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I have a Montgomery Wards Signature 2000 Elite Mower. Mower was made by MTD. Wards model # is TMO3000A. Serial # 87-000-7837.
MTD cross over model # is 131A670G000.
I have correct owners manual with parts list and all schematics. Over the years I have had the mower deck off several times to replace blade spindle, belts and blades. A problem began, possibly, after removing and reinstalling the deck. The deck lift lever would not disengage the blade safety switch unless I jerked back hard on the lift lever. I removed the safety switch and checked it with OHM meter and the switch was a little iffy for continuity at certain points. I installed a new switch AND still had the same problem.
With mower deck off and the lift lever in disengage position the safety switch works perfectly. The lift lever makes perfect contact with the switch button and continuity checks perfect. I tried this several times, lowering the lift lever then bringing back to disengage position. Works perfect.
My manual says that with deck lift lever in disengage position the deck should move up and forward. I'm not sure this is all working properly. There is a large very strong spring which is 7.58" long that goes from the deck stabilizer bracket and stretches back and attaches to a bracket on the left part of the transmission. Page # 11 of manual shows this forward part of spring attaching in bottom hole of left arm of stabilizer shaft assembly. Page # 27 seems to show the forward end of spring slipping over a rod in the rear bottom of stabilizer shaft assembly.

With deck installed I just can't determine what is causing the problem with the deck disengaging with the lift lever.
Any help will be appreciated and I will try to respond to all suggestions.

Thanks, Red Cox

Are you saying that the engine won't crank unless you pull way back on the lever? Or that the deck won't move forward enough to stop the blades from turning in the disengage position?

Fish said:

Are you saying that the engine won't crank unless you pull way back on the lever? Or that the deck won't move forward enough to stop the blades from turning in the disengage position?

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Hi Fish; The engine won't crank unless I jerk way back hard on the lever. Also the blades continue to turn for a short while after moving lever to disengage position. The blade brake pads were worn very thin so I have new ones and will replace them.

Thanks for quickly coming back to me. I appreciate it.

Well there is an adjustment knuckle on the threaded rod by the steering under the gas tank, if it is like most of them. A quick fix for the not cranking problem, is just bending the metal tab that goes into the deck height slots so it fully depresses the switch.

I just use a crescent wrench for that, best metal benders ever made......

Fish said:

Well there is an adjustment knuckle on the threaded rod by the steering under the gas tank, if it is like most of them. A quick fix for the not cranking problem, is just bending the metal tab that goes into the deck height slots so it fully depresses the switch.

Click to expand...

Thanks again Fish. The lift lever is on the right side of mower and there are slots for setting the mowing height. Is the metal tab you are talking about on the lift lever? On this mower, the part that depresses the switch button is built on (welded) to the lift lever, This piece is thick metal. With deck off the mower and lift liver in dis engage position the switch button is completely depressed and works perfectly. Do not have to pull back hard. Lever moves very easily.

It is pouring rain here in Stephenville TX. I will look at metal tab you suggested on Monday.

Thanks again for your help;
Red cox

I believe Fish is talking about the tab that the switch mounts on. I have removed the switch from the tab, and bend the tab slightly and then reinstalled the switch to fix your exact problem.

Naw, I just bend the tab on the handle.

Makes the switch plunger full press in.

Either way works I guess.

Yeah, I worked solo at a mower shop, or a hardware store, and come April, the rednecks were rolling in like mad. And since I as also the phone girl, parts guy, mechanic,
and the guy that everyone biatched at, I was always on "damage control" mode...

So if a local redneck had a mower, that the only complaint was not cranking/starting when turning the key, I just would bend that tab back, so they would drive away and leave me alone. I wouldn't charge them, and that was part of the deal.
They would leave me alone, and come back when they had a real problem...

The one winter when our county had an "ice storm", I got real nasty.

ILENGINE said:

I believe Fish is talking about the tab that the switch mounts on. I have removed the switch from the tab, and bend the tab slightly and then reinstalled the switch to fix your exact problem.

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Thanks,ILENGINE; The switch mounts upright (button up) on the floor of mower with 2 small self tapping screws about 2 inches inside the mower side frame. Very hard to install because the screws are small and hard to get to. I find no tab to bend. As I said, with mower deck off, the lift lever works perfectly in the disengage position and switch checks out fine with OHM meter. With lever in disengage position the engine will start. With lever in any of the height adjustment slots the engine will not start because the switch is working properly.
With mower deck installed I have to pull back hard on the lift lever in disengage position. Quite a puzzle.

Thanks for your suggestion. I appreciate any help I can get.
Red Cox.

Like I said, bend the little metal triangle shaped tab on the "lever back!!!! Just a hair, until it depresses the button enough!!!!!

can you take a pic of the deck height indicator?

Fish said:

Well there is an adjustment knuckle on the threaded rod by the steering under the gas tank, if it is like most of them. A quick fix for the not cranking problem, is just bending the metal tab that goes into the deck height slots so it fully depresses the switch.

Click to expand...

Fish; It stopped raining so I went to the shop and looked at the lift lever and the height slots. On this mower the tab which goes into the height slots is a triangle shaped piece of steel 1/8" thick. It is welded on the lift lever. This tab doesn't touch the safety switch. Switch button is depressed by a thick piece of metal which is on the right side of the lift shaft assembly.

Appreciate your help
Red Cox

Yeah, but that triangle piece of steel determines how far the lever travels, so bending that tab a hair makes the lever depress the button a little more, and many times cures the problem.... Cause/effect....

Pull back the lever, and bend that triangle a hair, just for fun, bend it back so it makes the deck depress the switch button more....

Fish said:

can you take a pic of the deck height indicator?

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Fish; I'm sorry. I have no idea how to take pics, load on computer and place them here. I am trying to figure out a way to, possibly, email you the owners manual (single sheet) that shows schematic of the deck lowering and raising parts. I copied the sheet to a file and typed notes pointing out several points but so far my notes do not remain on the sheet when printing.

I'll keep working on it and please don't think this 74 year old man is stupid..

Thanks a bunch
Red Cox

The height indicator for your deck looks similar to this, correct?

The tab on the lever that rides in these slots, take a crescent wrench and bend that tab a little, so it will fully depress the switch's button When you pull the lever to the top position.

Yes it is cheating....... But better than replacing a bunch of obsolete parts......

Fish said:

The height indicator for your deck looks similar to this, correct?

The tab on the lever that rides in these slots, take a crescent wrench and bend that tab a little, so it will fully depress the switch's button When you pull the lever to the top position.

Yes it is cheating....... But better than replacing a bunch of obsolete parts......

Click to expand...

Thanks again Fish; I will check this out on Monday 10/20/2014. today we have to go to Abilene for ball game. Middle grandson is in ROTC and will be marching. Gotta see him...
Have a great week end.
Red Cox