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.

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.

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.

Is there anything caught in the blades like a rope or vine that's wrapped around the pulley shafts that's 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 that's 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.

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 safety switches that could be an issue as all the other wires and harnesses appear to be connected tight and in good physical condition.

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.

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.

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.

Engine runs but when you let off the cluch or engage the blades the engine dies

Seat switch

Current problem on Craftsman 917.254940. Mower runs and drives, but dies when engaging deck with belt engage lever (The big Tall Stick on right). Dies before engagement, indicating safety switch is functioning, but something else in the circuit is not working. The seat safety switch is present and functioning, but has a broken latch on one side. The park sensor switch for the brake/clutch lever is present and appears to be making up and braking, at least a finger feel on the bar that depresses the switch appears to show mechanical function to a degree that the switch should be working.

The problem is not power from the engine, or a bound blade on the deck. It is electrical in nature and seems to be an "interlock" problem.

Since the seat switch is broken to the point where it "wobbles" in it's fixture, I will replace it and try from there to complete ttroubleshooting.

I had replaced the ignition switch with one provided when I got the mower. It was the wrong ignition switch and blew the 30 Amp fuse when put in the start position. I went back to the original switch but noted at least one terminal had a lot more corrossion than the others. I cleaned the terminals on the ignition switch, but I can't do the same for the harness plug that goes on the ignition switch. Sprayed wd-40 to flush out any grunge and slid the switch into the harness plug multiple times. Since the ignition switch is old and a terminal evidences corrossion I will replace this too.

I am not sure if the ignition switch could be part of the problem with perhaps an internal break in a contact. The mower does run on the old switch.

Has anyone had an ignition switch cause interlock switchlike sympthoms??

Is there a PDF or "logic" guide for troubleshooting the interlock circuits?

Thanks, TroubledTom

The seat switch with broken "lock in finger" replaced, AND ignition switch. Mower engaged deck belt and continued to run. Made no other changes. Seat interlock switch worked but may have shifted some and not activated consistently or in appropriate manner. Ignition Switch is a "Dunno". I would try the seat switch first as a source of this problem. My ignition switch looked horrible, so I cleaned the harness connectors, but that had no effect with the old switch. I didn't try one part at a time, so my cure will have to involve both parts, but I'm thinking the seat interlock switch wasn't being mechanically activated in the expected fashion.

Problem solved. Now I'll just be waiting for the next "trouble"

Tom

When disengage the clutch the motor dies

Remove the air filter over the carb and it will run fine, either replace it with new or find out why it is not getting enough air to mix with fuel for maximum power.

*****This guy DG knows his stuff******
(Seat Switch)
I had same problem with craftsman LTS1500 17.5. It would idle but as soon as I would engage blades or put into drive the engine would die. I have had the seat death unplugged for 5 years and it ran fine, but then it would die when engaged or put into drive so Iread this article and I plugged the switch back together and it runs perfect.

Thanks that fixed mine too!!