Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): John Deer sx38 blade clutch, clutch lining, old john deere

Question
Allen,

I have a 10 year old john deere sx38 lawn tractor. Over the last year intermittantly the blade clutch has become disengaged suddenly while cutting the lawn. When I try to reengage the blade nothing happens. Then suddenly start working again. Today it stopped working and I have not been able to get it to reengage.  When I pull the electric button to engage the blade nothing happens. I don't hear anything.The electric to the clutch appears to be working ~2amps.

Thanks in advance for any sugestions.

Regards,

Warren

Answer
Hiya Warren
Thats a tough one- you say the clutch is drawing current but not pulling in?  Or intermittantly releasing?  Sounds like the clutch lining is worn out.  Or worse, the coil has partially melted and will no longer work mechanically (but still draw current).  What it does is deform and hang up.  You ever replaced one of these before?  They have a habit of being very difficult to remove from the shaft(the people who build these things for some reason will NOT use anti-sieze at assembly, I don't know why).  I'd really recommend a shop with a puller.
Lemme know how it goes- good luck