no spark when coils are grounded

[woodbutcher01]

My name is Paul Lloyd I live in upstate NY. I have a John Deere x300 and it doesn't work
First of all let me say I know what a wrench is but obviosly I am not a bonafide mechanic. As I said I have a JD x300 42" mower w/100 hrs that I have been using right along with no issues at all. Last cut was 2 weeks ago. I went out yesterday and it would not start I used my trusty spark plug tester to confirm there was no spark. There was gas as pulled the plugs to see if they were wet. I checked 3 fuses they were all good. I do know that there is a safety interlock system that tells the engine not to spark or stop sparking if things are not right. So I disconnected the black ground wires to the two coils and walah engine fired right up. I put my foot on the brake and turned the key off and (suprisingly} the engine shut down. I started it up again and got up from the seat (with the break off} and it shut right down, as it should. (although I don't understand how this could happen with the coil wires disconnected}
I started it up again and went out to mow. That is when I discovered the PTO/mower blades would not engage, I put her back in the garage and revved up my puter.
On my first trip to this forum I spotted a thread that was identical to my issues, There were 3 responses only one was a solution and it read: get a multimeter, click on this link to get schematics and start testing. That is not a bad idea, as a matter of fact I had it myself before I got on the puter. But not knowing as much as I probably should, I need a little more help and was kinda hoping someone could tell me what I should be looking for and where I might find it.

An example of what I'm looking for is:
What has to happen for the PTO to engage? I am thinking PTO lever activates a switch that confirms or not whether a ground is present?

On startup with the ground wires attached to the coils. What are the somethings that could tell the coils not to spark.

I was thinking if someone could educate me on these functions - that would point me in the right direction.

Thanks for putting up with my short story,

 

[gfp55]

My name is Paul Lloyd I live in upstate NY. I have a John Deere x300 and it doesn't work
First of all let me say I know what a wrench is but obviosly I am not a bonafide mechanic. As I said I have a JD x300 42" mower w/100 hrs that I have been using right along with no issues at all. Last cut was 2 weeks ago. I went out yesterday and it would not start I used my trusty spark plug tester to confirm there was no spark. There was gas as pulled the plugs to see if they were wet. I checked 3 fuses they were all good. I do know that there is a safety interlock system that tells the engine not to spark or stop sparking if things are not right. So I disconnected the black ground wires to the two coils and walah engine fired right up. I put my foot on the brake and turned the key off and (suprisingly} the engine shut down. I started it up again and got up from the seat (with the break off} and it shut right down, as it should. (although I don't understand how this could happen with the coil wires disconnected}
I started it up again and went out to mow. That is when I discovered the PTO/mower blades would not engage, I put her back in the garage and revved up my puter.
On my first trip to this forum I spotted a thread that was identical to my issues, There were 3 responses only one was a solution and it read: get a multimeter, click on this link to get schematics and start testing. That is not a bad idea, as a matter of fact I had it myself before I got on the puter. But not knowing as much as I probably should, I need a little more help and was kinda hoping someone could tell me what I should be looking for and where I might find it.

An example of what I'm looking for is:
What has to happen for the PTO to engage? I am thinking PTO lever activates a switch that confirms or not whether a ground is present?

On startup with the ground wires attached to the coils. What are the somethings that could tell the coils not to spark.

I was thinking if someone could educate me on these functions - that would point me in the right direction.

Thanks for putting up with my short story,

Hi Paul I see that your story has not got you any help in fixing you problem. If I were you I would ask for help on a John Deere forum because JD is good at not sharing their info about their tractors. The folks that are on a John Deere forum will know all the stuff to fix you right up. You will have a better chance of finding someone that can help you on a JD forum then you will get here on this forum. I wish I could do more for you but I can't. I know next to nothing about JD's. Good Luck

 

[reynoldston]

That John Deere has a Kawasaki engine. Not only dose it have a coil but also a module. I have found this module in two different locations on the John Deere. It can be on the side of the engine block or some of them are made into the ignition switch.