Craftsman riding mower engine stops when blades are engaged

thejomo · #1 Apr 22, 2009, 11:06 AM

I have a Craftsman 'Garden Tractor', model number: 917.273070. It has a Kohler engine (model number: CV22S, type number: 75534).

The engine starts fine and will run without any issues in all gears. However, immediately once I engage the blade clutch the engine begins to stall. If I place the blade clutch back into disengage before the engine stalls completely the engine will recover and continue to run.

I thought it may be the seat safety switch, so i replaced it but that did not fix the issue. Thinking the new switch might be bad, I jumped the safety switch harness with wire but still experienced the engine dying upon blade engagement.

I have checked all the pulleys on the deck and they are fine. The blades do not have any obstructions and can rotate 360 degrees.

Oil levels are fine, fuel is fine and solenoid is brand new.

Any additional thoughts on troubleshooting this would be appreciated.

thejomo · Apr 22, 2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Which safety switch did you replace, there are 3. I think you have at least one bad switch left, usually the one under the seat.

I replaced the seat safety switch. Thinking that the new switch may be bad, I jumped the seat switch harness with a wire to take the switch out of the equation. Still didn't work - as soon as the blade is engaged, the engine dies.

I've seen others talk about this issue where the blades will run for a few seconds and then the motor dies. But in my case, the blades never get an opportunity to turn as the engine dies immediately once I attempt to engage the blades.

21boat · Apr 22, 2009, 11:04 PM

Is there anything caught in the blades like a rope or vine thats wrapped around the pulley shafts thats creating extra drag on the blades and the motor can't handle that extra friction or something in the way of another safety switch?

Is there a safety switch where the throttle is and thats stuck and won't let you engage the blades think the throttle is up to high.

When you jumped the switch how about the ground there. Many seat switches work off the ground to allow the current through the switch.

thejomo · Apr 23, 2009, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejomo

I have checked all the pulleys on the deck and they are fine. The blades do not have any obstructions and can rotate 360 degrees.

As for the seat switch, I removed it and jumped it at the harness by completing the circuit with a solid piece of wire. I'm not sure about any other saftey switches that could be an issue as all the other wires and harnesses appear to be connected tight and in good physical condition.

thejomo · Apr 23, 2009, 04:54 AM

Important symptom of this issue: the motor dies IMMEDIATELY once you attempt to engage the blades. In other words, the blades never have an opportunity to spin since the engine is cutting off before power is even transferred to the deck and its pulleys.

It's as if putting the blade/attachement clutch into engage is the equivalent of turning the ignition into the off position.

thejomo · Apr 23, 2009, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

I still think one of the three switches is bad. Check the one for the blade engagement handle too. You need to know if you switch gets losed or opened when you depress it. Jumpering the switch may actually be shorting out the ignition.

Turns out it was the seat safety switch. Don't know how I missed it. In any case, the new switch I installed was no good. So luckily I was able to salvage the original switch and putting that back in got the blades to engage properly.



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