rider dies when i put it in drive or engage PTO

[ghost civic]

I have a Husqvarna LTH130 ('97-'99ish)

The motor runs wonderfully. Fires right up, idles ect.

I have run it for about an hour total since I bought it.

Today, while using it to blow leaves around it suddenly wanted to die. I shut it down, checked it over and nothing seemed wrong. I fired it back up and it ran fine...until I tried to engage the clutch, which caused the motor to start to die. Push the brake and the motor fires backup. Same was true for the PTO...engage and the motor wants to die, disengage and the motor goes back to normal running. Basically, it wouldn't run if you tried to engage the trans or the PTO.

I cleared debris from the deck, check all wires and belts ect. I did wiggle the ignition (key) module as well. after fiddling around with things I tried it again and it fired up and worked just fine.

A google search did make it seem like the key module could be the problem as it could cause the spark to die of something was jumping or if it were loose or dirty. I suppose blowing around leaves, twigs and pine needles could have made it dirty or something.

But I wanted to ask if there is any other component that could cause that issue. I thought of the seat switch...but if that was bad then it shouldn't start at all, right?
If there is not any other likely cause, I might consider buying a replacement now so I don't have to worry about it failing completely in the middle of summer.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

is the parking brake set? My Husky ZTR dies if you try to do anything without releasing the brake.

 

[ghost civic]

is the parking brake set? My Husky ZTR dies if you try to do anything without releasing the brake.

thanks but no...didn't have the brake set. I was driving around and the problem started as I was driving. Unless the sensor/switch attached to the parking break was acting up (assuming there is one on my rider) Whatever the problem was, it went away after I wiggled every wire, cleaned off the mower deck and rolled the rider off the blocks I was using to inspect the underside.

I couldn't even tell how engine power is transferred to the trans? I can see the belts and clutch that control the mower deck...but not how the trans gets spinning.

I did get this rig for $150. Needs rear tires (dry rot, wont hold air long) but otherwise everything seems to work and the motor runs well.

 

[pmsmechanic]

It could also be something with the seat switch. Check to make sure it's plugged in.

 

[CobyRupert]

It could also be something with the seat switch. Check to make sure it's plugged in.

Thumbs up.

 

[pat32rf]

Since it is a used unit, a past owner might have made wiring repairs that were not quite the same as original. I would plan to do a bit of wire tracing....