How Does a PTO Pulley Work on a John Deere Rider Mower?
Many John Deere riding mowers, lawn tractors, and garden tractors have a power takeoff (PTO) function that the operator uses to engage the mower blades. If you’re unfamiliar with the PTO clutch, the purpose of the pulley may be difficult to comprehend.
What is an electric PTO on a riding lawn mower?
The PTO stands for Power Take Off and is a switch or lever found on tractors and mowers. It can be an electric switch or a mechanical engagement that uses engine power to operate the mower deck or an implement. Mowers can be driven by a belt or a shaft.
How does a tractor electric PTO work?
The PTO clutch engages when its solenoid receives an electric spark from the mower’s 12-volt battery, and the PTO pulley is attached to the clutch and guides the belt that connects to the engine crankshaft pulley and rotates the blades of the mower that are located under the mower’s deck.
Is electric PTO better than manual?
Longer belt life, better belt reliability (belt always tight), zero slippage, and easier operation are all advantages of an electric PTO clutch system.
Where is the PTO on a riding lawn mower?
The PTO clutch is located beneath the tractor or mower, next to the power drive shaft, which is also vertically aligned, and is connected to the blade shaft, so when it spins, the blade spins as well. The drive shaft and PTO clutch pulley are connected by a belt.
Do riding lawn mowers have a clutch?
Power takeoff (PTO) clutches, which are located on the bottom of the mower’s engine assembly and control the flow of power to the mower’s cutting blades, are found on riding lawn mowers.
Should my PTO clutch spin freely?
Should my PTO clutch spin freely when not engaged? Yes, the clutch pulley should spin freely when not engaged; however, it may have an electrical or bearing issue, causing it to stall without load and vibrate when loaded.
How does a PTO engage?
When a power shift PTO is engaged, a solenoid is energized, and air or hydraulic fluid compresses a clutch pack in the PTO, which then deadheads against the valve. Air is then released to the atmosphere through a valve, and hydraulic fluid exhausts into the PTO.
Why does the PTO not engage?
The lawn mower blades will not engage if the PTO clutch does not receive power, if the clutch solenoid is defective, or if the clutch is worn out. As a result, the clutch will not engage, and the lawn mower blades will not rotate. To determine if the switch is defective, use a multimeter to test it for continuity.
What is a PTO on a tractor?
The Power Take-Off (PTO) shaft is a reliable way to transfer mechanical power from farm tractors to implements.
Where is the PTO switch on a John Deere mower?
Most John Deere lawn mowers have an electric PTO (Power Take Off), which is the mechanism that turns on the blades located beneath the mower deck. The PTO is powered by a 12-volt system and is controlled by a switch on the lawn mower’s dashboard.
How do you engage the blade on a John Deere riding mower?
To engage the blades on a manually operated riding lawn mower, turn the key clockwise to turn it on, increase the throttle to half speed, and wait two minutes for the engine to warm up, then lower the mower to the desired cutting height and engage the blades with the lever to the right of the steering.
How do I know if my electric PTO clutch is bad?
When a clutch goes bad, it usually shows when you engage the PTO; for example, if it’s been running for a while and is hot, the clutch will be slow to engage; once engaged, they usually stay engaged until you shut them off.