Engine will not start by the key and the electric PTO will not stay on

Try the following.

With brake on, PTO off, turn key to run position. Do not start engine. Then pull PTO switch to the on position then push off position.

You should hear the PTO clutch engage then disengage. It makes a clank or pop sound.

No sound likely means electrical issue. Check fuses and electrical connection at the PTO clutch.

Zero turn mowers in general require the following.

1. PTO off.
2. Steering levers to neutral position.
3. Parking brake engaged.

A good habit to learn is; When a zero turn won't crank, cycle all the start engine interlocks. Move park lever off/on, steering levers out/in, PTO on/off.

And a simple basic electrical check is; With key in run position (engine not running), you should hear the electric clutch engage/disengage when PTO switch moved ON/OFF.

most probably a faulty relay in the ignition circuit for the gauge and running on problems
probably a relay for the pto not being energized from the pto switch

it is not supposed to start unless some one is in the seat
now for your problem, if engaging the cutter deck blows a fuse then check the wiring for a wire that is cut or shorting out on a lever that moves when the cutter is engaged

Check the safety switch on the seat.

"I have an Electric Clutch and my Blades will not engage when I operate the PTO switch."

• Turn the engine off and remove the key.
• Check for physical damage; anything look bent?
• Is the deck belt intact?
• Spin the pulley on the bottom of the clutch. Does it spin freely?
• There could be mud or grit stuck in the clutch.
• There is a drive key between the clutch and the shaft. Has this key been sheared?
• When you pull the PTO switch does the clutch make a "click"?

When you sit in the seat and turn the key, one click from off to run, you will hear a faint click. That faint click is the fuel shut off valve under the carburetor. It is turning on and off when you cycle the key from off to run. Do not confuse this click with the clutch click.

Leave the Key in the Run position, cycle your PTO Switch on and off. You will hear a click. This click will be twice as loud as the fuel switch click. This louder click is the Clutch engaging. If you do not hear this click, the PTO switch may be bad or the Clutch may be bad. This is assuming your battery is good and fully charged and that your Key Switch is functioning correctly.

PTO Clutch will Not engage or stay engaged.
There is a very fine discussion on evaluating electric clutches at this site:
http://www.messicks.com/Articles/FixingElectricClutch.aspx

My JD tech manual, which covers the entire LA 100 series, agrees with the electrical specifications. It states that the Electric PTO Clutch should show the following:

• Resistance 3.7 ohms
• Current Draw 3.25 amps.
• It does not give the air gap.

It does include a note to check the PTO Clutch Key for damage or if missing. So there is a drive key between the PTO Clutch and the shaft. Additionally, it recommends checking the tightness of the cap screw. That's the screw or bolt that holds the clutch on the shaft.

• Cap Screw torque 55 lb-ft (75 N.m).

Fixing Electric Clutches

Blades would not turn after I got stuck in mud. Electric clutch?

• Turn the engine off and remove the key.
• Check for physical damage; anything look bent?
• Spin the pulley on the bottom of the clutch. Does it spin freely?
• There could be mud or grit stuck in the clutch.
• There is a drive key between the clutch and the shaft. Has this key been sheared? It's possible the clutch was burnt out during the mud incidence.

PTO Clutch will not engage or stay engaged.
There is a very fine discussion on evaluating electric clutches at this site:
http://www.messicks.com/Articles/FixingElectricClutch.aspx

My JD tech manual, which covers the entire LA 100 series, agrees with the electrical specifications. It states that the Electric PTO Clutch should show the following:

• Resistance 3.7 ohms
• Current Draw 3.25 amps.
• It does not give the air gap.

It does include a note to check the PTO Clutch Key for damage or if missing. So there is a drive key between the PTO Clutch and the shaft. Additionally, it recommends checking the tightness of the cap screw. That's the screw or bolt that holds the clutch on the shaft.

• Cap Screw torque 55 lb-ft (75 N.m).

Fixing Electric Clutches

Blades would not turn after I got stuck in mud. Electric clutch.

• Turn the engine off and remove the key.
• Check for physical damage; anything look bent?
• Is the deck belt intact?
• Spin the pulley on the bottom of the clutch. Does it spin freely?
• There could be mud or grit stuck in the clutch.
• There is a drive key between the clutch and the shaft. Has this key been sheared?
• When you pull the PTO switch does the clutch make a "click"? It's possible the clutch was burnt out during the mud incidence.

PTO Clutch will not engage or stay engaged.
There is a very fine discussion on evaluating electric clutches at this site:
http://www.messicks.com/Articles/FixingElectricClutch.aspx

My JD tech manual, which covers the entire LA 100 series, agrees with the electrical specifications. It states that the Electric PTO Clutch should show the following:

• Resistance 3.7 ohms
• Current Draw 3.25 amps.
• It does not give the air gap.

It does include a note to check the PTO Clutch Key for damage or if missing. So there is a drive key between the PTO Clutch and the shaft. Additionally, it recommends checking the tightness of the cap screw. That's the screw or bolt that holds the clutch on the shaft.

• Cap Screw torque 55 lb-ft (75 N.m).

Fixing Electric Clutches

Blades would not turn after I got stuck in mud. Electric clutch.

• Turn the engine off and remove the key.
• Check for physical damage; anything look bent?
• Is the deck belt intact?
• Spin the pulley on the bottom of the clutch. Does it spin freely?
• There could be mud or grit stuck in the clutch.
• There is a drive key between the clutch and the shaft. Has this key been sheared?
• When you pull the PTO switch does the clutch make a "click"? It's possible the clutch was burnt out during the mud incidence.

PTO Clutch will not engage or stay engaged.
There is a very fine discussion on evaluating electric clutches at this site:
http://www.messicks.com/Articles/FixingElectricClutch.aspx

My JD tech manual, which covers the entire LA 100 series, agrees with the electrical specifications. It states that the Electric PTO Clutch should show the following:

• Resistance 3.7 ohms
• Current Draw 3.25 amps.
• It does not give the air gap.

It does include a note to check the PTO Clutch Key for damage or if missing. So there is a drive key between the PTO Clutch and the shaft. Additionally, it recommends checking the tightness of the cap screw. That's the screw or bolt that holds the clutch on the shaft.

• Cap Screw torque 55 lb-ft (75 N.m).

Fixing Electric Clutches

While sitting in the seat with the ignition key on you should be able to hear a click from the pto clutch when the pto switch is activated but this click is audibly different from the click of the starter solenoid. The starter will be disabled if the pto switch is on. If you hear the pto clicking while trying to start then there is a failure in the pto switch. If the starter solenoid was bad the starter would not engage. Check ignition switch, pto switch, and look for wires melted together. Also be sure grounds are good. PTO clicking on start and no spark could have a relation with the pto ground and engine kill wire.