Can A Bad Pto Clutch Bog Down Riding Lawn Mower?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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After the engine warms, the choke opens and a normal air-to-gasoline mixture moves through the carburetor.

If the choke sticks shut

, the runs poorly, and it could stall or bog down as you mow. You can clean the choke and its linkages, which should free it up.

How do I know if my PTO clutch is bad?

  1. Hard To Start. Usually, the common symptom of a bad PTO clutch is taking time to engage. …
  2. Noise: The PTO clutch will make some awkward noise when engaging or disengaging. …
  3. Engine won't turn over.

Why does my riding lawn mower lose power when I engage the blades?

Whenever the blade is engaged, it rotates on a crankshaft to cut the grass. But

if there is interference in this rotation, the engine can overload and shut off or lose power

. Check the crankshaft connection to see if it rotates freely.

How do you test a lawn mower PTO clutch?

Why does my PTO keep turning off?

@mattk ,Matt, Something as simple as a

low battery/bad connection or not charging

could cause this. Possibly bad seat/reversing safety switch, faulty/loose wire/plug to clutch/PTO/switch, clutch faulty. Trouble shooting/parts/manual links below may help.

Why has my lawn mower loses power?

If your lawn mower loses power when cutting, the most common causes are a clogged air filter, stale/contaminated gas, blocked fuel filter, too much/too little engine oil, dirty/damaged spark plug, blocked carburetor, clogged cutting deck or a dull blade.

Why does my mower dies when it gets hot?

A simple, often overlooked, trigger for an engine stall occurs when

the heated gases inside the fuel tank can't vent properly

. The pressure causes the gas flow to reverse and move out of the carburetor, effectively shutting the engine down.

Why does my lawn mower dies when it gets hot?


Air leaks cause an engine to pull in too much outside air, which throws off the gasoline-to-air ratio

. As the engine heats, parts expand, and all tiny gaps become larger. The result is a poorly running engine and one that eventually stops. Loose bolts are a common culprit in a mower engine that shuts down when hot.

Why does the PTO not engage?


If the PTO clutch is not getting power, if the clutch solenoid is defective, or if the clutch is worn out

, the lawn mower blades will not engage. The PTO clutch is not repairable—if the clutch is defective, you must replace it. The PTO switch provides power to the PTO clutch.

How does a lawn mower PTO clutch work?

Driven by electricity provided by the mower's 12-volt battery,

the PTO clutch engages when its solenoid receives an electric spark

. The PTO pulley is attached to the clutch and guides the belt that connects to the engine crankshaft pulley and rotates the blades of the mower that are located under the mower's deck.

Why is one side of my mower deck lower than the other?

If the deck on your lawn tractor is lower on one side than the other, the result is

an uneven cut

. Leveling your tractor's deck periodically smooths out your lawn. It only takes a few minutes and just a couple of common tools to level your lawn tractor deck.

Can a bad battery cause a lawn mower to stall?

Check that all the safety switches are working correctly, it is possible the seat switch is bad or loose plug/ bad wire. Also

if battery weak or charging system weak/faulty the clutch will stall out engine

, charge battery up with charger and try.

Is it bad to pull a lawn mower backwards?

Simply, put,

your mower will not perform as well when mowing in reverse

. There are a number of reasons for this. One of the most immediately noticeable problems is that the grass will not get discharged underneath the deck. The cut is irregular, since mowing backwards means that the blades are running in reverse.

How do you test a PTO clutch for resistance?

How do I know if my mower PTO is bad?

Activate the PTO engagement lever, then disengage it. Turn it on and off several times.

If you do not hear a disengagement noise or see the power takeoff pulley stopping or slowing down at any time

, it indicates the clutch and plates have galled together from excessive heat, or the slip ring has jammed.

How do you adjust a clutch on a riding lawn mower?


Rotate the adjustable nut clockwise to tighten the clutch rod until the adjustable nut aligns with the hole in the vertical plate

. The nut will move down on the clutch rod threads to shorten the length. Press the adjustable nut into the assembly hole in the vertical plate.

Why do my blades keep disengaging?

This is usually caused from

debris on the deck preventing it from coming back to full rest position or because the cam rollers on the brake arms are worn or frozen

. With the mower off, you can move the PTO handle and you will see an idler that moves.

How do I get more power out of my lawn mower engine?

  1. Remove the flywheel housing from the top of your engine. …
  2. Unscrew the bolt holding the governor flap next to the flywheel with the proper sized wrench. …
  3. Inspect the muffler. …
  4. Fill the gas tank on your mower with a high octane gas. …
  5. Maximize the air flow.

How do you fix a riding lawn mower that won't start?

What do you do when your lawn mower overheats?

  1. The solution: Remove the mower casing and clean the dirt and debris caught inside. …
  2. The solution: Check the oil level before you start the machine and add oil if necessary. …
  3. The solution: Once this issue has been found, replace these parts to avoid overheating the lawn mower engine.

How do I know if my lawn mower is overheating?

Another symptom of an overheated mower engine can be that

it will lock up or shut down

, which might be a good thing because it will prevent further damage but also might be a sign of some damage itself.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.