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Craftsman lawntractor starts but shuts off when mower blades engaged

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06-21-12, 07:37 PM

bjsims

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Craftsman lawntractor starts but shuts off when mower blades engaged

Any help with this problem. Mower was working fine till I went under a tree and got caught in a branch and mower shut off. I noticed that the key in the ignition was slightly bent but still works. Could it be the ignition switch?
Mower starts and drives fine without mower blades engaged.

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06-21-12, 07:51 PM

cheese

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Craftsman made an awful lot of different mowers... hard to know where to look without knowing what you have. Electric PTO or manual? The model number is under the seat, post it please.

Last edited by cheese; 06-22-12 at 12:15 AM.

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Outdoor Gasoline and Electric Powered Equipment and Small Engines
Former Moderator needs opinions

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puey61 on Jun 13, 2012

Customer has a Ferris Pro Cut 30 (3-wheel, front mount) model-H3225K, serial-1425 with a Kohler CV25 engine. Problem: deck cuts very poorly on left side, from blade spindle shaft outboard. Really long story short: many new items installed over the last year and a half at another shop and some more at our shop - mostly per the owner's request - including, but not limited to: deck (yes, the mower housing), spindle housings & bearings, spindle shafts, blades (even modified some higher lift blades to fit), belt, pulleys, etc. This is a 72" cut mower and only the left 12" (or so) cuts poorly, again, from the blade spindle shaft and to the left - even with a perfectly cleaned out mower deck. Even with the standard Ferris blades as well as the modified, high-lift blades and also with Oregon Gator blades. Aside from laser leveling the deck, the blade tips are spot on level. At the rear mount of the deck to the main chassis there are five optional holes to mount such and I've tried it in the middle hole and the hole below that (only these two holes due to the owner's request to keep the cut "relatively" low (2 1/2 - 3 inches)). I've adjusted the front of the deck to numerous settings, via the chain/eyebolt adjusters and set the front casters to varying heights, via the spacer system employed. Also, I've varied the blade spindle shaft spacing, again, via the spacer system used by Ferris. I've tried countless setups with only minor improvements to the cut on the left side of the deck. Someone out there must have come across this problem and I need your help...please help out an old Moderator!!! Give me your suggestions.Read More
Outdoor Gasoline and Electric Powered Equipment and Small Engines
Craftsman Riding Mower Sputtering and Dying

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kianje on Jun 20, 2012

My mower has just over 50 hours on it and had used it with no problem 1 1/2 months ago. Today went to mow and was very difficult to start and when it did, it spit and sputtered and smoked and would not stay running. The gas was only 1 1/2 month old too that was left in it but I drained it anyway and put in fresh gas. Same thing, it would eventually start and run real ragged and after about 5 minutes of just sitting on it with it running, it would rev up to normal and then go dead within 10 seconds. I took the little cylinder looking thing out from under the carb and made sure the plunger was loose and moving properly. (I had a problem with that and ethanol gas one time gumming it up, now use 100% gas.) It was a little catchy to begin with but kept moving it and it limbered up fine. The mower was also very difficult to restart after it would run for a few minutes. Took out the sparkplug and it looked fouled so I replaced it and it still was very difficult to even fire. Finally got it started a few times and when it would run for that 5 minutes, it would rev up, run normal and go dead within 10 seconds. When it was sputtering, it would be smoking too but once it got full throttle, the smoking would stop. I never tried to engage the blade because it barely had enough power to run. The last time I got it running, just before dark, I put it in the highest gear and drove it around and after about 5 minutes it ran normal, 10 seconds and dead, same pattern it had all afternoon. I won't to reiterate that it was very difficult to restart once it would crank and quit. I kept taking the sparkplug out as I felt it was flooding. Thanks in advance for any assistance.Read More

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