Craftsman T1000 tractor mower ,blades not engaging

[crazy charlie]

I have an older Tractor mower with a kohler motor.Great mower and apparently pretty generic.Everyone seems to have this one.Gave it a bath the other day and now it wont engage the blades to cut.everything else works as it should but when I raise the lever to lock it into the up position,the blades usually engage and now they are not.Peeking through the slot for the lever I can see a button switch that is depressed when the lever is down in the no cut position.Raising the lever releases the button from being depressed.Im guessing it has something to do with that switch..?? anyone familiar??? Charlie

 

[dingbat]

I have an older Tractor mower with a kohler motor.Great mower and apparently pretty generic.Everyone seems to have this one.Gave it a bath the other day and now it wont engage the blades to cut.everything else works as it should but when I raise the lever to lock it into the up position,the blades usually engage and now they are not.Peeking through the slot for the lever I can see a button switch that is depressed when the lever is down in the no cut position.Raising the lever releases the button from being depressed.Im guessing it has something to do with that switch..?? anyone familiar??? Charlie

Either the switch went out or the connection got moisture in it.

I'd start by blowing out the connector and putting it back together

 

[matt167]

That is an MTD built tractor. Usually MTD tractors engage the deck by lowering it and the belt tightens. They fail to engage when the linkage gets sloppy. A cracked deck at the mandrels will do it too

 

[crazy charlie]

Either the switch went out or the connection got moisture in it.

I'd start by blowing out the connector and putting it back together

Thanks,thats kinda what I was thinking but the switch is in a tough spot to get to.I Might have to remove the steering wheel to remove the panel covering it.

 

[crazy charlie]

That is an MTD built tractor. Usually MTD tractors engage the deck by lowering it and the belt tightens. They fail to engage when the linkage gets sloppy. A cracked deck at the mandrels will do it too

Thanks,the deck has it own dedicated lever to raise and lower the deck.It is on the far right of the dash.The blade activation lever is within the dash.The steering wheel is stopping the dash cover from coming off to reveal the switch.

 

[Harritwo]

Take an air hole, with a blower nozzle on it, Can even put a piece of 1/4" copper tube to extend it if needed and blow air in the electrical side as well as the push button side. Check to see if it works. If the switch is a NO tie the wires together temporary using a scotch lok or similar. If it is NC, disconnect on the end you can reach, (Not Necessary at the switch.) and bypass the switch. Then you can eliminate that option. Also, some of those mowers have a lockout on the key or trans that if the switch thinks it is in reverse, the mower wont engage. WIth you washing the ol girl, I would blow air to remove the water on any and every switch i can see as my first thought.

 

[crazy charlie]

Take an air hole, with a blower nozzle on it, Can even put a piece of 1/4" copper tube to extend it if needed and blow air in the electrical side as well as the push button side. Check to see if it works. If the switch is a NO tie the wires together temporary using a scotch lok or similar. If it is NC, disconnect on the end you can reach, (Not Necessary at the switch.) and bypass the switch. Then you can eliminate that option. Also, some of those mowers have a lockout on the key or trans that if the switch thinks it is in reverse, the mower wont engage. WIth you washing the ol girl, I would blow air to remove the water on any and every switch i can see as my first thought.

Thanks,I will give it a go.She has been sitting in garage fir a few weeks since the bath so hopefully she is all dried up ......but i usually aint that lucky...

 

[crazy charlie]

Ok so after sitting a few weeks ,same issue with the blades not engaging.I jacked it up and pressure washed the undercarriage.Manually moved all belts and pulleys by hand.Lubed cable and switch with moisture displacing lube.Tried it again and it engaged.It didnt sound like it fully engaged and when i disengaged it, turned out that the blades were still turning though it didnt sound like it.So at least I am on the right path.Charlie

 

[KJM]

Be careful to keep all your fingers, If the blade kept turning when disengaged! The button you discribe might be to prevent the engine starting while the blade is engaged, mine has that feature. Usually to engage belts it involves pulling a wheel tight against a belt with a lever, not a button.

 

[crazy charlie]

Problem solved!!!??? Without too much effort,cleaned entire undercarriage and lubed everything and I mean everything.All good now and back to working 100% so I think it just got crapped up with crap.Charlie