Troubleshooting: Kubota Mower Blades Not Engaging or Turning On

A worn or stretched mower deck belt, a belt that has come off the pulleys, a malfunctioning PTO switch, a faulty clutch, a weak battery, a faulty safety switch, or a blown fuse can all prevent the Kubota lawn mower blades from engaging or turning.

Never attempt to fix a problem by reaching under the mower deck unless you have taken all the necessary safety measures, as outlined in the Kubota manual. This entails turning off the engine, taking off the spark plug boots, and waiting for the engine to completely stop.

Before diagnosing, repairing, or operating, be sure you’ve read and understood all of the safety recommendations in the equipment’s operator’s manual.If you are unsure of how to proceed, lack the necessary expertise, or are unable to execute the repair properly, you should seek the advice of a professional.

The Blades on My Kubota Mower Won’t Start or Run

Worn Kubota Mower Deck Belt

The deck belt, also known as the blade belt, rotates the mower blades as it travels around the pulleys. Wear on the deck belt might cause it to lose its hold on the pulleys and cause the deck to slip.

Cracks, wear, fraying, or a shiny glazed appearance are all signs of a faulty or worn Kubota deck belt. As a result of wear, a deck belt may fall into the pulley grooves.

It’s time to get that worn belt replaced. When the belt shows symptoms of wear, you should replace it regardless of whether this is the primary cause of your blades not engaging.

Blade speed is determined by the belt’s grip on the pulleys. Suction under the deck is created by the rapidly rotating blades, lifting the grass for a clean, uniform cut.

Kubota Mower Deck Had Its Belt Come Off Its Pulleys

If the belt has come unhooked from the pulleys, it will no longer rotate them, rendering the mower blades ineffective. Check for a missing spring, worn tensioner arm, worn belt, or stretched belt in addition to a worn belt.

Things that will cause the Kubota belt to keep slipping off the mower deck are detailed in this article.

Kubota Mower Idle Arm and Spring Wear

The idler pulleys are kept in place by a tensioner arm and spring. The pulley will be on one side of the bracket on most mower decks, and the spring will be on the other.

Wear can occur at both the spring’s attachment point and the hole in the bracket. The belt may come loose and start vibrating on the pulleys if this happens.

Kubota Pulley with a Worn Bearing

Each pulley contains a bearing for smooth operation. When the pulley’s bearing wears out, it might cause the shaft to angle away from the mower’s deck. The pulley will wobble due to the worn bearing allowing rotational movement.

The pulley’s deck clearance may vary from one side to the other. When the Kubota pulley shifts position, the deck belt can become dislodged.

If a pulley’s bearing is worn out, it should be replaced.

Kubota Mower with a Bad PTO Switch

Mowers typically have a PTO switch that, when turned, permits battery electricity to activate the clutch. When the switch stops working, the fan won’t spin.

Verify that the switch has continuity. Change the function of a switch with a pause in action.

A Kubota Lawnmower with a Faulty Clutch

By engaging the drive belt, the PTO (Power Take Off) clutch transmits power from the engine to the blades. When a worn or broken clutch can’t turn the blades, it needs to be replaced.

Have a read of A Look Into The Operation Of Lawn Mower Clutches to learn more about clutches.

Manual Clutch Kubota with Worn Clutch Cable

Mowers from Kubota that require manual engagement of the clutch have a clutch lever and cable.

Make sure the clutch is being engaged and that the clutch lever, cable, spring, bushings, and linkages are in good condition.

Fix any broken or worn items.

Kubota Lawnmower’s Weak Battery

A battery provides the energy for an electric clutch. Low battery power prevents the clutch solenoid from activating the mower’s blades.

Use a multimeter to measure the battery’s voltage. You should see around 12.7 volts from a fully charged 12-volt battery.

If the readout is lower than this, it’s time to charge the battery. Check out 5 Things That Are Draining the Life of Your Lawn Mower Battery if your battery keeps dying for no apparent reason.

To charge a Kubota battery, you will need to use a battery charger. Put on safety goggles and gloves to guard against electrical burns before proceeding. Here’s how to use a charger for your riding mower or zero-turn mower’s battery:

• Get at the terminals and batteries. A screwdriver may be required to access the battery. The battery can be located either beneath the seat or the hood. Keep the battery inside its case at all times.
• To charge a battery, the positive cable must be plugged in first. The plus sign cable, or the red cable, is this one.
• Connect the cord to the terminal labeled “+” on the battery.
• To the negative battery terminal, connect the negative cable. This is the negative-sign cable, sometimes known as the black cable.
• To avoid electrocution, avoid touching anything that isn’t covered in rubber.
• Alter the charger’s settings to suit your needs in terms of voltage and current. Most lawn mower batteries have 12 volts of power. Higher current speeds up the battery’s charging process. The recommended starting point is 2 amps, with a maximum of 10 amps. It’s best to charge slowly.

A new battery should be used if you notice the old one won’t retain a charge. Batteries for 12-volt lawn mowers are available at most home improvement and auto parts stores. Batteries could also be purchased at a store that specializes in lawnmowers.

Don’t forget to bring the dead batteries. You’ll probably have to pay a core fee if you don’t bring in your old battery. The typical basic charge is $20.

A Kubota Mower with a Faulty Safety Switch

As part of its operator presence system, a Kubota utilizes a seat-mounted safety switch. A seat switch is wired underneath the seat and activates when the operator is seated on the mower.

The lawn mower’s blades are equipped with a safety feature that prevents them from starting unless the operator is there.

If the seat switch is broken, the operator may not be able to start the vehicle. When a faulty seat switch is detected, the safety system will prohibit the blades from starting.

If you suspect a faulty seat switch, you can either test it with a multimeter or temporarily disable the safety switch. Please don’t risk your life by using a mower if the safety switch isn’t in place.

Make sure that your machinery has functioning safety switches at all times.

Kubota Lawnmower Blown Fuse

If the battery is fine but the clutch won’t engage, a fuse may have blown. The fuse is there to prevent damage to the Kubota’s electrical system in the event of a spike of current or a short circuit.

To fix a blown fuse, use another of the same size. If you keep having electrical problems with your mower, I suggest sending it to a Kubota service dealership or a lawn mower repair shop so they can investigate the issue.

Is your Kubota Lawnmower Still Giving You Trouble?

When you’ve had a lawnmower for a while, it’s bound to develop some sort of trouble, whether it won’t start, won’t stay running, smokes, leaks gas, cuts poorly, vibrates, or something else entirely.

I’ve compiled this manual to assist you save time and money the next time your Kubota mower breaks down.

Hire a professional to fix your Kubota lawnmower if you don’t feel confident diagnosing and fixing it yourself.

You’ll save yourself from harm and the mower from further destruction by doing this. If you’re having trouble with your lawn mower, head on over to the nearest Kubota dealer or service facility.