12 common problems with Bad Boy Mowers – step by step solutions

The first mower produced by the bad boy was on exhibit at the Lawn and Garden Expo in Louisville, Kentucky in 2002. There, it won Product of the Year and attracted dealers. They published their first catalog in 2005, three years later.

The most common problems with Bad Boy Mowers are: Starting Problems, Deck Lift Systems Problems, Alignment Issues, Hydraulics and Transaxles Issue, Vibrating Mower Deck, Damaged Spindles, Rough Cutting, Disengaged Blades, Fast-Consuming Battery, Mower moving to one side, Leaking Gas, Weak Hydrostatic Transmission

Even though you don’t want your Bad Boy lawn mower to malfunction, it will eventually. Any mechanical device will eventually deteriorate and stop working. By giving your mower regular maintenance, you may delay and prevent many of these issues.

I compiled a list of the most typical issues that Bad Boy lawn mower owners have. This is a useful manual to have on hand in case you run into trouble again.

Let’s discuss all problems and their fixes in detail:

1- Starting Problem:

Like all fuel-powered lawn mowers, a Bad Boy needs air, fuel, and a spark to start and operate. Your mower won’t start if any of these things are missing from it.

Old fuel-blocked fuel system components, a dirty carburetor, a clogged air filter, or a defective spark plug could all be to blame for this. If you have electrical issues, such as a defective switch, ignition coil, or battery, your mower may also be unable to start.

How to solve bad boy starting problems:

2- Deck Lift Systems Problem:

Problems with the electric deck lift on a Bad Boy Mower are typical. Our team has found that the issue usually arises when the actuator of the unit doesn’t raise the load correctly.

If you pay close attention, you’ll see that the actuator is spinning when the mower shaft isn’t screwing in or out. In addition, this issue typically arises when the sleeve around the screw shaft rusts.

Solution:

1. A Deck That Isn’t Level: The deck of your mower needs to be leveled, so elevate it and make sure all four of its corners are level from right to left and from back to front. The front also has a 1/4-inch pitch.
2. Inadequate Housing Sealing: Apply a sealant gasket to the improperly sealed actuator housing.
3. Moist Actuator: If there is moisture in the actuator housing or if it is not properly sealed, your mower’s deck may not be able to lower or lift. As a result, unscrew it to inspect it, then thoroughly clean and seal it.
4. Failure in Shaft Screwing: If the shaft’s screws move in and out with the actuator’s rotation, the deck is raised and lowered. Check to see if the screws are functional and correctly installed.
5. Rusted Screw Shaft Sleeve: If the shaft sleeve’s screw is rusted, clean and oil it.

3- Alignment Issue:

Your Bad Boy lawn mower has an alignment problem if it pulls to one side or derails from the cutting track. It is brought on by the grip levels of different tires, improper tire settings, or broken shock absorbers (dampeners).

Solution:

1. By fixing hydraulic issues and adjusting the wheel pressure, an alignment problem can be resolved. To stop the mower from leaning to one side, keep the tires always inflated to the recommended PSI (the one with underinflated tires).
2. Additionally, check the mower for oil leaks near the various components of the transaxle.

4- Hydraulics and Transaxles Issue:

Your ride may be bumpy, and the quality of the grass cut may be poor due to transaxle and hydraulic problems. Most turf grasses, including Bermuda grass, are fragile and demand a smooth texture and a high mowing height.

Solution:

1. Leaky hydraulic fluid: The installation of a new seal kit will resolve this.
2. A damaged Charge pump: It is recommended to let a qualified mechanic handle this problem.

5- Vibrating Mower Deck:

Bad Boy lawnmowers typically feature sealed decks, but after a few hundred mowing sessions, the deck and blades will need to be serviced. Cutting deck vibration or shaking is a common problem that can be brought on by the pulley and lock collar missing set screws. If the spindle key is also worn out, the deck of your Bad Boy mower will begin to tremor or shake when you start and operate it.

Solution:

1. Simply changing the belt tension at the drive pulley’s back will solve the problem. Additionally, you can look for and replace any missing screws on the spindle, bearings, and pulleys.
2. If this doesn’t fix the wobbly mowing deck issue with your Bad Boy zero-turn mower, check to see if the blades are balanced, especially if new blades were installed underneath the deck.
3. A qualified maintenance mechanic should examine the tractor for additional troubleshooting and repair if the issue persists.

6- Damaged Spindles:

The cutting deck blades are kept rotating by spindles. You will quickly notice issues with the mowing pattern and inconsistent cuttings if this functionality isn’t working properly.

Solution:

1. First and foremost, we must check to see if the spindle is clearly damaged or not. As the situation develops, we must add a newer replacement. The spindle needs to be installed else.
2. In the second place, we must determine whether the gait is correctly aligned with the spindle and the coil or not. If not, we will solve the issue by reading the appropriate documentation.

7- Rough Cutting:

When employing Bad Boy tractors to handle the accumulation of tall grass, uneven cutting might be a pain. Unwanted cuts will eventually result if the pressure on the mower’s tires isn’t the same on both sides. When the vehicle navigates difficult and damp surfaces, it might also make your journey rough.

Solution:

1. Tire inflation: Ensure that the pressure in all four tires is the same. Uneven cuts will result from different tire pressures. When navigating muddy or dusty terrain, the traction of the mower may also be impacted by different air pressures.
2. Unstable blades: Make sure the blades are properly fastened before reinstalling them.
3. Blades’ cutting edge: Your mower’s blades must be changed when necessary or at least once a year. Cutting with blunt blades will always result in unequal results.
4. Debris on the deck’s underbelly: Verify that there isn’t any garbage or grass growth on the deck’s underbelly.
5. Throttle: Check the mower’s throttle. Even cuts will be made with full velocity.
6. Observe your speed:  Mower at the appropriate speed. If you are operating the mower too quickly, you will undoubtedly miss some grass stems. Every time you use your mower, you could also wish to alter your mowing pattern.

8- Rough Cutting:

Your Bad Boy mower’s belt is frequently the main culprit when the belt won’t engage. The belt can be loose, causing it to fall or come off. The belt might also have reached its breaking point or snapped off.

Solution:

They might become stuck beneath your mower’s deck and push off the belt if you’ve cut too much grass. Here are some tips for troubleshooting:

1. Ensure that the PTO engager plug on the bottom of your mower is turned on.
2. Verify that the safety switch is plugged in at the base of the seat.
3. Verify that no wires or connections are loose or unplugged.

9- Fast-Consuming Battery:

While working on a job, it might be incredibly frustrating for your Bad Boy mower. Although there are various causes for your mower to stop, you should check its batteries first. Why is your battery losing power so quickly? Even when you switch off your mower’s motor, some of its components continue to be powered by the battery, so you might have left them “on.”

These parts will keep getting electricity from the battery if you don’t switch them off when you turn off the ignition. You extend the life of your batteries, make sure to turn off every part of your mower. Additionally, you should be careful not to keep the key turned on since this will quickly drain your battery.

Solution:

1. Battery-area corrosion: It works twice as hard with a loose battery connection, which causes the battery to discharge more quickly. Corrosion reveals unsecured connections between the battery posts. It’s also possible that the battery’s gas leaks are harming the metal terminals.
2. Attempt to remove the corrosion: While you’re at it, look for any cracks in the battery box, and tighten the battery connections.
3. Defective or damaged battery charger: Your Bad Boy lawnmower’s electrical system charges the battery (voltage regulator and alternator). If you discover that your mower’s electrical system is failing, you might need to replace it. When you operate your Bad Boy mower again, this could recharge the batteries.
4. Battery life: Your battery has a serviceable life, which means that eventually, it won’t be able to retain a charge for as long as it could when it was new. This happens because batteries do not live forever. Your only option is to replace the battery if it cannot maintain a full charge for more than a week or two.

10- Mower moving to one side:

Alignment is another frequent problem with your Bad Boy Mower. As you cut your grass, the tractor quickly veers to one side and leaves the mowing path. Regardless matter the direction you want the mower to go, this steering problem causes it to veer off the mowing line and go the opposite way.

Solution:

Your Bad Boy tractor’s underinflated wheel will cause it to drag to one side. Checking the tire pressure on all four wheels to make sure it is at the proper PSI is a straightforward fix. This ought to solve the problem.

11- Leaking Gas:

It can be trickier than you might imagine to find the precise location where your Bad Boy lawn mower is leaking. It could take some time before you spot a trail of burned grass or notice a strong odor in your storage shed before you realize you have a gas leak. The fuel leak may have already evaporated into the air by the time you arrive to inspect your mower, leaving no traces.

Due to the gradual component deterioration caused by old grass, your mower may have fuel system leaks. It can cause mechanical components to malfunction or weaken and leak plastic housings.

Solution:

1. Low oil levels might lead to this problem and overheating when the mower is operating. For internal issues like these, our in-house lawn care specialists advise bringing the equipment to a repair shop immediately.
2. Unbelievably, mowers with faulty air filters can also emit ominous smells. If so, you’re in luck because all you must do is clean or replace the filter.

12- Weak Hydrostatic Transmission:

Your lawnmower’s hydrostatic transmission may feel feeble if you’re using a subpar pulley or hydraulic belt. Additionally, a weak transmission is a result of your mower’s hydraulic tank having old or insufficient hydraulic oil.

Solution:

If the drive belt is worn, cracked, or frayed, you should replace it. On the other hand, if the tensioner is damaged, replace the tensioner pulley and lubricate the tensioner arm.

Furthermore, Bad Boy advises routinely changing the hydraulic oil.

Bad Boy Mower Maintenace

Frequently change the oil:

Some people might believe that most zero-turn mower defects are caused by steering issues, but frequent hydraulic oil changes keep the machine operating effectively. The creators of the Bad Boy brand advise performing this maintenance tip on a regular basis if you frequently mow your lawn in the summer.

Ensure The Air Filter Is Clean And Replace It:

You’ll see that most of these issues have their roots in clogged air filters if you carefully study the advice from our experts. The mower engine requires oxygen to function properly, thus, therefore. Especially if you use the mower frequently, make sure to change the filters every season.

Sharpen the blades:

A dull blade not only compromises the quality of your cuts but also causes the mower to vibrate excessively. The blades should be sharpened at least once a year, according to the user handbook from Bad Boy Mower, to ensure exact cuts.

Final thoughts:

Additionally, each product line is continually being improved upon by the company’s research and development and quality assurance teams, ensuring that only the best products are sent to customers. There are still some restrictions, and any Bad Boy mower can experience transaxle issues.

FAQ’s