Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): john deere stx38, electric clutch, cv12

Question
good day Allen. I bought a used stx38 with a kohler cv12.5s my problem is this. I let my wife ride the mower and now something is wrong with it. Help me because now she wants to drive my new JD3320 we just bought. The engine runs fine When I ride to the barn to the house, but when I engage the PTO is where the problem happens. It engages the pto cuts for a few seconds then the motor sputters and disengages the pto for a few seconds then it engages the PTO again cuts for a few seconds then the motor sputters and disengages again. Please help before my wife gets a hold of my new tractor. Thanks Jack

Answer
Hi Jack
Something seems to be binding up on your mower deck drive.  The PTO electric clutch is releasing because of low voltage.  I don't remember if the clutch is driven off the headlight part of the stator or the battery (sorry).  If its off the stator, a bad deck bearing, stalling the motor, would cause low voltage to the clutch and it would release.

If its fed off the battery- is the battery OK?

Check the deck out very carefully and lemme know OK?