I have an old stx 38 with the yellow deck. It will start and I can run it all over the yard. Forward, reverse, everything. Starts right up. But if I flip the switch to turn on the blades it dies. Then it won't start again unless I get off and then back on or rock it back and forth. My lawn is growing fast so I need to get this worked out. Any ideas?
thanks
Jason
#2
PJ
Sound to me you have electro clutch that is shorting or draining the power away to such an extend that you losingpower from the egnition system
PJ
Sounds like a safety switch problem, most likely the seat switch, but could be other safety switches, posibly the reverse safety switch if it has one.
#4
xp14629
Check the pto switch. If it was the clutch, then getting off and on would make no difference. If it was the seat, it should die any time you release the clutch/brake pedal from starting it. The pto switch also has a safety circuit through it. It is possible to be the seat switch if some one had tried to wire around it in the past.
I can drive around with no problem. forward, reverse. But, if I turn the switch for the blades it dies fast. I don't take my foot off the brake or clutch or anything. I looked at the seat and there are no wires going into the seat. Under the springs on the body there is a little box with wires going to it. Is that the safety switch?
Jason
#6
xp14629
When I said take your foot off, I mean after start up. The box under the suspension should be the safety switch.
#7
Bison
Maybe you got a seized bearing in the mower deck,that'll kill the engine too.
If I took the belt off from the engine to the mower deck and tried to turn the blades on and it dies, would have rule out a seized bearing on the deck?
#9
Bison
Well yeah,but an easier way would be to spin the blades by hand(engine off),..they should turn easy with no binding.
Me thinks if the electr PTO is shorting out and killing the engine,the wiring to it would quikly get hot and start smoking with the key left on.
Well, the replaced switch did nothing. I jacked up the front end and tried to spin the blades by hand. the left side on turns, but takes some pulling. The right side one is locked in place. Would that indicate a deck problem?
Jason
#11
Bison
My guess is a seized bearing in a blade hub,that you can pull the other blade around is because its slipping on the belt,may lock up trying to turn the other direction cause of spring loaded belt tensioner action
Deck needs an overhaul.
i have this same issue, but also motor stops when i release the brake/clutch.. i feel there is something not right in the electrical area.. the local mower shop feels its the governor with out looking at at...but no posts on any forums suggests this with this mower ( black deck) that this is a major issue... motor starts ok fuel filter changed, have not pulled the carby apart..
If the engine slows down and slowly stops then it might be a govenor issue.
If the mower just stops dead like you turned it off it is an electrical problem.
Download the manual mark put a link to , correctly identify which variant you have then follow the electrical test proceedures, exactly as laid out in the manual.
Should be a couple of hours to find the problem.
And never go back to the place that profferd the govenor idea.
