QuestionQUESTION: Hello, I have a John Deer LX178 liquid cooled twin Kawasaki motor ride mower. My mower will start fine but when I pull the switch to engage the mower, the mower blades will not engage. I can here a slight change in the sound of the motor when I pull the switch,-like the rpm's change for a split second, kind of like it wants to engage but just cant. Any ideas? Thanks much!
ANSWER: Hello Gordon:
If you have an Ohmmeter, Disconnect the Wiring Harness from the Front of the Clutch and Check the Resistance of the Clutch. You should have around 4 or 5 OHMs. If at or near Zero, the Coil has Shorted. Usually the Problem you Described is the PTO Ground. Locate and Clean the PYO Ground. You can Run a Test Ground from the Battery to the Ground Wire of the PTO at the Nearest Connector to the PTO Unit. If the PTO Engages, then you have a Bad Wire. I Usually Check for a Bad Wire First then the OHMs Check. You can View a Breakdown/IPL of the Engine and Mower at this Site Addy, http://jdpc.deere.com/jdpc/servlet/com.deere.u90490.partscatalog.view.servlets.H and Enter the Model Numbers and Click Find. Then Select the Sectional File. Then Select the Section of the Mower you Wish to View Online. If you Hit a Snag or this Does Not Correct the Problem, I am Here if You Require More Assistance. Hope this Helps. Let me Know What Happens, Please. May the All Mighty Bless You and Yours. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 10 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 8pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I have another question.
If the problem is not the PTO ground but rather a shorted coil, what do I need to do, fix or replace?
I need to get an Ohmmeter before I can be certain.
When the motor is running and I pull the knob to engage the mower deck, I can hear a definite click noise down below along with a split second change in sound of the rpm's.
I checked all the wires the best I could but did not run a "test" ground wire from the battery to the ground of the PTO because I'm not sure which is the ground on the pto. Do you mean one of the several wires coming out of the on/off knob? Or one of the two wire running down into the clutch?
Not sure if it makes a difference but I forgot to mention this model is HydroStat (sp?)
Thanks much,
Gordon
AnswerHello Gordon:
Having a Hydrostat Transaxle is Not Going to Effect the PTO. Run the Test Ground to the 2 Wire Connector at the PTO Pigtail Not at the Switch. If you have a 12VDC Test Light you can Check for the Hot Wire at this Pigtail and Once Located you can do the Ground Test. If you Find the PTO Coil is Bad, then Replace the PTO. Even Hearing the Click and the Slight Change in RPMs, the Ground can Still be the Cause of this Problem. The PTO Ground is a Common Problem for PTO Engage Deck Mowers. If you Hit a Snag or this Does Not Correct the Problem, I am Here if You Require More Assistance. Hope this Helps. Let me Know What Happens, Please. May the All Mighty Bless You and Yours. Thanks.
Good Luck
Respectfully
John
PS: I am Allowed to Answer 10 Questions a Day. If you See I am Maxxed Out, then Try Submitting your Question at or Just After 8pm EST (US). My New Day Starts then. Thanks.
Respectfully
John
