JD 160 electric PTO switch kills motor

Tidballw · Sep 9, 2014

Hi all
Was mowing the grass for about 40 minutes, then all the sudden the motor started to sputter and stall out so I killed it.
I know it didn't run out of gas because I just fueled it up but I checked anyway. Tank is full.
Pull it in neutral, disengage PTO and try to start it up and it fired up no problem like it always does. Went to turn the blades back on then the same thing happened, the engine stalls out and dies. If you turn the PTO off it will come back to life and runs great. As soon as I turn the PTO on it goes wonky. Did this about 4 or 5 times.
I accidentally left it outside during a rain storm while I was away for a week, the first time I've ever left it out. Did a bit of thinking, and sprayed the PTO switch and connections with WD40 just incase it got rusty or something from the rain. No luck, it still craps out when egnage the PTO.
I have the deadman switch bypassed (it came like this), so I'm thinking this might be the problem because thats exactly how it acts when I go to turn on the blades. Don't have a multi meter to check it out, and I've never bothered to take a look under the duct tape that holds all the switches in. Not sure what I'll find but a heads up to what it is supposed to look like would be nice.
Thanks

bullbreaker · Sep 9, 2014

Try checking make sure your battery is good . A faulty battery will produce these symptoms to your riding mower . Don't assume it is "good" just cause it cranks up your riding mower. Went through that with my GT235.

Tidballw · Sep 9, 2014

That's true. It is a new battery I put on it this spring. Might be a bigger issue if the battery is already losing juice. Or a crappy battery. Thanks.

David_Kb7uns · Sep 9, 2014

Is there a seat occupancy switch that is bad?

David Kb7uns

Tidballw · Sep 10, 2014

There is a seat occupancy/deadman switch, and it is taped up and disconnected so you can run it in reverse and get off the seat etc. without blades shutting off. I looked at the switch and tried to clean it up but it makes no difference. Need to pick up a load tester and check the battery voltage. Don't have a charger or meter I'm just a young guy starting out and trying to collect all my tools still. At first I thought it was the seat switch but since I played around with it and all is the same I don't think its that.
Thanks
Ontario