Push button starting system for outdoor power equipment

A method of automatically starting an engine of outdoor power equipment, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a controller for the outdoor power equipment;
• determining in the controller whether a enable device is in inserted into a enable device receptacle of the outdoor power equipment;
• upon determining the enable device is inserted in the enable device receptacle, monitoring for the activation of a start button;
• determining when the start button is activated for longer than a minimum engagement period;
• and
• starting the engine only when the start button is activated for longer than the minimum engagement period and the enable device is in the enable device receptacle.

A push button starting system for a lawn tractor, comprising:

• a controller coupled to a starter for an engine of the lawn tractor, wherein the controller selectively activates the starter to initiate operation of the engine;
• an enable device receptacle coupled to the controller and configured to receive a enable device, wherein the controller detects the presence of the enable device in the enable device receptacle;
• and
• a start button coupled to the controller, the start button generating a start signal received by the controller when the start button is in an activated position,
• wherein the controller activates the starter upon detection of the presence of the enable device in the enable device receptacle and activation of the start button for longer than a minimum engagement period.

A method of automatically starting an engine of a lawn tractor having a controller, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining in the controller whether a enable device is inserted into a enable device receptacle of the lawn tractor;
• upon determining the presence of the enable device in the enable device receptacle, monitoring for the activation of a start button;
• upon activation of the start button, providing power to an electric load of the lawn tractor;
• and
• upon detection of the activation of the start button for longer than a minimum engagement period, starting the engine of the lawn tractor.