QuestionQUESTION: I have a 1991 Murray riding mower with a 5 speed transaxle and 18hp B&S v-twin. It runs normally and cuts normally in first or second gear. When running with or without the PTO engaged, if I shift to any gear above second, the engine stalls.
ANSWER: Do you have reverse? Do you know what model of transaxle you have? There will be a model number on the transaxle but you will need a flashlight and some patients to find it.
Did you check the belt pulley system and make sure all the transaxle mounting bolts are tight?
Let me know what tranaxle you have. Probably a Peerless, Foote or Dana transaxle.
Eric
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: It is a Peerless transaxle. I found the problem already. It occurred due to an improbable combination of events. First, a prior owner had unfastened the seat safety switch wires from a clip (now missing) that keeps them retained along the inside of the frame, so they were handing free in the path of the gear shift lever. Secondly, on one of these wires, the insulation was frayed and bare wire was exposed. In reverse, neutral, first, or second, the gear shift lever was not touching the wire. Anything from third gear over caused the shift lever to touch the bare spot in the wire, thus shutting down the engine. The wire was nearly worn through so I cut out the frayed spot, trimmed back to new wire on both ends, twisted the ends together, soldered, covered with shrink wrap and electrical tape, and secured the seat safety switch wires along the side of the frame with a zip tie. Eeez all good now.
AnswerWow! It's a good thing you find the wires...you could have spent many hours thinking it was a transaxle problem. I always ask customers if they messed with the mower before they brought it in. Most tell you know but sometimes we know they did. It's better to tell us anything they may have messed with, like the safety switch, so we don't spend hours working on the wrong problem.
Eric
