My last battery (12 V, 340 cranking amps) until recently when I replaced it, never required a charge during the summer mowing season after two full seasons and this season until recently.
For about the past month, I had to recharge it after every mowing, and even then by the time I was about 2/3 through the mowing, if I turned off the blade engagement clutch, it would not turn on again due to not enough battery power. If I turn it off for awhile, then next time the blades will engage.
So a little over a week ago, I bought a new battery, same make/model (Sears).
The brand new battery is exhibiting identical symptoms to the old battery at the time I felt compelled to replace it.
Could this be a bad new battery, or could it be a different issue not related to the battery? When I recharge it, the blade engagement clutch works fine (for awhile). If not the battery, then what could this be?