Craftsman
Experienced gardeners share their insights in answering this question :
Most likely a faulty safety switch. Check the blade engagement switch and maybe even the seat safety switch.
How to Identify and Fix Common Gardening Problems ?
We provide a variety of viewpoints on how to identify and fix common gardening problems. Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced gardeners :
If the engine dies when the blades engage, it could be the result of a damaged safety switch. The first step in assessing the safety switch is to make sure it is plugged in securely. The switch is located underneath the seat, and you may have to remove the seat to reach it.
Belt-the number one cause for your blades not to engage is that your belt is either stretched or loose causing it to slip or fall off completely. Belt could have snapped also.
A clogged carburetor is most commonly caused by leaving fuel in the lawn mower for a long period of time. Over time, some of the ingredients in the fuel may evaporate, leaving behind a thicker, stickier substance. This sticky fuel can clog up the carburetor and cause the engine to stall.
Loose, Dirty or Disconnected Spark Plug in Your Lawn Mower: Check it out, clean off debris, re-connect and tighten. Dirty Air Filter: Clean or replace. Fuel Not Reaching the Engine: Tap the side of the carburetor to help the flow of gas. If this doesn`t work, you might need a new fuel filter.
Details. Where are the safety interlock switches located on a riding mower? There are 4 safety interlock switches on our lawn and garden tractors.
Clogged or Dirty Air Filters
It is one of the most common problems that cause lawnmowers to sputter. The mowers take the air from the surrounding through air filters and mix it with fuel inside the engine. So, if the air filter is clogged or dirty, it will affect the flow of air into the carburetor.
Why would the cutting belt chirp or squeak when the cutting deck is first engaged? These belts are designed to suddenly grasp several pulleys and quickly get them up to a high RPM quickly. A short chirp or squeak is normal, especially when related components are new.
You can expect to get anywhere from six to ten years out of your riding mower, or longer with proper care and maintenance.
Generally, a riding mower that is properly maintained should last a consumer about 500 hours. The engine is most likely designed to last that long as is the mower portion.
The blade belt spins the blades to cut the grass. A worn or broken drive belt won`t spin the cutting blades so your mower won`t cut the grass. A worn blade belt can also cause mower deck vibration or uneven cuts. Examine the blade belt regularly and replace it if it`s worn or broken.
Power take-off (PTO) clutches provide a mechanical disconnect between the power created by gas and diesel engines or electric motors to another piece of equipment. The PTO clutches enable the transmission of that energy to auxiliary equipment that does not generate its own power.
For riding mowers using a manual clutch, the mower blades are engaged by manually shifting a lever that moves a pulley assembly to tighten the blade drive belt. The rotating engine shaft will then drive the belt, which in turn, rotates the pulleys to spin one or more cutting blades.
An unbalanced blade spinning that fast will cause a significant amount of vibration, which will put stress on yout blade shaft, spindle, and even the engine. So if you want to get the most life out of your mower… keep the blades balanced! If playback doesn`t begin shortly, try restarting your device.
Powershift PTO engagement problems could be from blocked hoses or fittings, bad connections or ground or the solenoid. Mechanical PTO engagement problems could originate from low air pressure, improper cable installation or back lash too tight.
Worn Out Pulley Or Wrong Pulley Alignment
If any tensioner pulley begins to wear out with time, it`ll create more of a chirping noise. You`ll also hear the chirping noise if the pulley grooves are damaged. This happens over the years due to friction, leading to cracks in the belt.
This lawn and garden equipment company, a Sears subsidiary, offers entry-level and mid-range riding mowers and other tools. Quality construction: Craftsman has a reputation for quality parts, winning awards from Popular Mechanics and other organizations.
They`re sold at Home Depot, Lowe`s, and Walmart. Prices range from $120 to $400. Craftsman is one of the market leaders in mower and tractor sales. All Craftsman mowers are made by MTD.
How long will a residential lawn mower last? The average residential mower is used for 1-2 hours per mow with 35 cuts per year. Based on that usage, a lower-quality line of residential mowers is expected to last 450-500 hours, while a John Deere residential lawn mower will last around 1,000-1,500 hours.
The cost of a new lawn mower ranges from $160 to $3,000. Lawn mower tune-ups and repair costs, on the other hand, go anywhere from $10 to $250. In other words, your model will play a large role in whether it`s worth hanging on to an old clunker.
Put the carburetor float and other components in a large container with your Simple Green Pro HD solution, and soak thoroughly. Use a brass brush to scrub all metal components, and a stiff nylon brush to scrub plastic pieces. Make sure the tiny vents get cleaned.
Get your can and spray the liquid on the carburettor. Make sure you don`t go overboard with spraying the liquid as it may end up harming the device. Rest assured that WD-40 is potent enough to work its magic even if it is sprayed decently on the carburettor.
If there is dirt or debris in the fuel bowl, it can block the needle valve and prevent it from closing. When this happens, fuel overflows into the carburetor. This causes fuel to flow out of the bowl vents, throws off the air-to-fuel ratio and gets the spark plugs wet.
Loose, Dirty or Disconnected Spark Plug in Your Lawn Mower: Check it out, clean off debris, re-connect and tighten. Dirty Air Filter: Clean or replace. Fuel Not Reaching the Engine: Tap the side of the carburetor to help the flow of gas. If this doesn`t work, you might need a new fuel filter.
Discover Relevant Questions and Answers for Your Specific Issue
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Mower cranks and runs smooth until i try to engage blades or put mower in gear. it then stalls out
ANSWER : The seat switch is not making. You can start the mower but if you try to move it or cut, the switch is acting as if there is no operator present. Find it under the seat.
Gary
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Blades wont ingage on my craftsman lawn tractor #917.274811?
ANSWER : After hitting a tree root, blades will not cut when I press to engage
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Have a Craftsman 26 hp, 48″ mower…mower starts runs but when I try to engage the blades nothing happens. Checked all the belts, ck for blockage but nothing…what would the next step be?? Tks
ANSWER : When you say nothing happens…is the PTO engaging? You said that you already checked the belts…if none of these are off…you maybe looking at a new PTO clutch.www.nnyparts.com
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PRIMARY BELT SIZE – Craftsman 24 Hp 48" Deck Yard Tractor
ANSWER : I WOULD SUGGEST HIGHLY YOU GET REPLACEMENT BELTS FROM SEARS . THE AUTOMOTIVE BELTS ARE IN ONE INCH INCROMENTS SEARS BELTS ARE IN HALF INCH .. GET YOUR MODEL NUMBER AND CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SEARS OR K MART . FOR THE PROPER BELT ! .. JUST THE WAY IT IS WITH CRAFTSMAN MOWERS … SORRY ….
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Mower blade on one side spins free and will not cut grass
ANSWER : Check the bearings in that spindle.
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What type of oil for 17.5 42 500 cc – Craftsman 17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model
ANSWER : I use straight 30wt.
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I would like to replace the mulching blades on my Sears Craftsman riding mower with regular cutting blades. I can find plenty of sources for new mulching blades, but not cutting blades. My mower is a model 917.259541 tractor and the blades currently on it are part #134149. I want to make sure I get the right size to replace them. Also, is there a source for a bagging system for this mower, that won’t cost as much as one from Sears?
ANSWER : The straight blade for the 42 inch mower is 138971.They cut better and are easier to sharpen and you will need them if you use a gass catcher. If you do not want to use sears for parts you may be able to find good deals on ebay.
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Craftsman lt 1000 dies when i try to engage the mower deck
ANSWER : Hello,Check the seat switch. If it is out of alignment/loose, the machine logic thinks that the operator is not present (on the seat), and will die.Best regards, –W/D–
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