TroyBilt ZTR deck engagement

I was mowing when a pine cone somehow kicked up, and wedged itself in the rear belt pulley by the PTO clutch - instantly causing the belt to jump. ('Figure the odds, eh?) So I dislodged the pine cone, re-connected the belt, and... nothing. The deck wouldn't engage. I concluded that it must be electrical - like a fuse. But the only fuse I see is a 20 Amp by the battery, which is good. To make matters worse, now the engine won't start. No crank at all. I'm still thinking electrical, because the Hour Meter and warning lights are blank, too. But, where do I go from here? Did I fry the PTO switch?

Thanks.

 

As you know, the engine won't crank with the PTO engaged, so, since things shut down out of normal sequence, the first thing I would do is make sure that the PTO switch is indeed off. If not that, the next thing I would do is inspect the wires at the PTO itself to see if they were damaged by the same debris that flopped the belt off.

 

Check battery connections.

 

If the engine ran after the mower belt was reinstalled, you may have two unrelated problems, Did the engine run after reinstalling the belt?

 

That's a very good cross-examination question, Beezlebob.

As soon as I re-routed the belt, it started, and that's when said "Dang, the deck isn't engaging". I shut off the engine, hopped off to re-examine my work and look for "obvious" causes, then tried to re-start. Nothing. 'Been dead ever since.

I worked on it a little yesterday. 'Still thinking that I smoked a wire somewhere. And if I'm right - where do I start looking?

And, if I'm wrong, what other areas should I be exploring?

 

I am sure each mower is different. On mine the ignition switch gets 12 vdc input from battery via main fuse. In the start position, the ignition switch outputs 12 vdc to the starter relay coil via 2 interlocks. The PTO switch must be in the OFF position and the foot brake switch must be closed. The starter motor will operate. The ignition circuit, powered by the main fuse and operating properly, will fire the plug when starter moves magnet past the ignition module unless the seat switch interlock is in the up position (nobody sitting in seat). This grounds the ignition circuit and removes grounds from the electric fuel pump. Hope this helps.

 

... PTO switch was wonky.

Case closed.