Craftsman 17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor - CA Model Logo
m perry Posted on Aug 29, 2012
Answered by a Fixya Expert

Trustworthy Expert Solutions

At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.

View Our Top Experts

I have a craftsman lts1500 riding mower and the blade won't engage

The lever is loose and won't engage the blade

1 Answer

Anonymous

Level 3:

An expert who has achieved level 3 by getting 1000 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Brigadier General:

An expert that has over 10,000 points.

  • Master 6,468 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 31, 2012
Anonymous
Master
Level 3:

An expert who has achieved level 3 by getting 1000 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Brigadier General:

An expert that has over 10,000 points.

Joined: Mar 13, 2012
Answers
6468
Questions
0
Helped
2134120
Points
13357

Check the cable they break

5 Related Answers

GM Elec

Bruce Bracey

  • 1000 Answers
  • Posted on May 10, 2009

SOURCE: Craftsman riding lawn mower...engine dies when blade is engaged

Push the clutch all the way down and try to start, does it crank over?
Let me know.
Regards,

Ad

Anonymous

  • 57 Answers
  • Posted on May 19, 2009

SOURCE: Craftsman 42" mower deck won't disengage

Try pulling on the cable coming down to deck. This cable might be your problem. Also check that the spring on the end of this cable is present and functional.

Anonymous

  • 2 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 20, 2009

SOURCE: Craftsman 18.5 riding mower when I engage the

craftsman decks have a positive stop adjustment for the decks. A spring atached to the blade ingadgement arm pulls the tension pully into position if the cable is rusted inside the sleeve it wont put enough pull on the ingadgment pully and thus the blades dont spin full force the belts on the mowers have no adjustments only the pully . second thing is you may want to drop the deck and clean around that pully by scraping any rust off the surface under the pullys slide good luck

wadembly

Wade Mobley

  • 513 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 28, 2009

SOURCE: Craftsman riding mower blades will not engage

maybe the safty switch under seat might be starting to go out if that switch doesn't work the blades wont come on at all for safety

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on May 17, 2010

SOURCE: I have a 15.5 HP Sears Craftsman 42

I'm betting that you need a new safety kill switch - probably the one underneath the seat (the spring-loaded plunger switch that won't let you use the machine without your *** in the seat). Could also be the one behind the "dash" that is associated with the blade engagement mechanism.

I know that the under-seat-switch cannot be bypassed or it will disable the machine in the exact way that you described. Why do I say this? Because I just tried to bypass my own "***-in-the-seat-safety-switch" on my very own 15.5 HP, 42" Sears tractor, and it responded by punishing me - the absense of the switch caused the motor to cut out when I tried to put the machine in gear AND/OR engage the blade. It seems to have some measured capacitance - the absense of same seeming to interrupt the ignition timing enough to shut the motor down when you attempt to get anywhere past neutral or engage the blade. These "safety" switches may be needed by a very few who prefer to be drunk while they mow lawns on steep slopes that their tractor mowers were not designed for, but I find these items to be troublesome and enfuriating. My trees shed a lot of sticks in high winds, and I can't stand shutting the machine down and restarting it EVERY SINGLE TIME I have to dismount to clear sticks or other obstructions out of my mowing path. This is an obnoxious, "nanny-design" feature that desparately needs to be discontinued. It also makes both jump-starting the tractor and electrical troubleshooting much more difficult than they should be. The tractor should let you dismount without shutting down, as long as you have disengaged the blade and shifted into neutral. It should also let you jump start with jumper cables - impossible to do with your rear end in the seat. By the way, call Manufacturer's Supply, Inc. at 1-800-826-8563. They may have a replacement - their item number 31-9664 might do it, but talk to them first. I'm calling them tomorrow. Good luck.

Testimonial: "VERY THOROUGH - THANKS"

Ad

Add Your Answer

×

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

×

Loading...
Loading...

Related Questions:

1helpful
1answer

How do I determine why the blades will not engage on my mower

With the mower turned off and the deck at its lowest setting, check the top of the deck for any debris like rocks or sticks. Then watch the top of the deck while you move the engage lever. If nothing is moving, you either need to adjust the cable, reattach the cable, or install a new cable. If you see the lever with the pulley on it moving, when the engage lever is locked on, check the tightness of the belt. If it's loose, that is your problem and it could be a stretched belt.
0helpful
1answer

How to fix a PTO (blade engager) lever on craftsman riding mower 2000LT

cable is broken down by the deck... most likely
or it is broken by the handle... also most likely
belt engagement arm is stuck... also likely
Aug 29, 2014 • Garden
0helpful
1answer

Blades won'e engage

Your belt may be on wrong or slipping.
0helpful
1answer

Craftsman zero turn runs but blades won't engage.

if got elect. pto/ and clutch,could have a wire connector come loose
3helpful
2answers

Blade engagement lever won't disengage

If this is a manual engagment system all the lever does is to pull a jockey wheel into the back of the belt to tention it thus starting the blades to turn, so either the cable is jammed that pulls the jockey wheel in, or the jockey wheel arm is seized and needs freeing off to allow the jockey to to move to the relaxed position.
3helpful
1answer

Craftsman riding mower Model 917.270824

I do not believe there is a manual available to the public for troubleshooting, however, you have at least 3 switches to tell the mower to stop when blades are engaged or clutch pedal released.

Seat switch
pedal switch
mower engage switch


The pedal and mower lever switches are identical, and have two sides, one for starting, one for blades turning. One side can fail. The pedal switch is on the frame very close to the pivot point of the pedal/shaft. The mower switch will be under the dash close to the bottom of the lever.

1) Locate and inspect the switches for broken or pinch wires, switch housing, or loose mounting, and how each lever or pedal engages the swtich.


2) This is a picture of the wiring so that you can get a better idea of location.

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/getSubComp.pd?modelNumber=917270824&productCategoryId=1509200&brandId=0247&modelName=TRACTOR&diagramPageId=00011&componentDescription=SCHEMATIC%20DIAGRAM-TRACTOR&documentId=P0811014&blt=06

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/getSubComp.pd?modelNumber=917270824&productCategoryId=1509200&brandId=0247&modelName=TRACTOR&diagramPageId=00001&componentDescription=ELECTRICAL&documentId=P0811014&blt=06

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/rolandw_c013176d62ee17ae

1helpful
1answer

Blades will not disengage

SOUNDS LIKE THE CABEL IS BAD IF IT HAS ONE OR THE ENGAGEMENT IS BENT
9helpful
2answers

Craftsman riding mower blades won't disengage

This is too late, but for the next person: There is an extension spring around the cable attached to the blade engage/disengage lever.

On my tractor one end of the spring had the hook broken off or it. Because it is around the cable it is still in place but doesn't stretch when you engage the blade (so can't pull the pulley out and slacken the belt when you disengage).

The replacement is a few dollars and can be bought on ebay or Amazon.
Aug 15, 2009 • Garden
1helpful
1answer

I have a craftsman riding lawnmower and the blade engagement is not starting the blades when i lift it. It feels loose when i lift it.

Sounds like you PTO cable is broken. Part # 175067. It goes from the lever on the dash down to a deck mount and hooks to the idler pulley. When you lift the lever, it should pull the pulley and idler arm towards the rear of the deck to tighten the belt to engage the blades.
Not finding what you are looking for?

785 views

Ask a Question

Usually answered in minutes!

Top Craftsman Garden Experts

john h

Level 3 Expert

29494 Answers

Jay Finke
Jay Finke

Level 3 Expert

1397 Answers

Sean Wright
Sean Wright

Level 3 Expert

2045 Answers

Are you a Craftsman Garden Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Answer questions

Manuals & User Guides

Loading...