John Deere Sabre possible safety switch issue -

Good morning!
I have an old John Deere Sabre, mod# 1742 hs (approx. 1999). Recently had a new starter coil installed (April) and was running beautifully. About 45 minutes into mowing, the engine cuts out. I disengage the blades and engage the parking brake and it immediately re-starts, no problem. As soon as I either release the brake, OR as soon as I engage the blades, the engine cuts out. To me this seems to be one of the safety switches, as the engine starts and runs no problem until i try to move it or cut. I have dragged a branch underneath in the past and disconnected a safety switch harness...so I immediately checked for that to no avail. I have checked the seat switch for continuity and the brake switch (under brake pedal on left hand side). There is another switch under the right hand side, closer to the rear wheel - not sure what engages this switch but possibly the mower blades? Need to double check the continuity on that switch, but like I said I cant seem to see what activates that switch. I have tried to follow the safety switch wires completely because like I said i have disconnected one of those before from dragging branches....and honestly thats what it felt like, but they all seem connected. Really scratching my head. Also, a novice with engines and lawn mowers so I might be missing something obvious.

Thanks!

IT is the seat switch
Some of them have anti tamper plugs that short out if the plug is not tight
The plastic tabs break off then the actual switch bit twists so the plunger no longer activates the switch
The actual switches rarely fail themselves cause they are out of the weather.

bertsmobile1 said:

IT is the seat switch
Some of them have anti tamper plugs that short out if the plug is not tight
The plastic tabs break off then the actual switch bit twists so the plunger no longer activates the switch
The actual switches rarely fail themselves cause they are out of the weather.

Click to expand...

It seems to be tight and I definitely got continuity with the plunger open and then it cut out with the plunger down (seated). I will double check the tightness and replace the switch as its fairly cheap. I'll also try to follow the harness from there and make sure its not loose or frayed somewhere.

Thanks!

Just you got the switch operating out of the seat doesn't means it is always operating when nearly fully depressed. I have seen switches to be bad but still give good when operated manually. Also the RIO switch may failed in the depress position (reverse). This is one at the transaxle and not the one you normal push to mower backwards.

Good news! I followed the wire harness out of the switch and looks like when i put the battery back in in the spring, i had pinched the seat switch wire harness in between the locking teeth for the deck height adjustment. It had been running fine for a few months but then it must have finally pinched through the wire casing and shorted out against the frame. I untangled the safety wiring with the battery negative wire and just taped up the wire for now. Started right up and I just finished mowing during the one hour it isnt going to rain this week!

Thanks Bertsmobile1 and StarTech for the suggestions - suggesting it was still the seat switch related definitely lead me to the solution.

As they say in the science fiction movies,,,,,, You are not alone
Thanks for the update