Blades won't turn on all of the sudden. 1993 John Deere 320 (PTO issue)

[Rick Gent]

It appears from reading your posts that the electrical is good to the plug at the clutch. Beyond that is the problem. One more thing to check is, does the pulley on the clutch spin freely with the clutch off? Also with the engine off and the key on and the clutch on,can you turn the pulley by hand? You should not be able to turn it if the clutch is engaged. Beyond this point, it time to disassemble the clutch and find the trouble!

 

[Rick Gent]

I would not be too quick to say the clutch is fixed until you put the deck back on and it works under load. As far as the drive belt shredding goes, it was either not on the pulleys correctly or it was its time to go!

 

[nate81]

i'm totally baffled now, what gives! i felt so great and confident that the clutch started working, even if it wasnt under load, i was still impressed....and then the drive belt shreds???? Is there any possible way i could have done something to shred the belt...or is this just pure ridiculous coincidence?

 

[Zebrafive]

Was it the original belt? 23 years is a long time. I had to pull the engine on my 285 and replaced the belt since I had to take the original off. The old one looked old and weathered.

I would inspect the pulleys for damage that might have cut the belt. If they look good, it was just a time bomb that went off.

If you were top put a new belt on and then it shreds, then it's time to worry.

 

[Zebrafive]

Was it the original belt? 23 years is a long time. I had to pull the engine on my 285 and replaced the belt since I had to take the original off. The old one looked old and weathered.

I would inspect the pulleys for damage that might have cut the belt. If they look good, it was just a time bomb that went off.

If you were top put a new belt on and then it shreds, then it's time to worry.

 

[nate81]

Was it the original belt? 23 years is a long time. I had to pull the engine on my 285 and replaced the belt since I had to take the original off. The old one looked old and weathered.

I would inspect the pulleys for damage that might have cut the belt. If they look good, it was just a time bomb that went off.

If you were top put a new belt on and then it shreds, then it's time to worry.

I inherited the mower about 7 years ago when. My Father passed away....so I know the belt is at least that old. I'm not sure if my Dad ever changed it. I did notice it looked a bit frail and worn when I was tinkering with the pto clutch. It just seems like ironic, almost perfect timing for it to fail. Seeing that I have deck off and all

But! The main reason of the thread was the clutch...and it seems I've been able to fix it with all of your help here....for that, I thank you! I believe the air gap adjustment got me up and running.

 

[nate81]

I inherited the mower about 7 years ago when. My Father passed away....so I know the belt is at least that old. I'm not sure if my Dad ever changed it. I did notice it looked a bit frail and worn when I was tinkering with the pto clutch. It just seems like ironic, almost perfect timing for it to fail. Seeing that I have deck off and all

But! The main reason of the thread was the clutch...and it seems I've been able to fix it with all of your help here....for that, I thank you! I believe the air gap adjustment got me up and running.

One more afterthought....it may be possible, due to the unique coincidental timing of the PTO clutch failing and then the drive belt failing, that the drive belt was withering away and a piece of it may have gotten inside the PTO clutch. Just a theory.