This 3-year-old tractor has always had a problem stalling when
engaging the PTO. Today, it came back from seasonal maintenance. I
wanted to give it one last run before retiring it for winter. Kept
conking out whenever I tried to activate the mower blades.

Diagnosis and treatment options, please.

take it back to the seasonal maintenance place...it's obvious they
didn't "maintain" as thoroughly as they should.

Darwin

"jim" wrote in message
...
This 3-year-old tractor has always had a problem stalling when
engaging the PTO. Today, it came back from seasonal maintenance. I
wanted to give it one last run before retiring it for winter. Kept
conking out whenever I tried to activate the mower blades.

Diagnosis and treatment options, please.

I had a lawnmower that did that when engaging the blade and drive. Problem
turned out to be a gummed/crudded up carburetor.

Fixed it by removing the carb bowl (just one bolt held mine in there) and
spraying about half a can of carb cleaner up inside from as many angles as I
could using the little extension tube that came with the can-- including
tipping mower on its side.

Patrick

"DAC" wrote:

take it back to the seasonal maintenance place...it's obvious they
didn't "maintain" as thoroughly as they should.

DITTO

Perhaps changing places would be a major step forward.

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Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
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I raise the deck up and start the mower while the tractor is traveling
forward.

Pat I raise the deck up and start the mower while the tractor is traveling
forward.

i certainly would take the lawn tractor back to the people that did the maintenance because it sure sounds like your carb is loaded with junk like pat has mentioned.
if its messing up now and u are about to put it away what will it be like when u need it again because if its cold out and u get condensation and junk in your machine it will be 100 times worse when u go to use it again.
so yup i sure would be on their case make them take the carb right off and clean the thing properly thats supposed to be part of a maintenance program for lawn tractors after all isnt it. good luck. sockiescat.