Chuckle
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- Aug 13, 2021
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I started my mower, (craftsman model 203800, 42" deck, made in 2014) and drove it out of the garage. After bringing up the speed a little, while in neutral with the brake pedal depressed, I tried to engage the blades. As soon as I did the engine immediately died. So I restarted it making sure the speed was up all the way, again while in neutral and with the brake fully depressed I attempted to engage the blades and it again died. Finally I tried a third time but this time I put the lawn mower into gear and took my foot off the brake before I engaged the blades. This time the engine kept running, and I was mowing.
Each time, while standing still, in or out of moving gear, and with the brake depressed, engaging the blades caused the engine to die. It only keeps running when the mower is in motion and the brake is off before engaging.
Now the weird part:
Then while in motion, with blades engaged, I can apply the brake and the engine continues running. But just as soon as I disengage the blades and attempt to reengage the blades with the brake depressed the engine once again immediately dies.
I have to be moving before I can engage the blades without killing the engine. I'm 75, and can usually diagnose and fix most things mechanical, but I've searched the web for a similar set of circumstances and have only found folks with the run of the mill, seat switch, engagement woes, not mine.
I would greatly appreciate some help, some learned advice on how to proceed. I am quite befuddled by this. Thanks in advance.
Each time, while standing still, in or out of moving gear, and with the brake depressed, engaging the blades caused the engine to die. It only keeps running when the mower is in motion and the brake is off before engaging.
Now the weird part:
Then while in motion, with blades engaged, I can apply the brake and the engine continues running. But just as soon as I disengage the blades and attempt to reengage the blades with the brake depressed the engine once again immediately dies.
I have to be moving before I can engage the blades without killing the engine. I'm 75, and can usually diagnose and fix most things mechanical, but I've searched the web for a similar set of circumstances and have only found folks with the run of the mill, seat switch, engagement woes, not mine.
I would greatly appreciate some help, some learned advice on how to proceed. I am quite befuddled by this. Thanks in advance.
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