LT1050 Electric PTO dropping out

[JRobyn]

The electric PTO clutch on my LT1050 spontaneously drops out (de-energizes). It seems to maybe be vibration related. Our ground is rough and the deck belt is a little old and floppy, but neither are really anything extreme. I've checked all electrical connections and they seem to be clean and tight. It doesn't make any difference if it is in "reverse mow" mode or not. The PTO clutch itself seems to be just fine; works perfectly when engaged, and sometimes it stays engaged for a long time, so I hate to start a fix by replacing the expensive PTO clutch. Anyone experienced this, and what was the ultimate problem/solution? :confused3:

- Jay

 

[rcbe]

one of the things that can set up that condition is a marginal electrical system. Remove the battery post negative cable connection first, proceed to clean each connection point in the charging circuit with sandpaper, etc. to bright metal. Make sure to include those connections to the tractor frame. Take the battery to a qualified shop for a charge and a LOAD TEST to verify that it is capable of sustaining the 4+ amps needed to keep the PTO engaged. Lastly, re-connect the cleaned, removed negative post.
Above may not solve your problem, but can't hurt and is not an expensive repair. Good luck - repost if continued problems.

 

[rcbe]

one of the things that can set up that condition is a marginal electrical system. Remove the battery post negative cable connection first, proceed to clean each connection point in the charging circuit with sandpaper, etc. to bright metal. Make sure to include those connections to the tractor frame. Take the battery to a qualified shop for a charge and a LOAD TEST to verify that it is capable of sustaining the 4+ amps needed to keep the PTO engaged. Lastly, re-connect the cleaned, removed negative post.
Above may not solve your problem, but can't hurt and is not an expensive repair. Good luck - repost if continued problems.

 

[Tarnold]

You have a bad ground. Had exact problem with a Husky. Had a bad crimp on a spade connector. Give each one of them a good tug, and see if a wire comes loose.

 

[JRobyn]

Wow, 4amps?! The battery in it is marginal at best, so that's probably the problem. I'll try a new one. I'd previously checked all electrical connections, but some are hard to get to. I'll check again.

Thanks!

- Jay

 

[Hill Billy Bob]

The electric PTO clutch on my LT1050 spontaneously drops out (de-energizes). It seems to maybe be vibration related. Our ground is rough and the deck belt is a little old and floppy, but neither are really anything extreme. I've checked all electrical connections and they seem to be clean and tight. It doesn't make any difference if it is in "reverse mow" mode or not. The PTO clutch itself seems to be just fine; works perfectly when engaged, and sometimes it stays engaged for a long time, so I hate to start a fix by replacing the expensive PTO clutch. Anyone experienced this, and what was the ultimate problem/solution? :confused3:

- Jay

I have the same mower as you, and I had the exact same problem. I found it to be a rubbed wire on the right side of the transmission, where the rod from the forward/ reverse pedal attaches. The switch there has to do with kicking the PTO out when reversing...but when the wire is rubbed bare, and gets grounded, the pto shuts down going any direction. It drove me nuts before I found the problem....it would run an hour, then kick out, run 10 minutes, then kick out...sometimes it would kick out 3 times in 5 minutes, then run fine for an hour....once found, I removed the wires from the switch, taped them up, left them unconnected....problem solved. I did this probably 5 years ago....mower had 905.7 hours on the clock when I got it out yesterday to mow for first time this year. Still has the original PTO clutch. Will be easier to get to this wire connection with right rear wheel removed.....good luck..hope this helps....Hill Billy Bob

 

[Jack Vines]

Same problem on my 2135 and the problem was in the ignition switch. It's the last original switch on the machine and its finally gone TU. I'll be replacing the ignition switch with an Off-On-Momentary On toggle. The PTO switch was long ago replaced with a two-wire push-pull switch.

Bottom line, the MTD-supplied switches just aren't remotely weatherproof or durable. After this, all the original switches will be gone and there will be one-third as many wires.

jack vines

jack vines

 

[JRobyn]

Hill Billy Bob may be the winner! I found the wiring going to the "reverse switch" on the right side of the trans. The hot (red) wire was broken off where it was supposed to be crimped into the spade connector which was still attached to the switch. There was just enough wire fuzz left sticking out of the insulation to ground out on anything it touched. I've temporarily taped it over so we'll see if that cures it. I'm not 100% convinced it will, because after studying the schematic, it looks like having the ignition switch/control module in "reverse mow mode" is intended to bypass the entire reverse switch circuit. Stay tuned.

- Jay

 

[JRobyn]

Success! Wife and each mowed about 15-20 minutes on some pretty rough ground. PTO never disengaged once. Thanks guys, and especially Hill Billy Bob! I think I'll just leave it taped and not re-connect to the switch. I always thought that the thou shalt not mow in reverse "safety" feature was a little over the top anyway.

- Jay

 

[Hill Billy Bob]

Bada Bing...Bada Bang :cool2:..... Bob