1988 John Deere Hydro 175 - Engine stalls when I engage the blades

[alexpops]

Wouldn’t a bad clutch either not engage or blow a fuse vs killing the ignition circuit?

He just bought this used. I never know what I'm getting into with used equipment or how good the previous work has been done. or what shortcuts they took.

 

[EddieWalker]

In my experience, when the PTO clutch stops working, it stops working. It's not hit or miss. It's not on first try, then works the rest of the day. It's just dead.

 

[CobyRupert]

It’s a safety or reverse switch. It think your either not on the seat, or trying to backup while mowing without engaging an override.

 

[SquatchLife]

It’s a safety or reverse switch. It think your either not on the seat, or trying to backup whole mowing without engaging an override.

What overrides should I put in place other than the seat bypass?

 

[SquatchLife]

He just bought this used. I never know what I'm getting into with used equipment or how good the previous work has been done. or what shortcuts they took.

So I completely unhooked the clutch electrically, turned the mower on, engaged the switch and it still died. Does this indicate a bad switch or still could be a bad clutch?

Sorry not really used to working on these engines.

 

[RandyT]

What overrides should I put in place other than the seat bypass?

Some setups you can't bypass the seat switch. The wiring has a bypass shorting clip built into it that if unplugged will short the two prongs making it think that nobody is in the seat. And to the OP I would suspect you have a bad seat switch or something related to the seat switch

 

[alexpops]

If you're still cutting out with the clutch disconnected electrically, the problem is between the pto switch and the connector. so either a shorted wire/bad safety switch/ or bad pto switch. Get a wiring diagram & start tracing out the various legs & components.

 

[alexpops]

To the OP: Does that have a mower/reverse safety switch? Is the tractor in neutral or a forward gear? (not just clutch depressed while in reverse) I had an old craftsman with one, but as I remember it could be bypassed intentionally if you wanted to mow in reverse.

 

[SquatchLife]

To the OP: Does that have a mower/reverse safety switch? Is the tractor in neutral or a forward gear? (not just clutch depressed while in reverse) I had an old craftsman with one, but as I remember it could be bypassed intentionally if you wanted to mow in reverse.

No safety switch. There is only a hand lever that I have to “shift” into forward, neutral, reverse. I’ve tried engaging in all 3 modes. Same result

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Mine had a little yellow button I had to push in order for the mower to stay running in reverse. It was to the left of steering wheel. I thought the yellow lever to engage the mower was a manual engagement, not electric. Certainly felt manual. I guess different year???
Do all pulleys spin freely when not engaged? If the engagement is manual like I thought mine was, check that pulley.