Solved: Exmark Mower Blades Won’t Engage.
You pull the PTO switch hoping to ignite the blades, but nothing happens. The blades can’t turn since they’re stuck to a deck.
The blades of an Exmark lawn mower could not engage or spin due to a number of issues, including a worn or stretched mower deck belt, a worn tensioner arm and spring, a defective pulley, a broken PTO switch, a faulty clutch, a weak battery, a blown fuse, or a damaged safety switch.
Take all the safety precautions indicated in the Exmark manual before doing any maintenance that requires you to crawl under the mower deck. To stop an engine, the key must be removed from the ignition, the spark plug wires must be removed, and the vehicle must come to a full stop.
Table of Contents
The Blades on My Exmark Mower Won’t Start or Run
Deck Belt of an Exmark Mower, Used and Worn
The mower’s belt has to be checked. The belt engages the deck’s pulleys, so turning the mower’s blades. If the Exmark deck belt slides on the pulleys, the blades will stop turning.
A spoiled or moldy Exmark deck belts that are cracked, worn, frayed, or glazed are signs of misuse. A deck belt might become caught in the pulley grooves if it has become loose over time.
Put on a new Exmark belt, please. At reduced speeds, the blades may continue to rotate. This might have an adverse effect on the final product’s quality.
Grass is lifted and chopped uniformly thanks to the suction caused by the high blade speed under the deck.
Exmark Lawnmower Deck Had Its Belt Come Off the Pulleys.
If the belt has slid off the pulleys and the mower blades won’t turn, examine the quality of the belt and any other possible reasons of the belt slipping, such as a broken pulley, a worn tensioner arm, or a missing spring.
Here’s the lowdown on why your Exmark belt keeps flying off the mower’s deck and what you can do about it.
Exmark Mower Idle Arm and Spring Wear
A tensioner arm and spring maintain the idler pulleys’ positions. On one side of the bracket, a pulley will be fastened, and on the other, a spring will be secured.
Wear on these components might eventually cause the belt to come away from the pulleys. It’s possible for a spring to shorten or lengthen. Wear on the hole in the bracket might also impact the tension.
Exmark Pulley With a Worn Bearing
The lawnmower’s bearings may be stored in the pulleys on the deck. The pulley might become dysfunctional at any time. Because of this, securely attaching the pulley such that it ran perpendicular to the mower’s deck was out of the question.
As an alternative, the pulley’s shaking might be the result of a broken bearing. If the pulley swayed back and forth, the belt may fall loose.
If you suspect a faulty pulley, try spinning it by hand to examine the bearing for noise or resistance. You may test the pulley’s functionality by grabbing both ends and rocking it back and forth.
A sturdy pulley’s deck installation is essential. When the bearing in a pulley assembly wears out, the whole assembly must be replaced.
Exmark Mower PTO Switch Failure
Mowers often have a knob for activating the power takeoff (PTO) system. The battery can now power the clutch thanks to this knob. If the switch fails, the fan won’t spin when switched on.
Verify the switch’s continuity by testing it. Swap it with one that has a discontinuity.
Failure of the Exmark Mower’s Clutch
The blades are driven by the engine through a drive belt and the PTO (Power Take Off) clutch. In order to keep the blades turning, it is necessary to repair the clutch if it becomes too worn or broken to function.
A Review on Lawn Mower Clutches has further details.
Low-Capacity Exmark Lawnmower Battery
When the battery is connected, it sends a signal to the clutch solenoid, which then turns on the mower blades. Because the battery is low, the clutch cannot be entirely engaged in its position.
The voltage of the battery may be determined with the help of a multimeter. Measure a battery that has a voltage of 12 volts at around 12.7 volts to determine whether or not it has been fully charged. In the event that it is lower than that, the battery will need to be charged.
If you are experiencing difficulties maintaining the charge on the battery of your lawnmower, the following are five common reasons of this issue as well as potential remedies.
Get Your Exmark Battery Charged: Your battery should be charged using a battery charger. Put on safety goggles and gloves to guard against electrical burns before proceeding.
To charge the battery on your riding mower or zero-turn, do as follows:
- You need to get to the battery and the wires. The battery may need to be removed using a screwdriver. The battery might be tucked away in the trunk or up top. Always store the battery in its case.
- The positive terminal must be connected first while charging a battery. This is a red cable, sometimes called a “plus” cable. Attach the plug to the battery’s “+” terminal.
- Connect the wire’s negative end to the battery’s negative terminal. This is the black cable, or negative-sign cable.
- Stay away from anything that isn’t made of rubber if you don’t want to get electrocuted.
- Voltage and current may be adjusted on the charger to suit your requirements. Most lawn mower batteries operate at 12 volts. A higher amperage allows for a faster battery charging time. Two amps minimum, and up to 10 amps maximum. If you must charge, do so gently.
If you find that your battery is no longer holding a charge, you should replace it. You can get 12 volt batteries for lawn mowers at any hardware store or auto parts retailer. Batteries could also be available through neighborhood Exmark mower dealers.
The minimum cold-cranking-amps (cca) requirement for powering an electronic clutch is 300.
The dead batteries should be brought along. Most shops will charge you a core fee if you don’t return your old battery. The heart of a shop often costs between $15 and $25.
An Exmark Lawnmower with a Defective Safety Switch
As part of its operator presence system, an Exmark mower features a safety switch conveniently located next to the driver’s seat. The operator activates a switch under the seat after they are seated on the mower.
The lawnmower’s blades are equipped with a safety feature that prevents them from spinning unless the operator is in close proximity.
The operator may go undetected if the seat switch fails. If a faulty seat switch is detected, the safety mechanism will prevent the blades from turning on.
If the issue remains after testing the seat switch with a multimeter, try briefly turning off the safety switch. Do not use a lawnmower without first activating the safety switch.
Keep all safety switches in working order at all times.
If a fuse blows, replace it with another one of the same size. Send it in to an Exmark service dealership or lawn mower repair shop if you keep experiencing electrical difficulties with your mower.
An Exmark lawn mower’s blown fuse
A failed clutch fuse will prevent power from reaching the clutch. The Exmark’s electrical system is protected by the fuse in the case of a power surge or a short.
If a fuse blows, replace it with one of the same size. If you have electrical issues and the fuses continually blowing on your lawn mower, you should take it to an Exmark service dealership or a lawn mower repair shop.
Is Your Exmark Mower Still Giving You Trouble?
I have put up a list of potential remedies to the problems that occur with Exmark owners the most often. When used for an extended period of time, lawn mowers may cause a broad array of issues for the user.