PTO WIRE GOT PULLED APART BECAUSE THE U SHAPED GUARD WAS NOT ON PROPERLY WHICH ALLOWD THE WIRE TO RUB ON THE PULLEY AND THEN GET CAUGHT IN IT. I PLUGGED THE CORD BACK TOGETHER AND THEN CUT GRASS FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND THEN THE 20 AMP FUSE BLEW. REPLACED THE 20 AMP FUSE AND CAN ONLY MOW FOR ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES BEFORE IT BLOWS AGAIN. WITHOUT MOWING I DON'T THINK THE FUSE WILL BLOW. THE INSULATION ON THE PTO WIRE IS WORN FROM RUBBING. ANY SUGGESTIONS??

Try the following test. For safety purposes remove spark plugs. Now with engine off and key in run position turn PTO on. You should hear the clutch engage (clunk). Grab both sides of the clutch pulley and try to rotate the pulley. If the clutch is properly engaged you will not be able to rotate the clutch pulley without turning the engine.

check the wires they rub on sharp edges

i had the same problem. there was a short in the relay just before the wire gets to to back pulley assembly.

sounds to me that the blades are hung up, either on the deck or something is caught on the bottom of the deck or top. Carefully inspect all things mentioned, if all checks out good then the PTO is seized. Good Luck Tim

Wire harness for the PTO on the RZT's is designed dangerously near the drive pulley. After time, the harness drops and comes in contact with the pulley which grinds through the coating and shorts out the circuit. Repair (tape up) the wiring, relocate the the wire to the opposite side of the crank pulley (may have to zip-tie in place) - shouldn't be a problem anymore.

Sounds more like a PTO clutch failure, rather than the switch. The clutch is mounted on the engine shaft, between the hydrostatic drive pulley (nearest the chassis) and the mower deck belt pulley (farther from the chassis).
Since it's an expensive part, make sure the problem isn't in the switch or wiring first. You could do that by probing the wires to the PTO clutch with an automotive test light - they are inexpensive and handy. Clip the ground wire of the test light to the chassis, and probe the hot wire to the clutch (it's the one that doesn't connect to ground) when the engine is running and the PTO switch is engaged. Obviously a helper has to be in the seat, and you should be careful doing this. If the light glows brightly, and the clutch doesn't engage, you definitely have a bad clutch. Good luck! Please rate my answer if helpful, thanks.

Most likely you cannot repair this as the wire ususally breaks off inside. If you remove the assembly, you can see where the wires go into the potted coil. If there is no excess wire to reconnect to then your only choice is to replace.

This is actually pretty simple:

Remove Pto guard on mower deck

Stand mower up on back stands

Pull the friction disc away from the drive disc

slip new belt in between the friction disc and drive disc pushing all the way through

release friction disc allowing to come back in contact with drive disc

loop belt around engine pulley

let mower back down

route belt around mower pulley

loosen guides on idler pulley

route belt through idler pulley

with engine off move pto lever to tighten mower belt

adjust guides on idler pulley allowing 1/8" from belt

tighten bolt on idler pulley

release pto tension

install mower pto guard

and you should be ready to mow

If you changed the belt make sure it did not interfere with the wire that runs from the pto clutch, sometimes that belt can rub on the wire and wear through it,also if you had the clutch off make sure you aligned the steel retainer bolt that sets in the alignment hole on the pto clutch,this keeps the clutch from spring when disengaged if you don't get that pin through the hole in clutch it can push on the clutch and bind it.Also it may be possible to plug that pto switch in backwards.Also if you jumped the fuse out it may now have burnt the switch or wiring somewhere.

If you look where your belt goes around the pulley on your pto, you will see your pto clutch. There are bolts with springs that hold everything together. Try tightening them 1/4 turn and then try it. If it still doesn't work, tighten it another quarter turn. There is a magnet there that might not be contacting properly. I have a 1605 and just had the same problem. You don't want to have to replace it , mine is like $400