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Hi All
My John Deere is 24 years old and has been running great until the other day I went out to finish the mowing and when I pulled the starter cord, it was like every thing was seized up. Took the recoil starter off and tried to turn flywheel by hand, but it was very hard to turn then turn the mower up and tried to turn the blade it did turn, but very stiff Then I read somewhere on the net that it could be the brake. I depressed the lever that engages the blade and locked the handle down. Then pulled the starter cord and it turned very freely and the mower started. I have been mowing like that for the past week and everything is fine, but I don't under stand why it turns so freely with the blade engaged. I thought it would be the opposite, with the blade disengaged it would be .easier to turn over
I guess the question is does anyone one know what part has failed to cause this
Thanks for your help Jan

Re: JD 14SB hard to pull starter and won't start

Refer to page 225-15-2 for correcting problem. http://bionicengineering.net/media/JD_14SB/JD_14SB_Technical_Manual_Tm-1471.pdf

Welcome to LawnWorld!

We moved your thread to the John Deere forum.

Sounds like a problem with the Blade Brake Clutch (BBC) underneath the engine. If you got 24 years out of the original one, you may have set a new record! There is plenty of information on the web regarding BBC issues on your mower that you can search for on this and other mower forums (see post above as well).

You can: 1) replace the entire BBC, 2) possibly repair it (usually the bearing dries out and then siezes up, which it sounds like yours has), or 3) convert the mower to a non-BBC setup (remove BBC entirely and install a conventional blade adapter and blade from a non-BBC, zone-start Deere mower - your mower model without the BBC would have been 14SZ, with the 'Z' standing for 'zone start').

redmondjp said:

Sounds like a problem with the Blade Brake Clutch (BBC) underneath the engine. If you got 24 years out of the original one, you may have set a new record! There is plenty of information on the web regarding BBC issues on your mower that you can search for on this and other mower forums (see post above as well).

You can: 1) replace the entire BBC, 2) possibly repair it (usually the bearing dries out and then siezes up, which it sounds like yours has), or 3) convert the mower to a non-BBC setup (remove BBC entirely and install a conventional blade adapter and blade from a non-BBC, zone-start Deere mower - your mower model without the BBC would have been 14SZ, with the 'Z' standing for 'zone start').

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Thank you for all the informamation, If I find some information on how to replace the BBC bearing, I think I will try to replace it if not will go the option 3
Yes. it has been a good mower for me! I bought it in 1989 because it was self propelled as I have a large corner lot on a hill.I am now 81 now so would rather fix it than spend the money on a new one. I think I spent close to $800 on it from the dealer when I bought it. I Just kept it clean, changed the oil, took the carb off a few times to clean the piece with the hole in it to let the gas flow and that is it, Been a Great Mower
Again thanks for the quick reply and thew info Jan

jan223 said:

Thank you for all the informamation, If I find some information on how to replace the BBC bearing, I think I will try to replace it if not will go the option 3
Yes. it has been a good mower for me! I bought it in 1989 because it was self propelled as I have a large corner lot on a hill.I am now 81 now so would rather fix it than spend the money on a new one. I think I spent close to $800 on it from the dealer when I bought it. I Just kept it clean, changed the oil, took the carb off a few times to clean the piece with the hole in it to let the gas flow and that is it, Been a Great Mower
Again thanks for the quick reply and thew info Jan

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I also have a very old JD 14SB, love it, also had to clean the carb jet many times, had to replace the drive wheels, the BBC was disabled long ago, have just ordered another electronic ignition module.