I searched for my problem before posting a new thread but did not find anything.
It's probably out there but may be buried on page 101 or something.
Ok I have a Scotts S2048 mower with a Kohler Command CV730S engine. So I go to cut my grass yesterday and the mower starts with no problem. After a very brief warm up I engage the PTO and she dies. So I am thinking no big deal, it has happened a few times when I do not let the engine warm up long enough.
Try it again, starts right up and dies when I engage the PTO switch only this time it will not restart. Just a click and the engine does not turn over. I slap a charger on the battery overnight and come back this morning and still the engine will not turn over. I remove the plastic bug cover from the top of the engine and try to turn it by hand but she is locked up. Even used a pry bar in the cooling fins with no luck.
Pulled the starter to see if it was somehow jamming the engine but it was fine. The starter spun by hand easily so I am wondering if it might be the PTO clutch or if there is some internal engine damage. I am going to pull the plugs and see if it will turn over then but is it possible the PTO clutch could be the culprit? Would it lock up an engine? Thought I'd ask before pulling it off to check it out.
Oh yeah I also tried bypassing the solenoid and jumping it off that way. Checked the fuse as well and it was good.
first things first, check oil level on dipstick, if ok then remove both spark plugs & rotate engine topside by hand, adjust valves per engine manual with engine cold. replace spark plugs if need be, use OEM Kohler parts, let us know how it goes, thanks, Mark
Like I stated above I pulled the plugs. I did forget to mention that I checked the oil yesterday and it was fine.
I think I mentioned it will not rotate by hand. Also it has hydraulic lifters so no valve lash adjustment.
This is by no means my first mower I have worked on. In fact I have another mower with the head off that someone gave me. After checking it out I found a bent intake valve so I will order one along with a head gasket and head bolts and get it running. I may have to fix that one earlier than planned if the bottom end of this one is screwed up. The purpose of this thread was to ask if a PTO clutch can lock an engine up. Maybe I should have put that in the title.
I thought it'd be easier to ask first before removing the clutch on this one but maybe not.
Btw I also have that pdf downloaded on my computer.
#5
dougand3
If you grab the flywheel with both hands and can't rotate crankshaft CW or CCW - even a little bit....sounds like internal damage.
Even if the electric PTO was seized where the pulley always rotated with the crankshaft (Stuck Engaged)....turning flywheel would turn deck pulleys and you'd notice.
Pull the rocker covers off and check that all 4 pushrods are there .
If not it is pull the engine out time to find out where they have gone .
They can drop off, fall down into the engine and lock things up really tight.
The other minor thing that can lock the engine up is an alternator failure where some debris or the magnet themselves have gotten jambed between the stator & the flywheel.
As the flywheel will have to come off you may as well do it now and see what is underneath it.
If it is neither a jambed flywheel nor an eaten pushrod then you are most likely looking at a wrecked engine which may or may not be an economical repair .
However we will not be able to work that out till the engine is out & the sump is off revealing the full extent of the damage.
There are very few things that will lock an engine solid in both directions that are economic to repair apart from the two mentioned above.
#7
cpurvis
I would take the PTO clutch off the crankshaft and see if the engine will rotate. If it won't, then you have to dig into the engine and you'd have to remove the PTO clutch anyway.
Thanks for all the replies. I will tear into it today if I get the chance. Yesterday I went with my son in law to pull some heads off a 318 for his truck so I did not get a chance to mess with it. Today he wants me to help him press pistons on the rods so I may not get a chance to work on the mower today.
Once I find out exactly what is the problem I will let everyone know. I was hoping I would not have to tear into the engine but it looks like I will. I will start by removing the flywheel to check the magnets because as of late the old girl has not been charging the battery like she should. In fact I have been having problems off and on in that regard since last year. When I checked the ohms for the alternator it was within specs so I did not bother pulling it.
I used a pry bar but did not put much pressure on the cooling fins because they are plastic. also I could not get a good grip until I removed the shroud which is what I did today.
Before that I pulled the valve covers but saw no damage whatsoever so I removed the top shroud over the flywheel. Grabbed the flywheel and gave it a tug and at first it did not want to move but then broke loose and spun easily. Not sure what was holding it but there was a few acorn hulls in there under the flywheel. Perhaps they had it jammed. Anyway when I turn it there is a screeching noise and I think it is coming from the PTO clutch. I was going to try and start it but thunder in the distance told me I better wait so I came in and checked the radar. Rain is about 10 miles away and headed right this way so I guess that will have to wait.
They been promising rain for 3 days so I been holding off watering my garden but maybe now I won't have to water it.
I am going to remove the clutch and inspect it after I blow out all them hulls. It has been slow to get going here lately anyway so I think the clutch had something to do with the problem.
Thanks all for your 2 cents. I'll update when I get more info.
Finally got around to messing with it some more. Turned it by hand and the squeaking is coming from the engine.
I guess I will have to pull the engine and tear into it. The squeaking sounds like a lack of lubrication as if the oil pump went out.
Years ago the oil pump went out in my uncle's Chevelle while I was riding with him and the squeaking sound of mine is very similar to that 283 in that '67 Chevelle.
(Man I wish I had that car now but that was 40 some odd years ago.)
Also there is some sort of restriction in the engine that comes up about every other turn, so maybe a valve. Man I don't like the sound of that.
Now I am relegated to push cutting my yard which is not big. Takes about 30 minutes to cut with the push mower.
