[blade chaser]

My JD LX188 dies every the the PTO button is pulled. The blades turn just fine, and the clutch itself SEEMS to be OK. Ant suggestions? Thank You

 

[rhenning]

Safety switch for the PTO is bad. Roger

 

[Mike X485]

Safety switch for the PTO is bad. Roger

:ditto: Check the seat switch and the brake switch.

 

[blade chaser]

Is the PTO safety switch different from the PTO switch on the dash (yellow knob you pull to engaged the deck clutch)?

 

[rhenning]

The knob pulls the switch. The 3 safety switches work wih each other so if one is bad it effects the others. Roger

 

[blade chaser]

Right now the knob takes 12 volts from blue wire and passes it through to purple and yellow with black. I assume this is not correct? If purple or yellow is removed, the engine will not turn over to start. I just need to make sure I am purchasing the part at fault. Could you please confirm? Thank you.

 

[rhenning]

You need the JD factory manual for how to test/check this. Guessing at what to do could get expensive if you destroy some of electrical components by mistake. DO NOT just connect wires without knowing what you are doing. My advice is go to dealer and offer to pay for copies of the pages you need. You could also ask the service manager what they generally find for the problem when this happens. Don't assume anything with safety system wiring. Roger

 

[blade chaser]

Thank you for the great advice

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

My guess would be the brake pedal safety switch is stuck so that the tractor thinks the brake is engaged all of the time, even when it is not. All other functions of the tractor, starting the engine, getting off the seat with the engine running, etc, can be done with the brake pedal safety switch stuck in the "brake pedal depressed" position, but engaging the PTO is not allowed.

The seat safety switch will not allow the PTO to engage if it does not sense the operators weight on the seat, but if it was stuck in that position then you would not be able to start the engine either.

 

[blade chaser]

Brake switch and seat switch appear to be working properly. The unit immediately "dies" when the blades are engaged. It does not die if the electronic clutch is disconnected. Any ideas???

 

[matt167]

I have a parts LX188 that was operational before it was disassembled.. need or want the switches. I have all of them.. PTO switch could be shorting internally

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

Brake switch and seat switch appear to be working properly.

Can you start the tractor without pressing the brake pedal down?

 

[blade chaser]

No. The brake pedal has to be pressed to start unit.

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

And you say that turning the PTO switch on actually causes the engine to die? Sounds like either a short somewhere or maybe some electronic safety circuit is malfunctioning.

Another question - Have you had the tractor for a while and it was working fine and just recently started doing this, or has it done it since you got it? If it has done it since you got it then maybe a previous owner wired something up incorrectly.

 

[blade chaser]

This unit was just recently purchased. I'm not sure about the history of the unit, but it has had the symptoms ever since it was purchased.

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

I would get the service manual and the electrical schematic and start with a full electrical system check. Make sure that everything is connected as it should be and then follow the troubleshooting procedures in the manual.

 

[blade chaser]

This is so strange. With the belt disconnected from the deck everything seems to run properly. But when the deck belt is installed, the engine dies as soon as the clutch is engaged. Everything on the deck seems to be functioning properly and moving freely..

 

[rhenning]

Are you saying with the deck belt off and you turn the PTO on everything continues to run?? If so the PTO clutch is in some way your problem. Dead short?? Roger

 

[Nouveau Redneck]

I agree, the only thing the belt would do is put lateral stress on the pulley, clutch and shaft, so probably a loose wire inside the clutch that only shorts when the pulley has the force of the belt pulling on it.

But I would think that a dead short would blow a fuse. So maybe not a direct short, but a short from somewhere partially through the electromagnet coil in the clutch, so it doesn't draw enough current to blow a fuse, but it draws enough that the charging circuit can't provide enough electricity to run the ignition circuit.

 

[blade chaser]

I installed a different belt between the clutch and deck. It the PTO switch is turned on, then off again quickly several times, I can get the deck running without killing the engine. The unit will then function, but only by this method. It us not right, but will operate. I would really like it to run as it should, but at least know it WILL operate.