Mower deck Blades won't engage

ekim22

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Aug 28, 2011
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Alright....I was abusing mine today, pushing it to the limit and it cost me.


I have some undergrowth around my pond that I was cutting with my 721D. I had the deck all the way up to the highest raised position and was cutting things like briars, small saplings and chopping up old rotten sticks. Well, I kept pushing too hard and started cutting saplings that were about 1 to 1.5" in diameter. Stupid.

Anyways, it was going fine but then suddenly the blades disengaged. I drove it up to the garage and inspected it. Here's what I know:

1. Both drive belts in the rear are still in their groove and tensioned.
2. No sticks or anything clogging the drive shaft running under the mower from the rear to the deck.
3. No sticks or anything in the universal joint/coupling on the drive shaft
4. No sticks or anything clogging any of the belts under the cover on top of the deck
5. No sticks or anything clogging the blades under the deck - I can turn them by hand without obstruction

6. When I pull the red button to engage the blades, nothing happens.....it doesn't sound like the engine is under any burden, it's just that nothing happens....


Any ideas?
 

173abn

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May 7, 2010
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I go with fuse also....russ
 

mullins87

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Oct 24, 2010
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If it's not the fuse, then a stray stick may have pulled the wires off the clutch.
 

Sammy the Red

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Sep 21, 2011
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Blow out the connections with air. Same with the fuses.
 

KennyV

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Check for 12 volts AT the clutch.... ALSO check that you still have an attached ground wire.. At that clutch...

I figure you have already tried turning the PTO clutch on, with the engine OFF & you did not hear the clutch click in response to getting voltage...

If the clutch is driving the pto shaft BUT the gear box on the deck is not turning the blades, check the gear box AND the pulley that attaches to it... :smile:KennyV
 

Old Trackster

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Jun 11, 2013
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I am having the exact same issue. I was mowing the other day and the blades just stopped. Checked and the clutch cable had a broken wire. Replaced clutch cable and it worked fine. Wife mowed today. It worked fine. She stopped the blades to go across gravel drive and attempted to reengage and blades would not engage. Checked belts, clutch cable, blew off all connections, didn't find anything out of place or broken. Any ideas?
 

BWH

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Mar 22, 2011
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All good diagnosis for a clutch problem especially an inexpensive test light is a very good test. From that point if all checks out you would have to ohm out the clutch coil although I would have to research the proper values or simply remove the clutch and have your dealer test it for you.
 

thehemikid

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Jul 31, 2011
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Old Trackster,...
...Not saying this is your problem with your clutch but my clutch acts like it gets hot after a while. As long as I leave it engaged there's no problem, but if I disengage it, it want re-engage. Try's, but just want, ...so I just let it cool for a minute, & away we go. Been like that sense I bought it 2 yrs now. I've cleaned the connections at the rear plug but not at the switch yet.

ekim22,...
...As far as mowing the briars & saplings, that's where I come up with the name with my avatar 721D "Bushopper". The 1st yr I bought my 721D I bush hogged with it just like you did. If I could push it over it'd mow it. But I did take it slow & easy, didn't want to bend a spindle, & didn't know how much the clutch could take, ....& because there was a stump hidden in there somewhere, just couldn't remember where. :laughing:.....This stuff was 8ft tall, ... no kidding! Briars as big around as your thumb. :tongue: .....Saplings, depending on how big they were I'd just slowly bend them over then creep it & let it cut through'em. I thought I was :confused2: too. So if you think your :confused2: that makes 2 of us. Deck is still going strong! :cool: .....Probably spoke to soon & it'll fall apart next wk :laughing:


Edit: Ha, see there I am :confused2:. Just realized ekim22's post was 2 yrs ago...:laughing:
 
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