Electrical Mysteries in My Craftsman/Kohler 18hp

[LowSHO]

Since it's time to cut the grass, I took out my (I don't know how old) Craftsman, which has served me well for many years. I had a problem starting it. Twisting the key got the crank to move only slightly, but wiggling the key in the Start position finally got it running.

Then the PTO would not engage. No click, no nothing. Groaning to myself since I hate electrical problems, I checked the headlight which would not come on.

There was no meter drop when I flipped that switch, and no meter drop when I tried the PTO switch.

Are all these problems related? I had it out and running (including the PTO) for a spring cleanup during some warm days in February, but left it out and it snowed and rained on the poor thing.

I checked the wiring visually and there seems to be no chew-throughs or broken wires. The 30 amp fuse is good.

I searched this forum to see if anyone else had had this problem, but no luck.

I've been lurking here for some time and have always found it useful. I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.

 

[/pine]

It's sounds like possibly a faulty ground ?
Probably a moot question but is the battery in good shape?

all good cells, clean terminals etc?

 

[LowSHO]

I think the battery is good. Once the engine is running, the ammeter shows it charging at about the same rate it always has.

 

[LowSHO]

By the way, the seat safety and the clutch safety are working.

 

[/pine]

I think the battery is good.

If you are not 100% certain the battery is not the problem...that is the logical place to start...

 

[LowSHO]

Checked the battery. It's fine.

 

[LowSHO]

I just inspected the wiring again. No obvious evidence of shorting. The PTO switch, which is directly above the ignition switch on the panel, has 4 black, 2 red, and 2 white wires coming from it. It appears that one black wire from the PTO switch and one black wire from the ignition switch are connected with what appears to be the female end of a spade connector. I can't see any corresponding male connector, and it might be that the connector merely bonds the two wires together.

Is this clear, at all?

 

[jgrinn]

Maybe the coil is going bad.

 

[lvr1000]

My Craftsman is 15 years old and the light switch sometimes will not turn on the lights, so I rock the switch back and forth and always works. As far as the Clutch (PTO), it is an electromagnet. If the gap is too large, the armature will not engage with the field and rotor assembly (magnet). Dirt or rust may also prevent it from engaging. The field on the clutch may also be bad, but doubtful. Or the switch itself could be bad.

 

[Jim Thompson]

Check for corroded terminals on the plug on the back of your ignition switch. Also, could be the switch itself.