A HUGE thank you for this video. My husband bought our 38" Ryobi mower 3 years ago and it barely has 30 hours on it as of today! It had the exact problems you described with the ADDITION of throwing the mower into reverse while he was on it moving forward. BIG SAFETY ISSUE. We had it in an authorized shop THREE separate times for months each time. Guess that is what you get when you send an ELECTRICAL ISSUE to a shop that only understands engines. Thank goodness we got the extended warranty! They finally said they would reimburse us for the cost of the mower ($3,500.00) but they would not come and get it. So we were stuck with this thing that he just couldn't trust getting back on. Then........... he saw YOUR VIDEO last night. First thing this morning he did exactly what you said to do and NOW we have this great FREE $3,500 mower. The batteries are doing great as well! So THANKS SO MUCH!!!!
Wow!! POS is up and running 😂😂🤦♀🤦♀ Wish I would have found this before I pulled all the batteries to see if they were burnt up (again!). Thank you SO SO MUCH for this video!!!
Oh you don't know how long I've been fighting this problem and I am on my second ignition switch and it stopped working...but found your video and the super easy fix you showed here worked!!! You really made my day, and my month and my year! Thanks so very much for taking the time to do this video.
Thanks here too. Been clicking, do the seat dance, neighbors laugh, rock it back and forth, etc.. and then it would randomly start. Been doing that for about a year here. Glad I found this video. Works great!
This not starting on first turn of the key had worsened last season to the point of turning the switch off and on 20 times or so before it would start….for some reason when damp outside it would also cut the blades off and or stop running. This 5-minute fix cured what I thought was going to be a much worse problem and plagued me for more than a year! Thank you!
Bloody hell! My wife was also not-so-merrily doing the seat dance, recruiting handy neighbours (we live in the middle of nowhere, so no hope of finding a local repair shop) to look at the mower, and punching the side of the mower until her knuckles bled... praying to get one more mow out of what is otherwise a brilliant piece of lawn equipment. Thank you so much for the link to the FB group and for doing this nifty little video. Much appreciated.
Dude…u just saved my life! And my wallet! I’m gonna order a new switch in the meantime but at least this thing is working now! Thank god🙏🏼and thank u my dude🤘
Thank you very much for posting this video! We had the same situation and we switched the 2 wires like you mentioned. Our mower is now working perfectly.
Thank you so much! I have a lawn that's barely enough for a rider and I didn't want to go out and spend a G on batteries. This did the trick. Thanks again man!
Thanks for the info. I had called Ryobi and they shuffled me off to a non Ryobi website at a cost of $40. They were no help as they did not know the machine, however the guy happened to mention that there was info on utube. Thanks again for help.
Wow, so easy. Worked great. But I ordered a new switch, and I'll swap it out, but I'll keep the old one as an emergency backup. Thanks. The Ryobi tech said it was the relay, a lot harder to replace. Back in business for now. Love the mower, but Ryobi needs to develop a better servicing network.
I've always wondered what that "Aux" position was even for. Glad it's there as an alternate! If that one goes out I guess you could just replace the whole switch.
Thanks! Mine was doing the same thing and when I got in there the connection seemed loose and after pushing one of the wires a little further, it's back to working without having to make the switch.
Great video! Thank you for sharing what you learned. Not being one that is educated in this I would never have considered this work around. Is there a detailed video of switching Ryobi 480e mower from acid lead batteries to lithium that you are aware of? Just purchased 4 acid lead batteries but would love to switch. Everyone doing this talks about how easy it is but no one shows how.
There may be videos out there, but I haven’t found them. If I ever make the switch I certainly will make a video about it. I would join the Facebook group I linked in the description, there are tons of posts about switching.
there are lots of videos out there. if you do the conversion purchase 4 100 ah (or 75 ah) LiFePo4 batteries. Depending on the brand those will last for freaking ever and weigh only a third of the lead acid equivalent, making your mower faster and use less charge. But at this point, since you've already bought the lead acid batteries, you might as well use the heck out of them to get your money's worth. One major thing people are not aware of is that you never want to discharge lead acid batteries past 50% or you'll cause more rapid deterioration. If you follow that rule and stop when you've discharged down to 50% and hook it up to a charger to recharge you can make lead acid batteries last a lot longer. LiFePo4 batteries can be run down to practically 0%!
So is it because the switch is acting up and needs to be replaced? Mine first turn key sometimes does not work and I have to try the second time. Need to change the switch or do as the video shows?
Yes the switch is no good. We have been dealing with this for about year now as well. We had our mechanic take a look at it. He tested the batteries just in case but they are all in good condition. He then checked the key module and disconnected the green and red wires and touched them together and the mower turned on. He suggested we replace the key module and in the mean time to paper clip the 2 wires together in order to use the mower. I found that to be hassle as the paperclip was not holding very well and by accident found that if you move the green wire over one position it turns the mower on without needing the key. The only downside that I've noticed to that (maybe due to it not being a proper connection) is that the battery does not last as long as it should so we never get to finish our entire lawn (.25 acres). I have not tried connecting it like the OP did. I guess it doesn't matter much at this point since I just order a replacement key module and should be here this week. I am hoping after I change it, it will work as it should.
A HUGE thank you for this video. My husband bought our 38" Ryobi mower 3 years ago and it barely has 30 hours on it as of today! It had the exact problems you described with the ADDITION of throwing the mower into reverse while he was on it moving forward. BIG SAFETY ISSUE. We had it in an authorized shop THREE separate times for months each time. Guess that is what you get when you send an ELECTRICAL ISSUE to a shop that only understands engines. Thank goodness we got the extended warranty! They finally said they would reimburse us for the cost of the mower ($3,500.00) but they would not come and get it. So we were stuck with this thing that he just couldn't trust getting back on. Then........... he saw YOUR VIDEO last night. First thing this morning he did exactly what you said to do and NOW we have this great FREE $3,500 mower. The batteries are doing great as well! So THANKS SO MUCH!!!!
You just fixed my mower! This has been an ongoing problem for WAY too long. Thanks so much for an awesome, simple, and FREE fix!
Wow!! POS is up and running 😂😂🤦♀🤦♀ Wish I would have found this before I pulled all the batteries to see if they were burnt up (again!). Thank you SO SO MUCH for this video!!!
Thanks for posting this quick fix! I've had the same issue for several weeks and finally found your video. My RM480e works again!
WORKED!!! Saved me a giant headache. I live in a very remote area and getting parts here is very slow. Thanks!!!!
That’s great to hear!
Oh you don't know how long I've been fighting this problem and I am on my second ignition switch and it stopped working...but found your video and the super easy fix you showed here worked!!! You really made my day, and my month and my year! Thanks so very much for taking the time to do this video.
Thanks here too. Been clicking, do the seat dance, neighbors laugh, rock it back and forth, etc.. and then it would randomly start. Been doing that for about a year here. Glad I found this video. Works great!
This not starting on first turn of the key had worsened last season to the point of turning the switch off and on 20 times or so before it would start….for some reason when damp outside it would also cut the blades off and or stop running.
This 5-minute fix cured what I thought was going to be a much worse problem and plagued me for more than a year! Thank you!
Bloody hell! My wife was also not-so-merrily doing the seat dance, recruiting handy neighbours (we live in the middle of nowhere, so no hope of finding a local repair shop) to look at the mower, and punching the side of the mower until her knuckles bled... praying to get one more mow out of what is otherwise a brilliant piece of lawn equipment. Thank you so much for the link to the FB group and for doing this nifty little video. Much appreciated.
Dude…u just saved my life! And my wallet! I’m gonna order a new switch in the meantime but at least this thing is working now! Thank god🙏🏼and thank u my dude🤘
Thank you very much for posting this video! We had the same situation and we switched the 2 wires like you mentioned.
Our mower is now working perfectly.
I messed with the switch, but never thought moving to the other position. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much! I have a lawn that's barely enough for a rider and I didn't want to go out and spend a G on batteries. This did the trick. Thanks again man!
Thanks for the info. I had called Ryobi and they shuffled me off to a non Ryobi website at a cost of $40. They were no help as they did not know the machine, however the guy happened to mention that there was info on utube. Thanks again for help.
Wow, so easy. Worked great. But I ordered a new switch, and I'll swap it out, but I'll keep the old one as an emergency backup.
Thanks. The Ryobi tech said it was the relay, a lot harder to replace. Back in business for now.
Love the mower, but Ryobi needs to develop a better servicing network.
Thanks! I wouldn't have thought to switch the order of the wires. Nice quick fix
Worked like a charm, cheers!
I've always wondered what that "Aux" position was even for. Glad it's there as an alternate! If that one goes out I guess you could just replace the whole switch.
hey, thanks for posting this, man. am having the same prob. will try this fix
Did it work?
finally had chance to try the fix and Yes, it has worked thus far. have only tested and not mown yet but all systems go.thanks for the fix @@TM-ro7lh
Awesome! Thank you. My RM480e is working great again.
Bro! You just put me back in business! Thanks
Thanks! Mine was doing the same thing and when I got in there the connection seemed loose and after pushing one of the wires a little further, it's back to working without having to make the switch.
Great video! Thank you for sharing what you learned. Not being one that is educated in this I would never have considered this work around. Is there a detailed video of switching Ryobi 480e mower from acid lead batteries to lithium that you are aware of? Just purchased 4 acid lead batteries but would love to switch. Everyone doing this talks about how easy it is but no one shows how.
There may be videos out there, but I haven’t found them. If I ever make the switch I certainly will make a video about it. I would join the Facebook group I linked in the description, there are tons of posts about switching.
there are lots of videos out there. if you do the conversion purchase 4 100 ah (or 75 ah) LiFePo4 batteries. Depending on the brand those will last for freaking ever and weigh only a third of the lead acid equivalent, making your mower faster and use less charge. But at this point, since you've already bought the lead acid batteries, you might as well use the heck out of them to get your money's worth. One major thing people are not aware of is that you never want to discharge lead acid batteries past 50% or you'll cause more rapid deterioration. If you follow that rule and stop when you've discharged down to 50% and hook it up to a charger to recharge you can make lead acid batteries last a lot longer. LiFePo4 batteries can be run down to practically 0%!
Where is the link to the fb group?
Thanks great info and fix much appreciate you sharing!
Mine is doing the same thing. Going to give this a try
Thanks for the video, I had the same problem.
So is it because the switch is acting up and needs to be replaced? Mine first turn key sometimes does not work and I have to try the second time. Need to change the switch or do as the video shows?
Yes the switch is no good. We have been dealing with this for about year now as well. We had our mechanic take a look at it. He tested the batteries just in case but they are all in good condition. He then checked the key module and disconnected the green and red wires and touched them together and the mower turned on. He suggested we replace the key module and in the mean time to paper clip the 2 wires together in order to use the mower. I found that to be hassle as the paperclip was not holding very well and by accident found that if you move the green wire over one position it turns the mower on without needing the key. The only downside that I've noticed to that (maybe due to it not being a proper connection) is that the battery does not last as long as it should so we never get to finish our entire lawn (.25 acres). I have not tried connecting it like the OP did. I guess it doesn't matter much at this point since I just order a replacement key module and should be here this week. I am hoping after I change it, it will work as it should.
It’s alive !!!!!
Worked😂
Thank you
Get to the point quickly
There is no way someone is actually complaining about this video - it's not even three minutes long and it has helped people incredibly!