Craftsman lawnmower help

[Gary H NC]

Any Briggs and Stratton techs?

Got a 16.5 hp Briggs motor that started acting up.First it would only run with the choke on. That led me to changing fuel filter,air filter,spark plug and draining the float bowl,cleaning the carb.
Now it runs better but if i try to engage the pto for the blades it dies.
The lever that engages the blades has some kind of electrical switch that releases when the lever is lifted.I found out if i hold that switch closed with my finger the blades engage fine and it stays running.I thought i would unplug that switch and get away with finishing the yard. No luck,with it unplugged the engine will not even start.
So does anyone know why that switch would be telling the engine to shut down?
Thanks

Guess i need a factory manual...

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: Craftsman lawnmower help

If I'm following you correctly, that switch is the safety cutoff switch to prevent the blades from turning if the operator is not in the seat. My switch went bad so I just cut the wires, twisted them together to make a constant on signal. The blades now run with no one in the seat. Bypassed safety system.

 

[rwise]

Re: Craftsman lawnmower help

for my part all those *safety* devices get in the way, I unpluged the kill circuit @ the engine.

could be it needs adjustment/s on the deck

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Craftsman lawnmower help

for my part all those *safety* devices get in the way, I unpluged the kill circuit @ the engine.

could be it needs adjustment/s on the deck

Now that truly sounds like famous last words. Do you also remove the seat belts from you vehicles?

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Craftsman lawnmower help

Gary, I think T2f has it right.
It is a saftey switch that cuts the power when the operator get off the seat or turns over.
You can by-pass if you want, just take the 2 wires coming from the engine and splice them together or go to the maker of the mower and get a new one.
Any shop should be able to get you one.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Craftsman lawnmower help

Thanks guys,
I traced the wires from that switch and the one under the seat.Found the switch under the seat was loose. Put a small zip tie around the connection and all is well.
Oh well,at least it got a tune up and ended up changing the oil.
Back to yard work with temps in the 90's....

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Craftsman lawnmower help

There are multiple safeties like that. There is one that will shut you down if you get out of the seat, another that will not permit you to cut grass in reverse, and an additional one that is connected to the blade engaement lever (on some). Some of the engines also have Oil Level switches that will shut down or prevent starting if the oil is too low.

 

[rwise]

Re: Craftsman lawnmower help

Now that truly sounds like famous last words. Do you also remove the seat belts from you vehicles?

Seat belts my 38 model dont have those new fangled things