265 blowing main fuse when engaging PTO

Verticaltrx · Mar 22, 2014

I have a JD 265 garden tractor that has started blowing the main fuse when you engage the PTO/mower deck. Trying to get things ready for next mowing season so I need to get to the bottom of this. I already replaced the switch and that didn't have any effect. Is the PTO clutch bad? How would one test that? Other thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Yellowfever440 · Mar 22, 2014

I think I would start looking a rubbed wires or something. That mower has some age on it and the pto wires could be shorted.

RandyT · Mar 22, 2014

Start by unplugging the two wire connector at the pto clutch, and then engage the pto switch, and see if it still blows the fuse. If fuse blows, most likely short someplace between the clutch switch, and the clutch.

If the fuse doesn't blow, then most likely clutch is shorted. Sometimes you can take a meter and put one lead on one of the clutch wires, and the other lead on the metal part of the clutch. if you have continuity, you have a short. Most of the time you need to know what the normal resistance of the clutch is between the two wires. If out of spec, then replace. I bet you have a shorted clutch.

Verticaltrx · Mar 22, 2014

Thanks for the replies. I'll give those things a try and report back.

Verticaltrx · Mar 25, 2014

It must be the clutch and not the wiring. I disconnected the plug from the clutch and it didn't blow the fuse. I'll check for continuity between the clutch wires and housing next, but regardless it looks like a new clutch is in order. While I was under there I noticed the main drive belt for the transmission was about shot, so that's on the list too.

yeagisyeag · Mar 25, 2014

I'm not sure if our clutches are the same, but the one on my f910 was blowing the fuse and I found the metal tab that holds the coil part of the clutch had snapped at the weld, so when it engaged the rest of the clutch spun around until the wires hit the tab and shorted out. I guess the previous owner had tightened the bolt that holds the tab to the motor, the slight wobble worked on it until it snapped off.

Jim

PILOON · Mar 25, 2014

Essentially the clutch coil is one big electromagnet.
That means that you have a pos and neg connection to make the circuit work. Somewhere the pos is shorting to ground.
Look for chaffed wire where they enter the coil area. I would doubt if a short would be internal but most probably where they exit. Once you find the chaffed wire, slip some plastic tubing over the damaged insulation or again you could isolate with a hot glue gun once the damaged area is de-greased.
Sure sounds repairable to me.

RandyT · Mar 25, 2014

I have seen the connection wires get shorted out, and I have seen the coil pack short out and cause problems. Actually I have seen the coil packs burnt, and brittle. I no external wire damage, I wojld bet that the coil pack is shorted internally.