Anyone handy with riding mowers?

[omnicat]

I have a Craftsman riding lawnmower. It behaved fine last time I mowed.

Today, it starts normally, but then the engine dies when I take my foot off the clutch. In gear, or in neutral, doesn't matter. (The blades are NOT engaged)

I did unplug the seat switch cutoff (that causes the engine to die if your butt leaves the seat) and hard-wired it with a paperclip in case the switch was bad, and the mower was thinking no one was in the driver's seat - but that made no difference.

Any ideas?

[arabian knight]

There is probably a switch alone the clutch rod someplace also. Being the engines dies as soon as you let out the clutch.

[omnicat]

I'll go scope that out.

[pheasantplucker]

It's not a good idea to bypass the dead man's switch. It's there for a reason, and if you fall off the mower, you certainly don't want the blades to be turning as you get dragged under the mower.

[arabian knight]

I also git rid of that cotton picking switch in the seat, it is a pain. On road ditches you lean to one side, the seat may lift some and bingo the mower kills.
Years ago we did not have all this stuff and things went just fine~~!!
Just like wew all made it through playing with toys that had wheels that would come off, Steel trucks etc. instead of plastic, things like that.

[Wis Bang 2]

Originally Posted by arabian knight

Years ago we did not have all this stuff and things went just fine~~!! Just like we all made it through playing with toys that had wheels that would come off, Steel trucks etc. instead of plastic, things like that.

And rode bikes w/ out bike helments, skated w/ out $100.00 worth of pads & body armor, rode sleds down snow covered streets, rode in the back of pickups, walked to school...all the things that our kids can't do!

[Ross]

I'd check that the belt is properly in place and the transaxle isn't binding.