Poulan
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 :
Check that all the safety switches are working correctly, it is possible the seat switch is bad or loose plug/ bad wire. Also if battery weak or charging system weak/faulty the clutch will stall out engine, charge battery up with charger and try.
A low charge may not provide enough juice to engage the PTO. If you do hear the click, there is power going to it. There could be a problem with safety switches. On most newer model lawn mowers, the brake has to be disengaged or off for the blades to operate.
An object or obstruction (such as an ant hill, clump of matted grass clippings or large tree branch) is jammed underneath the cutting deck or in the cutting deck drive system preventing the moving parts from engaging properly. Inspect for obstructions and carefully remove if necessary.
If your riding lawn mower engine dies when you release the brake, there`s a good chance the mower`s seat switch is broken or unplugged. The seat switch stops the engine when it doesn`t detect an operator sitting on the seat to prevent the mower from moving without a driver.
A dirty carburetor is the most common cause of a lawn mower that starts and then dies. Other possible causes include: Stale/Dirty Gas. Faulty Choke.
If you hear strange noises coming from your mower deck, it may be a sign that the spindle is damaged. A bad spindle can produce grinding, rattling, or squeaking sounds, which indicate that the bearings are worn out or the spindle is bent.
An improperly routed belt can cause the engine to die when the blades are engaged. To check belt routing, lower the deck to its lowest setting and remove the belt guard by the drive pulley. Next, lift the belt over the pulley and remove the pins that support the deck at the rear.
What`s happening? This is a normal function of the seat safety switch. With the blades engaged, weight from the operator allows the seat safety switch to keep the engine running.
The PTO (or power take-off) belt is part of a pulley system that operates the blades on your riding lawn mower. It runs off the electric clutch system in your engine. If you hear squealing during operation or see dry rot on your PTO belt, you may need to replace it.
Discover Relevant Questions and Answers for Your Specific Issue
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My p.t.o. wont start my blades the engine runs but the blades wont start when i pull up the p.t.o on
ANSWER : Belt needs tightening or its brocken.Check first.
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Battery the battery is dying and it will start but, after a few mins the engine starts to sputter then goes back to idle and eventually dies. could this just be the dead battery? is that the reason the engine dies?
ANSWER : Usually, if the battery is dying, it won’t start up again.
Usually, motorized vehicles only use the battery to start the engine, then the alternator contributes all the power for actual operation.
A dead alternator or battery shouldn’t ‘sputter’, they would just stop dead.
Usually, motorized vehicles only use the battery to start the engine, then the alternator contributes all the power for actual operation.
A dead alternator or battery shouldn’t ‘sputter’, they would just stop dead.
If the engine will start, run and then sputter…there is a fuel problem.
1. There may be a ‘cut-off’ in the fuel line which is in the off postion. It may look like a thin, flat wing-nut.
2. The gas may be contaminated with water residue if the gasoline has been sitting a long time. I believe you can get some water treatment to fix this without having to dump the fuel tank contents.
3. The fuel line is blocked with dirt somewhere, I would check the fuel filter and work backwards from there.
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I had hit a somewhat hidden stump on the lawn..bending the blade. Took the deck off and replaced the bent blade. Put the deck back on and now the cut seems uneven. It appears that the deck is now uneven. I attempted to follow the directions for a side-to-side leveling. Started with trying to measure the blade height and am struggling with getting to a spot where I can measure the blade on the left side. By looking at the deck, it appears to be uneven. I am struggling with being able to raise the left side of the deck.
ANSWER : I’ve only had luck removeing the deck, turn it upside down. Measure blade, mark, remove blade, insert large pipe over spindle, bend in direction. Re-install blade, and do it all over and over till straight. Measure in several locations.
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I started the mower but the blades will not turn. I shut it off and was able to manually turn the blades by hand. I also was able to turn the belt wheel under the engine and have it turn the blades. With it running and me on the seat, they don’t turn. With it running; brake engaged; and I pull the mower switch to engage them, the mower wants to die. Two questions: Is there a swtich on the seat to insure the blades can not turn while no one is on the seat? Is there a key between the belt wheel and the PTO shaft that needs to be replaced? Thank you.
ANSWER : Most all riders have a safety seat switch now and they do malfuction alot. They are under the seat and are ez to replace most of the time. First look for a wire that is grounding due to rubbing a sharp object. That can be fixed with black tape
Good luck!!!
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PTO will not engage on my 0 turn Cub Cadet RZT 50. What should I check and how do I check it?
ANSWER : See if the switch is getting power to it and if it is see if the clutch is getting power. it needs 12 volts in order to engage.
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Engine dies if i engage blades or take my foot off the brake
ANSWER : You likely need to replace the brake switch,the seat switch can also cause the same problem.Most likely problem is the seat switch,i would try that first.The pto or the reverse switch can cause a shut down but not until you try to mow,seat switch is the most suspect.
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My Z5426 won’t start. When I pull out the choke and turn the key, gas starts leaking out of the exhaust system just before it gets to the muffler. Last time it did start, it ran really rough. So, I turn off the engine and then tried to restart and that’s when I noticed the fuel leak.
ANSWER : Maybe bad fuel, fuel line leaking, flooding of the carburetor, since it did start and ran rough I am assuming that the gas was left set and more then likely this gummed up the carburetor, you will have to clean/rebuild it. If you have a can of carburetor clean you may be able to spray that into there and clean it up, I would not choke it to start it as it sounds like it got/is flooded/ing. Good Luck Tim
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I have a Craftsman FS5500 48″ lawn mower. The PTO makes a noise (squeak) for a second when I pull up on the red blade engage knob. The blades do not engage. PTO does not turn. When I push the red button down to disengage there is a brief squeak from the PTO.
It worked well the past month then a little problem 2 weeks ago. It seemed to disengage after mowing a while. Then after sitting for 15 minutes the blades would engage. I used it earlier this week and the PTO won’t turn at all.
Just purchased from the last and original owner a month ago. He said the oil would need to be changed this summer. Could that be part of the problem? Engine runs great!
Also, I need an owners manual, not able to find from the previous owner.
Thanks
ANSWER : Hi,The problem is probably in the button that you pull and push to engaged and disengage the PTO… If you wiggle the button or try to pull it slowly, you may find a spot where it will work. But the button has gone bad and will need to be replaced.If you are comfortable with wiring, you could jumper the wires and getting it working, but it would be a very temporary and possibly dangerous fix…
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