Mower PTO Clutch
#1
10-29-17, 06:56 AM
Mower PTO Clutch
New item for me!
I have a 48" MTD, 3 blade, 17HP Kawasaki walk behind mower.
Last week I hit a big piece of dead sod that caused the main blade belt to come off the PTO Clutch pulley.
Got the belt replaced, engine starts up, but when the PTO clutch is engaged there is a loud metallic noise and the engine dies.
Havent taken anything apart but will get that in the next day or two.
So what likely happened?
I have a 48" MTD, 3 blade, 17HP Kawasaki walk behind mower.
Last week I hit a big piece of dead sod that caused the main blade belt to come off the PTO Clutch pulley.
Got the belt replaced, engine starts up, but when the PTO clutch is engaged there is a loud metallic noise and the engine dies.
Havent taken anything apart but will get that in the next day or two.
So what likely happened?
#2
10-29-17, 07:35 AM
Member
I'd try rotating the blades by hand to see if they turn freely.
Inspect the blades and deck to see if there bent.
Then double check that I installed the belt correctly, back of belt rides on the flat pulleys, Vee in the Vee pulleys.
Inspect the blades and deck to see if there bent.
Then double check that I installed the belt correctly, back of belt rides on the flat pulleys, Vee in the Vee pulleys.
#3
10-29-17, 08:38 AM
Got the PTO off, it's got a grinding feel to it. Will stop by the mower shop to have them take a look!
#4
10-29-17, 09:51 AM
Sounds like the bearing, and although I have only had to change a few I believe that the majority of them anyway do not have replaceable bearings, so you're probably looking at replacing the complete clutch. Make sure that when you install the new one that you get the tine or whatever it has that keeps it from rotating lined up. Last summer sometime a friend at church mentioned that he was going home to replace the clutch on his mower, then laughed when he told me the same thing the next week, so I asked, and he said that he didn't think of the non-rotator, fired it up, and proceeded to rip the wires right out the first new one.
#5
10-29-17, 12:52 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
The pto has a brake and it's normal to have a grinding sound when you turn it by hand.
Did you check to see if you bent a blade and it's hitting underneath? I'm betting it's either that or it burned a thin spot on the belt and it's making the tensioner arm and pulley flop around as it passes around each pulley.
Did you check to see if you bent a blade and it's hitting underneath? I'm betting it's either that or it burned a thin spot on the belt and it's making the tensioner arm and pulley flop around as it passes around each pulley.
#6
10-29-17, 03:14 PM
the belt was replaced and I cheeked all the blades, and nothing feels out of balance.
Again when the clutch is engaged that is when the noise occurs and the PTO is locking up killing the motor.
Ill know more tomorrow!
Again when the clutch is engaged that is when the noise occurs and the PTO is locking up killing the motor.
Ill know more tomorrow!
#7
10-29-17, 04:41 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
If it was a bearing in the clutch then the problem would be when the pto is disengaged and the pulley is spinning, not when it's all locked together and turning with the engine.
#8
11-18-17, 09:13 AM
mower PTO Clutch
I was having a heck of a time a couple of years ago trying to remove an electric clutch from a Kohler command twin so I could rebuild the engine. All I could get for help said if I removed the bolt that holds the clutch to the output shaft, it should fall right off. It had been on there since 1989 when it was built, and it would have none of that. It was not made well enough to put a puller on it without bending critical parts. A Friend with a machline shop and I made a tool to take the clutch off a half at a time. If you have to take the clutch off and it won't fall off after removing the bolt, don't destroy it, Post it!
#9
11-19-17, 02:52 AM
So, this ended up being a Operator Error, me!
Under normal operation the motor is running and mower moving when the clutch is engaged.
When I was working on it I had the motor running but mower was stationary when I was trying to engage the PTO.
Difference? I did not have the safety switches engaged so the mower would dye.
At least I caught myself before spending $200 on a new clutch that I did not need!
Under normal operation the motor is running and mower moving when the clutch is engaged.
When I was working on it I had the motor running but mower was stationary when I was trying to engage the PTO.
Difference? I did not have the safety switches engaged so the mower would dye.
At least I caught myself before spending $200 on a new clutch that I did not need!
#11
11-19-17, 09:50 AM
Member
So you weren't sitting on the seat when you were trying to engage the clutch?
