creativity, consumers should not have to rebuild the entire machine to ensure that it works. I want my money back -- I'm having the same issue. I've only used it once after purchase.
Yep, me too, only used once, 2nd time worked for 5 minutes then cut off and won't start again. Battery is fully charged and headlights turn on but no start. Really wish I could get my money back but I threw out all the packing materials.
Ryobi is JUNK, I have the same mower and I bypassed the stupid safety switches on the telescopic handle and it works better but if I run the mower with no load just sitting still it automatically shuts off after a minute and ten seconds every time. I see they have a new part number for the motor controller. If I mow through heavy grass no problem but when I hit a bald spot it shuts down. My next test is to weld or put more weight on the blade or try to find a heavier blade that will fit it to fool the controller. Why so much redundant junk on so many products from Japan. Anyone else have this problem ?
You are the 1st that I've heard having that issue I have both the mower and the weed eater and I've had them both a while so I've had pretty good luck with mine I wouldn't be able to speak to your issue though. My main focus for the video it was to help people fix a problem without having to pay For a new mellor when they don't have to.
@@theutahtexan6276 My Ryobi is a RY40108 and it has been doing this since I bought it. I called Home Depot and they said to take it to an authorized repair center. I yelped the repair center and every review was bad. To people stated that their mower had been there over six months. The Ryobi people were worse and kept asking me stupid questions like I was an idiot. Did you charge the battery. I may have found a heavier blade for it and will re-post if it solves my problem .
@@cars654 that sucks sorry to hear that.
@@theutahtexan6276 Making some progress, I bypassed the stupid safety switches on the handle. Still it would shut down in one minute. Yesterday I replaced the blade with a new one from Home Depot and now it will run 2 :45 with no load before shutting down. The original blade looked damaged and that may have been part of the problem. When I purchased the mower at Home Depot I tried to buy one that didn't look like the box had been opened fifty times. So did I get a virgin mower ? Who knows, but at least now I can mow the entire lawn without it shutting down. When I recently mowed the lawn it kept running even over the sparse areas of the lawn. The new blade is a Ryobi and cost me $19.95 but it beats having to turn it back on every 20 feet.
@@cars654 you mentioned the blade was damaged, it may have been damaged enough to be out of balance and shut the motor down due to uneven load. Since replacing the blade seems to have corrected it (somewhat considering it still shuts off some? Not sure if that means 2 min or 2 hrs)
Their Safety crap is destroying their reliability. Mine has self-propel and it's not working at times also. Thanks, I'm bypassing my switch too.
Connecting the wires is not as simple as you made it. Why didn’t you show that part?.
I had already done the fix when I thought to make the video🤦♂️ it's not hard you just need a butt connector and wire crimpers
Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.
It’s a brand new mower, used twice. Not going thru all that.
0 power issue, 100% more hazard haha
I'm an 80s kid so I grew up with skilsaws with no safety guard, lawnmowers with no kill switch, cars without low fuel lights....it was a crazy world..... lol
As a matter of fact thats usually the first thing I do when I buy tools is take all the safety crap off that impedes its use. Lol
I did the same to another Model I have they are total garbage. These companies are crap and should be taken to court. All it takes are a couple of good switches and they work fine. When I see the name Ryobi I stay away.
Can you say Cheap again 🤣🤣MADE IN CHINA🤣🤣
This video would have been useful, if you actually made it while you had the covers off.
I hate these mowers. Constant issues.
Don’t buy this pice s mine is broken I haven’t use it 2 times
Wowow what a piece of crap I just took mines back had it a week and that thing turned on once and never turned on again for over 550$ you would think it would be better constructed guy at home depot started to tell.me I couldn't cut grass early.morning when it was wet I was are you serious take this crap back bought me a zero turn at lowes...the thought and idea is good but way off to be perfected at least for consumer less stress inconvenience
COMGRATILATIONS !! YOU BOUGHT A BROKEN TOOL THEN VOIDED THE WARRANTY.
WRONG! The red button is already pressed all the way in.
I don't understand what you mean by this
Ryobi is crap I'm going back to all gas for lawn equipment I can't afford 160 dollar battery every 3 years. This is a push mower, blower, and edger Ryobi is pure garbage. Go green in the wallet and buy gas.
I haven't had any battery issues. As a matter of fact I'm still running the original ryobi 40v battery in my rotation (I have others as well) this article may help
www.essentialhomeandgarden.com/ryobi-40v-battery-problems/