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Hello I have a 2166 cub cadet, i mowed yesterday with no problems. Started today but clutch won't engage. I have power on both wires no matter pto switch postion. I disconnect the wires from clutch then i have power on one side, when i pull up the switch i have power on both sides. I believe that is the way its works. Do i have a bad pto clutch that needs replaced or is it something else. Thank you

A basic question first, has the battery been weak or recently discharged? A PTO clutch is a relatively high current device. On many brands, a weak battery or charging system can prevent PTO engagement.

I thought the same thing, so I put the charger on it for a few hrs. I checked voltage of the battery and it was 12.6-12.8 without engine running, 14 with engine running.

Just done a continuity test and i have continuity going through the clutch. Also what grounds the clutch, is it the stop pin or does it go back through the switch?

ScottD said:

Just done a continuity test and i have continuity going through the clutch. Also what grounds the clutch, is it the stop pin or does it go back through the switch?

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Does it have one or two wires on the clutch? Two may mean that one goes to ground.

Clutch has two wires one red and one blue. The red wire has power as soon as the key is turned on. The blue has power when you pull the pto switch. I used an ohm meter to check the clutch and it read 3.4 ohms, which i believe means the clutch is ok. As I stated before when I reconnect the wires and turn the key on I get power on both red and blue wires.

ScottD said:

Clutch has two wires one red and one blue. The red wire has power as soon as the key is turned on. The blue has power when you pull the pto switch. I used an ohm meter to check the clutch and it read 3.4 ohms, which i believe means the clutch is ok. As I stated before when I reconnect the wires and turn the key on I get power on both red and blue wires.

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It seems as red is B+ and blue may be ground. I would suggest that you verify.

Is there a functional seat safety switch?
Is there a functional PTO reverse switch?
Both are used to defeat PTO engagement.

Draw a simple schematic and then check the voltage drops across each component. It should show the open component and cause.

FWIW, those machines which route all the safety switch wires through the PTO switch will always be trouble. I replaced the switch itself once, then one-by-one, removed and rewired without the backup disable, seat disable and brake start. At various times, all these kept the machine from starting or cutting.

FWIW, I got my 2135 at a good price because the original purchaser couldn't do the troubleshooting and got frustrated with the continual wiring-related problems.

jack vines

retiredcarguy thank you for all ur help and info. You were correct that the blue wire is a ground. I bypassed the switch entirely and installed a toggle to the clutch, works great now.
packardv8 I was given this lawn mower because my father in law couldn't get it running (the only shelter it has seen is a under a tree its entire life) I've got 50 bucks invested in it so far so any and all help i can get from here is greatly appreciated.
Also in return anything i learn by trial and error i will report as i come across. THANKS TO ALL AGIAN ON THIS ADVENTURE

If you are going to bypass the PTO switch with a toggle..which color wire would you put the toggle on?The blue ground since it is a ground based system? I am having the very same problem!
ltx 2150

ScottD said:

retiredcarguy thank you for all ur help and info. You were correct that the blue wire is a ground. I bypassed the switch entirely and installed a toggle to the clutch, works great now.
packardv8 I was given this lawn mower because my father in law couldn't get it running (the only shelter it has seen is a under a tree its entire life) I've got 50 bucks invested in it so far so any and all help i can get from here is greatly appreciated.
Also in return anything i learn by trial and error i will report as i come across. THANKS TO ALL AGIAN ON THIS ADVENTURE

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Glad to hear. Cut safely and wisely. Enjoy your machine!

Originally Posted by ScottD View Post
retiredcarguy thank you for all ur help and info. You were correct that the blue wire is a ground. I bypassed the switch entirely and installed a toggle to the clutch, works great now.
packardv8 I was given this lawn mower because my father in law couldn't get it running (the only shelter it has seen is a under a tree its entire life) I've got 50 bucks invested in it so far so any and all help i can get from here is greatly appreciated.
Also in return anything i learn by trial and error i will report as i come across. THANKS TO ALL AGAIN ON THIS ADVENTURE

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Hello Scott and all, I am a newbie to this site and I mowed Friday with my CC 2166 but Saturday the pto would not engage. I bypassed the pto switch with a jumper from the battery (pos. post to red wire and neg. post to blue wire coming out of pto clutch) just to finish mowing and it worked fine. I will most likely install a toggle switch but am curious as to how you actually wired the toggle switch in, if it's fused or if a solenoid was used, etc. I am not sure if this is an indicator but while checking wires with a test light the striped orange wire coming from the ignition switch at the pto switch did not light up the test light either with ignition just switched on and/or engine running; the ign. switch may be the culprit but I am not sure. The mower cranks and runs fine and the lights work so if you or anyone here has input it would be greatly appreciated.I am not a mechanic but in the meantime will purchase a volt/ohm meter and check continuity of pto switch terminals by the downloaded trouble shooting guide from Cub Cadet/MTD. Thanks in advance for any input you could give. Rudy P. MS, USA
PS. the seat and reverse mowing switches have been disabled for years but brake switch is intact and mower has worked flawlessly until the recent pto not engaging issue.