model # 2-1136 vd date of manufacture 6-36548x57 1056 36" cut engine starts right up but cuts out when put in gear... the boy says that he started it up put it in gear herd a clunk and it clunked out... could it be the clutch brake or the trans..? I hate to push it out to the curb without investigating it further... what do you think..?

What done the "clunking", did the engine die? Or did the engine drop rpms severely, what?

Old lawn chief riding mower... the engine quits as soon as you lift your foot off the clutch brake... I wasn't there when the kid herd the clunk... he seems to think it came from the transmission... I took it apart and looked at the gears and they all looked OK to me but then I never looked at one before... there were no missing teeth in the gear box...

Does it die in neutral and forward gear?

Old Lawn Chief... MOWERMAN2468... Yes the engine dies in nutral and forward gear as soon as I lift the clutch brake...
chpalm

Check the seat safety switch.

MOWERMAN2468... Previously I asked about an old Lawn Chief riding mower... the kid started up heard a clunk and then the motor stopped... I took it apart and looked into the gear box and didn't see any teeth missing from any of the gears... I put it back together and the motor starts up but cuts out as soon as I let up on the clutch brake.. I don't know anything about clutch brakes or transmissions... The seat safety switch seems OK.. but the gearshift handle seems very loose... chpalm

Hi Mowerman... regarding the lawn chief riding mower... the safety switch seems to be OK... Any other ideas..?. chpalm

Check the deck engagement safety switch. Sorry it has taken so long to reply, I have been sick and am still not feeling well, but thought I would get on here this a.m.

check the deck engagement safety switch. sorry it has taken so long to reply, i have been sick and am still not feeling well, but thought i would get on here this a.m.

MOWERMAN2468... Sorry to hear you were out of commission... Hope your feelin' better...
Thank you for the reply... but where do I locate the engagement safety switch..? I didn't know it had one... I'll have to go and check it out... I might get lucky...

Well if you have the engagement lever, look underneath the units main frame and have someone work the lever, you will see it making contact with probably a black and grey box with a plunger. This may be where your trouble is.

That enagegment switch is part of the blade engagement handle and linkage. Work the handle and see what all moves, look for a wire leading from the moving parts.