Electric PTO Problems

[bamaman01]

Commercial Tank M48, when mowing for a while pto gets weak and stops. I have changed battery's and will work again for awhile, then the same happens. Bought a brand new battery, and after about 3 hours, started doing the same thing. I feel like it may be in the electrcal part of something on the mower but not sure. Can someone please advise?
Thanks in Advance.

 

[oldnslo]

Commercial Tank M48, when mowing for a while pto gets weak and stops. I have changed battery's and will work again for awhile, then the same happens. Bought a brand new battery, and after about 3 hours, started doing the same thing. I feel like it may be in the electrcal part of something on the mower but not sure. Can someone please advise?
Thanks in Advance.

Have you checked the air gap on your clutch? To measure the air gap you will need to shut the engine off. Then lokk at the clutch assembly. There should be three or four slots in the side of the housing where you slip a feeler gauge between the clutch friction plates. This gap should be around .010 - 012 inch. If this gap gets to large it can cause the coil/solenoid to overheat which makes it weak and the clutch will slip or stop working. Unless protected by a circuit breaker or fuse it will eventually burn out.

Most electric clutches have three or four spring loaded nuts around the perimeter of the clutch. These are used to adjust the air gap. Turn each nut the same amount usually around 1/4 turn each until the desired air gap is achieved. With the mower engine off cycle the clutch on & off a couple times to check the air gap.

good luck

 

[tracter]

Another thing that will weaken the current to the PTO is heat sink into the wires feeding it , insulate them

 

[OldMachinist]

I'd check to make sure it charging. Measure the battery voltage before starting it and then measure again with it running at fast speed. Voltage should be around 13.5-14.1 running.

 

[Logan]

I have a JD LX178 that did the same thing. It was the air gap on the elec. pto. I turned the adjustment screws(or nuts, don't remember which) a half turn each and that fixed it.

 

[bamaman01]

Have you checked the air gap on your clutch? To measure the air gap you will need to shut the engine off. Then lokk at the clutch assembly. There should be three or four slots in the side of the housing where you slip a feeler gauge between the clutch friction plates. This gap should be around .010 - 012 inch. If this gap gets to large it can cause the coil/solenoid to overheat which makes it weak and the clutch will slip or stop working. Unless protected by a circuit breaker or fuse it will eventually burn out.

Most electric clutches have three or four spring loaded nuts around the perimeter of the clutch. These are used to adjust the air gap. Turn each nut the same amount usually around 1/4 turn each until the desired air gap is achieved. With the mower engine off cycle the clutch on & off a couple times to check the air gap.

good luck

Thanks to all who replied!!!! great advice! I found three slots but dont find the gap you are referring to. Im not very machanically minded but i just dont see a gap. it maybe i'm looking at the wrong thing.
"I know you can teach old dogs new tricks" (quote)

 

[bamaman01]

Thanks for all the replies!!!! However, I found three slots around the housing of the clutch but cannot find the slots. I may be looking at the wrong place I dont know. If I could find a picture of where the slots are then i think I could check the gaps.
Thanks again for your advice. i am not very machanically inclined as you probally found out, but if I see it I can fix it.

" You can teach old dogs new tricks" (quote)

Have you checked the air gap on your clutch? To measure the air gap you will need to shut the engine off. Then lokk at the clutch assembly. There should be three or four slots in the side of the housing where you slip a feeler gauge between the clutch friction plates. This gap should be around .010 - 012 inch. If this gap gets to large it can cause the coil/solenoid to overheat which makes it weak and the clutch will slip or stop working. Unless protected by a circuit breaker or fuse it will eventually burn out.

Most electric clutches have three or four spring loaded nuts around the perimeter of the clutch. These are used to adjust the air gap. Turn each nut the same amount usually around 1/4 turn each until the desired air gap is achieved. With the mower engine off cycle the clutch on & off a couple times to check the air gap.

good luck

 

[oldnslo]

I don't have an electric clutch vehicle available to take a picture but if you can see the three slots try slipping a feeler gauge in between the plates. You normally can NOT see a gap due to the design of the clutches. Some times you have to wiggle the feeler gauge and move it it side to sie to get it to slide into the gap. Wish I could be of more help.

Roy

 

[bamaman01]

Thanks for all the replies!!!! However, I found three slots around the housing of the clutch but cannot find the slots. I may be looking at the wrong place I dont know. If I could find a picture of where the slots are then i think I could check the gaps.
Thanks again for your advice. i am not very machanically inclined as you probally found out, but if I see it I can fix it.

" You can teach old dogs new tricks" (quote)

Have you checked the air gap on your clutch? To measure the air gap you will need to shut the engine off. Then lokk at the clutch assembly. There should be three or four slots in the side of the housing where you slip a feeler gauge between the clutch friction plates. This gap should be around .010 - 012 inch. If this gap gets to large it can cause the coil/solenoid to overheat which makes it weak and the clutch will slip or stop working. Unless protected by a circuit breaker or fuse it will eventually burn out.

Most electric clutches have three or four spring loaded nuts around the perimeter of the clutch. These are used to adjust the air gap. Turn each nut the same amount usually around 1/4 turn each until the desired air gap is achieved. With the mower engine off cycle the clutch on & off a couple times to check the air gap.

good luck

 

[mrwoody]

Thank you very much.

 

[Gator6x4]

If you found the slots you are half way there. Stick a 17 or 18 thousand feeler gauge in the slot and feel around for the air gap. Got a small mirror hold it where you can look into slot and shine a flashlight in one of the other slots, you should be able to see the air gap.

 

[OldMachinist]

I've uploaded the Warner Electric troubleshooting manual here
It explains in detail how to adjust the air gap.

 

[The kid]

The electric clutch is magnetically controlled. Low voltage will cause the clutch to drop out. Turning off the mower and letting the battery rest will probably allow the clutch to engage again. You need to measure the outside terminals on your voltage regulator. My stator was destroyed due to a loose magnet under the magneto destroying the alternator mounted under it. I ordered a new magneto and voltage regulator and all is good again. Your symptoms are exactly as mine was. I have the 54" cut with a kohler engine. If you periodically have to charge your battery then you have a charging failure thus the PTO failure during a mow. Check your voltage before taking everything apart. If you have 18vdc on the two outside terminals of your regulator then the alternator is still putting out. Disconnect both outside terminals, then with engine running check the volts output. The center terminal is your output to battery. If you have and ohm meter you can check center to outside. Reverse leads measure. You should get nearly exact measurements from center to outside termials. If not replace the regulator. You might get lucky and it's only the regulator and not the alternator too.