Tag: lawn mower blades will not engage

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

When I Turn on The Lawn Mower Blades Nothing Happens

On a riding lawn mower, you normally either pull on a knob to engage the blades or you pull or push a lever to get them to operate.

Let’s start with the knob type first. It is a PTO switch and its function is to engage the lawn mower blades and then disengage them. It is wired into several safety switches to prevent it from operating unless the conditions of those switches is met. You can test the switch in most cases by sitting in the seat, turning the key to the on position and pulling up on the knob. you should hear a metallic clicking sound indicating the PTO clutch is working. Check the belt as well to be sure it is in working order.

If you do not hear this, one of the safety switches could be bad or the associated wiring, a blown fuse or the PTO switch or PTO clutch is bad.

If you have a lever type blade engagement, make sure that it is not binding, the cable is not broken or the belt is not off the pulley or broken.

Those are pretty common problems with lawn mower blades not working. If you need a lawn mower repair professional in your area, visit our locations page.

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

Electric PTO Will Not Engage Blades on Riding Lawn Mower

So you pull up on the PTO knob and nothing. Nada. Not even a sound. Here are some tips that may help you get that riding lawn mower PTO working once again.

With you in the seat, turn the key one click to the on position. Now pull the PTO knob up and you should here a fairly obvious clicking sound. This is the magnet engaging the clutch plates and pulling them together. If you don’t hear anything, check for 12 volts DC at the connector that is about a foot away from the clutch. It could be beneath the chassis or above it near the starter. If you have 12 volts DC there, check the connector at the clutch to be sure it hasn’t come loose. If it hasn’t, more than likely your PTO clutch is bad and needs replaced or adjusted. Most of the time the clutch is bad so it normally is replaced.

If you do not have 12 volts DC, check your fuses to see if they are good. You should have 12 volts DC going across them as well. If they are good, you could have a bad PTO or Seat switch.

Check those switches for power and continuity to rule out why you do not have power going to the PTO clutch on your riding lawn mower.