Repair or replace

[earle]

Hello all,
My first post here but I've dropped in as a spectator from time to time.

Here's my current situation. Cub Cadet 2165, 14 years old, 400+ hours, 16hp B/S Vanguard, 48" deck.

This past weekend I go to my shed, start my mower and drove it to my house and all was fine. Several hours later when trying to start it the pto "acts" like it's engaged meaning the mower is turning as the motor is trying to start, only it isn't engaged at the switch. After toggling the pto switch multiple times without sucess I jump started the mower with jumper cables and to my surprise, now the pto was un-engaged. I fully expected the mower deck to be on since the pto was turning when I first attempted strating it but it seemed fine all of a sudden. I toggle the pto switch on/off a few times and the pto is turning on and off as it should. I mow for 2 hours with no problems. When finished I re-start the mower just to see if the earlier problem was a fluke and it starts fine.
Next morning I try to start it again and once again, the pto is acting like it's engaged. PTO is turing as the motor tuns over. Back to square 1.

I spoke to a local shop who instructed me to disconnect the pto clutch by unmating the connectors thus de-energizing the pto to see if the pto switch itself is bad. He says if the pto switch is bad, it should start. NO GO.
His feeling (without actually seeing the mower in person) is that the pto bearings are frozen onto the crank and that when I jump started it, the additional amperage allowed it to free itself from the crank but that in doing so I'm likely doing more internal damage to the pto, crank, bearings, etc, etc.

I'm dropping it off tomorrow morning so they can determine the cause and cost to fix but my long winded question to you is if the pto needs replaced (for the 2nd time) and I find myself looking at $400 minimum repair bill, at what point would you begin thnking of just buying a new mower. I hate to buy a new mower but then again, this time of year, it doesn't take long for 2 acres to get out of hand when you're mower is out of service and this seems to be becoming a more common thing with me taking it ointo the shop each season.
Sorry for the long post but thanks for your opinions.
-Earle

 

[framer]

Welcome to tbn earl.Sounds like a good excuse to go mower shopping earl.
Never wore a mower out myself.Lots of good mowers out there good luck.

 

[marimus]

Hello all,
I hate to buy a new mower but then again, this time of year, it doesn't take long for 2 acres to get out of hand when you're mower is out of service and this seems to be becoming a more common thing with me taking it ointo the shop each season.

Sounds like you might have answered your own question

I had a similar experience with an old mower, it seemed like everytime I fixed it something else broke.

It got to the point that I never knew if I could rely on it to work when I needed it, and like you said - it doesn't take long for the grass to get out of control.

I was a happy man when I traded that mower on a new one.

 

[earle]

Thats how I've felt about my mower for the last several years. It's gone into the shop for breakdowns 4 times out of the last 5 years and we've barely started the new cutting season this year. It's gotten to the point where I dont trust it to get me thru a mowing without breaking down. And it never seems to be a minor problem. It always costs several hundred dollars.
Guess I'd better get my wife prepared for a new mower payment.

 

[J_J]

earle.

If you are talking about the electric clutch on the crankshaft, Yes, they will lock up and start turning when you try to start. The bearings may be rusty, ground up and jamming. If you pull the electrical connection, and the mower is turning, you have a dead/dying electrical clutch. They usually can not be rebuilt. A new one from the manufacture will cost you big time. $225.00 to $399.99. However, you can usually find them on Ebay, or other after market vender's

 

[Iplayfarmer]

My 2 cents = If you're having to pay a shop to do the work, it's definately time to get a new mower. How much do you like this mower?

 

[2manyrocks]

I guess it depends on whether you're having other issues or think you're going to have other issues. I thought the life expectancy of the motors on these units was about 1,000 hours-1,200 hours, but someone else may have better knowledge. It's ridiculous what these electric clutches cost to buy, and a $400 bill to replace the clutch seems high to me.

Now if you want to switch to a different machine like a zero turn, then that's up to you.