Who's Up for a Real Mystery? MTD Problem...

[shownuff]

i have the same machine same model and I had a problem with the fuel bowl on the bottom of the carb it was clogged up with bad or gelled gas it didnt "bog" down it was real low on power from the get go and if you were to try and go up a slight incline it would conk out took it apart and it looked like jello was in there .. if you are using the bagger attachment it might be clogged up too....cleaned out the bowl with spray carb cleaner runs like a charm now..just my 0.02

 

[carpenter383]

Sounds like a possible fuel prob. from your description,
I have something for you to try that will help narrow the problem:
Take the breather off and get a spray bottle with gas in it ready. Start the engine and when you engage the blades spray some gas into the carb at the same time. If it stays running the prob. is the fuel cut-off solenoid. This soleniod's only job is to keep the engine from backfiring when you shut the engine off. It has a hot wire going to it which needs constant power while the engine is running, or it will kill the engine from lack of fuel.
Your prob. definately sounds wiring/saftey switch related in one way or another.
Good luck!

 

[valley]

Is there a kill switch? The insolation could be worn through and grounding on the metal link you're moving.

 

[TheAxeman]

The mouse nest is a real possibility. I have had a couple of small engines killed by mouse nests cutting off the cooling air path. Leads to a blown head gasket or warped head. The lack of compression will allow the engine to start but not deliver power. Now I always check after storage.

 

[turnerbend]

The problem is in the pto . Check to see if the pto is locking up and not turning when you engage to pto switch.

 

[JunkManBob]

From the diagram, it doesn't look like there is an electric PTO. So I'd assume it's manual belt and pulleys to engage the deck. The belt is completely off or far away from the engine drive pulley, right?
The diagram shows "PTO" but it looks like a switch, and the parts list calls it "Safety Switch (Deck)" which seems more correct.
As was said earlier, Yellow is the ignition "run" line (will kill the engine if it gets disconnected at any of the safety switches). Orange is the starter solenoid line; if it's open the starter won't work, but it wouldn't kill the engine.

Jumpering yellow to yellow and orange to orange at each switch would rule them out.
Regarding reverse; you may know it's not in reverse, but that doesn't mean that the switch does. Check that one.
There are 4 safety switches: seat, clutch, deck (PTO), and reverse. When they are all "safe" the yellow and the orange wires connect all the way through all of them to the end (orange for start, yellow for run).
Eliminate most things, and you'll need less luck to find it. Good luck.

 

[JunkManBob]

OK, I just realized how old this thread is. Dead issue, maybe? Wonder what the end result of the real mystery was? Scrap metal? Woodland wildlife habitat?

 

[rgs03833]

OK, I just realized how old this thread is. Dead issue, maybe? Wonder what the end result of the real mystery was? Scrap metal? Woodland wildlife habitat?

Yah, I'm wondering what happened too....

Anyway, there is a Safety Switch under the Deck Lowering Stick ( Whatever you call it...) when the Deck is UP, the Switch is Pushed Down... For Safety I guess, so you don't cut something or someone... LOL

You can't hardly see it because if you lift the Deck Stick up, it sits right on Top of it and on top of that, there is a Peice of Metal that Block your View as well...

If you let the Engine warm up a bit and once it's running properly, you can then Lower the Deck and the Engine will NOT shut off... Even if you leave your seat... I dunno, funny thing is... Maybe mine is messed up too, LOL But if you pull the Deck Up and get off, it shut the Engine off... Somehow the two Switches work hand and hand.... The Seat and the Deck Engage Stick I mean... There are two Switches....

Maybe it will help someone else next time when they have this Problem....

RGS