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Riding Mower Stalling When Blades Engaged

15 years ago

Hi - we've got a 16.5hp MTD/Lawn Machines 42" riding mower with the two cylinders in the engine. Hubby got a wild hair and changed out the oil, all the filters, fuel lines, new battery, new belt. We currently have a mulcher system on the blades.

At any rate - since the "service" the tractor runs great - but now when he engages the blades the engine stalls out - before he even goes to cut any grass.

Any ideas?

Featured Answer

lkbum_gw

15 years ago

Could also be your "reverse safety" system that prevents mowing while in reverse (if this mower has one). The switch on my mower hung up once and the system thought I was in reverse. On my simplicity, it was easy to check. As the blades engaged and the mower was cutting off, I hit the switch that allowed mowing in reverse and it came back to life immediately.

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Comments (8)

bill_kapaun
15 years ago
Typically, that's the seat switch. Either bad or out of adjustment. Make sure the connector is fully seated etc.
Without a schematic, there's no guarantee that's the problem however.

Is there a model number on it similar to this format?
13BT604G401
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When I engage the blades, they spin but you would have no idea they are on unless by looking at the blades. In the past, you could hear the difference when it was engaged and not engaged. When I cut the grass, it leaves behind quite a bit of uncut strands of grass. Nowhere near as consistent as in the past. The belt seems to be loose to me but not sure how to tell if it is supposed to be like that or not.
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rcmoser
15 years ago
I would go over the routing of the belt first and make sure didn't bump any switch connector off, Changing the oil, air filter, fuel filter, batt. and fuel lines shouldn't stall the engine out unless the "fuel system " still has "air in the hoses from changing the lines" especially if it has a fuel pump on it (usually gravity feed system (tank mounted above the engine) is not as touchy as tank mounted below the engine.

I would run it a while at different throttle settings to make sure all the air is worked out of the carb and fuel lines. I still not sure what you mean by stalling out. Does it die??? or does the RPMs come way down then go up and down???
greengardenguru
15 years ago
I was having the same problem with my John Deere L130, checking every wire and switch for a good part of the last two weeks, until I saw this post. Sure enough, it was the reverse safety button.
billchristenson_hotmail_com
12 years ago
murrey 1973 lawn tractor mint shape , 38 inch cut , runs great till you engage the baldes then stalls
Toye Green
9 years ago
My 2000 craftsman riding lawn stalls out when blade is engaged
sidney_jt
8 years ago
So what other problem besides the reverse switch and the seat switch could cause the engine to cut off when engaging the blade?
rexlex
8 years ago
could be the cl/brake sw, but depends on make/model..

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