PTO Switch Fault/Fix

[sawdustdad]

I thought I'd share a quick fix I applied the other day cutting the grass down at the house we have for sale. There is a shed there where I keep the 1650 and a minimum of tools, so I can cut the grass every week or two. The other day, half way through the acre of grass I was cutting, the mower deck just quit.

Looked like the PTO failed, so I checked the fuse and it was fine. In a rush to finish the cutting job (rain was threatening), I was thinking how to bypass the PTO switch to see if the PTO it self was working. I unplugged the quick disconnect to the headlights, and plugged the PTO into the headlight circuit. Voila! the headlight switch now actuates the PTO! (the rear lights come on, too, but the headlights don't). I took a replacement switch down there with me, but I think it's another problem. I never seem to have time to work on that tractor because I'm always in rush to cut that grass and leave, so it may be this winter before I get under the dash and see what the problem is.

Anyway, thought I'd share that little trick.

[o---o]

That's a neat trick, thanks for sharing

[Alvy]

That's great info Frank. Thanks for sharing

[drglinski]

The mental image of this is hilarious. Driving around at dusk and let's turn the lights on....BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ the mower starts running and gives the operator a near heart attack.

good tip