Engaging the PTO shuts the mower off

[MandySue]

The mower will start and run, but when i engage the PTO it shuts the mower off. Any ideas what may be happening? Anything i can do or check to troubleshoot this problem? Thank you so much for any help!

 

[madmax12]

I'm a newbie... But if the mower is running already, its Pto is already engaged.... If u are trying to engage something that is already engaged, shutting itself down is probably stopping a dangerous issue from happening.

 

[MandySue]

When i engage the PTO button to turn the blades on is when the mower shuts off

 

[Willl]

Sounds almost like a seat switch fault.

Does it still move forward and backwards OK ?

 

[MandySue]

yes it does move forward and backward ok. it drives fine until i engage the blades then it boggs the mower off unless i unengage the blades quickly and the mower will keep running

 

[geko]

Sounds like your mowing deck is jamming - maybe the belts/blade bearings need attention? Mine will do that when in long grass etc. hope that helps.

 

[MandySue]

The mower deck is very clean inside and out. I also checked the belts and they appear to be fine and in place. I understand the mower would bog down in tall grass, but the blades will not engage sitting on the driveway

 

[madmax12]

u r referring to the "tractor" as the "mower"... that's a different question than I thought you were asking.

 

[heviduty]

Sounds almost like a seat switch fault.

I agree. Most likely a seat switch if the blades are clear and nothing is jammed in the belt(s).

 

[joshuabardwell]

The mower deck is very clean inside and out. I also checked the belts and they appear to be fine and in place. I understand the mower would bog down in tall grass, but the blades will not engage sitting on the driveway

Do the blades turn freely by hand?

 

[joshuabardwell]

I agree. Most likely a seat switch if the blades are clear and nothing is jammed in the belt(s).

I thought that too, but he said it "bogged." If it was a safety interlock, the engine would simply die. Bottom line, though: it's either the safety interlock or something is jamming the belt or blades.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If the motor is bogging down, it sounds like you have a spindle bearing locked up. Try turning each bearing shaft including the clutch shaft to see if everything is turning freely

 

[MandySue]

yes the blades turn freely by hand!

 

[RandyT]

You don't say what model you have, but if the seat switch was acting up the mower would die as soon as you took your foot off the brake pedal. If this is a hydrostat mower, especially with the foot direction control I would bet that the pedal is sitting slightly to the reverse side, causing it to engine the reverse safety switch, and causing the mower to die because it thinks you are backing up.

 

[MandySue]

Im not sure the model other than LS 35. It is a hydrostat mower. If the pedal is sitting slighty to the reverse how do you correct that?

 

[madmax12]

Im not sure the model other than LS 35. It is a hydrostat mower. If the pedal is sitting slighty to the reverse how do you correct that?

If it is similar to my HST tractor, u would just nudge the forward pedal a little, relieving the pedal from the reverse position.

Also, if that were the problem, I would think u could experiment by putting the gear in neutral position. Then see if motor shuts off when engaging Pto.

 

[Willl]

but when i engage the PTO it shuts the mower off.

unless i unengage the blades quickly and the mower will keep running

Do you think it's being shut down electrically (like turning the key off) or physically (like something mechanical stopping the engine) ?

 

[Don87]

What make of tractor are we discussing?

 

[t melton]

My zero turn lawnmower did the same thing today!. I put the PTO down and it died, I started all over again and put down the brake and it died. I will look tomorrow on the deck to see if a bunch of grass is clogging it up. A friend put on a new spring said mine was to short and put on a longer one. I am not sure if that is the problem or not. It makes noises when I engage the PTO. Last time I took it to John Deere, they wanted $1700. said it was out of warranty. It had 11 hours on it and they worked on it and put 2 more. All the oil was drained out not covered under warranty. Becareful and check you oil when leaving the dealership. I am not going back, I rather listen to you men. Yes I am a lady. So never let your wife go to a dealership.