Kubota Zero Turn stalls out when I engage the pto to mow.

[Rubrsidedown]

Hello all, (UPDATE) Read post from mowbizz asking with my reply...
I only hope it's that simple.

Jeff B from Maine here.
New to the group.

I bought a nice used Kubota ZG127E zero turn and went thru it from one end to the other. It was in pretty good condition except the mower deck was peeling and looked pretty bad. Has about 500 hours on it. 27hp Briggs motor was replaced at 200 hours by Kubota due to dead on one cylinder (replaced for the original owner btw, I am the 2nd owner.)

Serviced the motor as well as the transfer cases, Hydro Gear filters, and lubricant. Runs and works great.

I rebuilt the mower deck completely, even had the deck sandblasted and powder-coated. All new bearing and tension pullies, new belt etc.

I just went to put it thru its paces and discovered that when I engage the blades at full throttle, it kills the motor.
I then restart, and it vibrates a bit, but it keeps running, the vibration goes away, and then I can go ahead and mow the lawn.

Stop and restart, its fine.
When its cold (I do warm the motor up a minute or so before hitting the PTO) It always stalls the first time I engage the blades. Next start up it vibrates/shutters a bit and then runs just fine.


I checked belt routing, it's fine.
Checked for stuck pulleys, those are fine. Spin it by hand, and there isn't any dragging or grinding of any kind.


Could it possibly be the clutch? (I didn't check that earlier)

Bearing issues within the clutch?

Could the belt be too tight?

The tension spring too short, making the belt too tight?

Any useful info would be greatly appreciated, as lawn mowing season is nearly upon us up here.



Sincerely,

Jeff B In Maine

 

[Rubrsidedown]

Mower deck pics before and after powder coating.


Jeff B. In Maine

 

[Workerbee]

I use a hustler gas zt with 26 hp kawasaki at another property. I always pull the choke out when engaging the deck then push it right back in. That keeps it running. When its all warmed up good theres no need to do that.

 

[JasonW]

Need more information about what the engine is doing. So it stalls at the first attempt engaging the blades? Like turning the key off or it struggling to run?

After restarting and the second attempt engaging the blades it works like it should?

What seems to be vibrating? The engine or the deck?

You mentioned it was a cold start. How cold? Have you tried just running the engine longer to warm up fully to test?

How do the plugs look? Has the carburetor been messed with?

When I had my Z127, I ran it throughout the year if not for grass and also leaves but I’m way down south. I would engage the blades at idle and it never stalled.

 

[Rubrsidedown]

Need more information about what the engine is doing. So it stalls at the first attempt engaging the blades? Like turning the key off or it struggling to run? Not like turning off, it struggles for a second then shuts down.

After restarting and the second attempt engaging the blades it works like it should? It shudders for a second or two then smooths out.

What seems to be vibrating? The engine or the deck? Seems like the deck to me.

You mentioned it was a cold start. How cold? Have you tried just running the engine longer to warm up fully to test? 50s to 60 degrees

How do the plugs look? Has the carburetor been messed with? Not sure on plugs or the carb

When I had my Z127, I ran it throughout the year if not for grass and also leaves but I’m way down south. I would engage the blades at idle and it never stalled. Yeah, that doesn't work with this rig unfortunatly.

 

[lugbolt]

does it make any difference if the engine is HOT or just started (cold)?

 

[JasonW]

Is the deck belt the correct length? Correct blades? All I remember from mine there wasn’t a belt tension adjustment, just the tensioner spring.

Could try removing the blades to see if it still stalls it out. But you say everything spins freely?

 

[Rubrsidedown]

It seems to start (pto) the mow deck fine after the first stall... after that it work as it should.


Im going to see if I warm it up longer after cold start up if that makes any difference.


A friend just called me and said it could be a weak coil. I know my John Deere rider had a similar issue when starting the blades it stalled every time. Found one coil was dead. That liquid cooled Kawasaki enging was very smooth you couldn't tell it was running on one cylinder.

I don't have enough history on this Kubota 127 to speak with any real knowledge, unfortunately.

 

[Rubrsidedown]

Is the deck belt the correct length? Correct blades? All I remember from mine there wasn’t a belt tension adjustment, just the tensioner spring.

Could try removing the blades to see if it still stalls it out. But you say everything spins freely?

Belt seems to be the correct length but I'm going to try the old belt to see if that works.

The tensioner has a spring. It's a hefty pull to put that spring on that's for sure.

 

[Mowbizz]

This happens to me when I don’t let the motor warm up quite enough…solution? Let the motor warm up a bit more then engage the blades at FULL THROTTLE.

 

[Rubrsidedown]

This happens to me when I don’t let the motor warm up quite enough…solution? Let the motor warm up a bit more then engage the blades at FULL THROTTLE.

I just did exactly that.

It didn't stall...

Maybe between my stupidity along with a brandy new belt (not stretched out a millimeter) was my only issue.


Thank you!


We'll see how this goes later.

 

[JasonW]

It was on this forum or maybe a different one someone found a spot in the wiring harness that when the PTO was engaged it grounded out the coils. If the coils are weak and possibly the battery also it could take away enough power when the clutch is engaged to kill the engine.


Could wire up the clutch to a separate battery to test that

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Run the engine for a good 5 minutes before engaging the PTO.

 

[Rubrsidedown]

Run the engine for a good 5 minutes before engaging the PTO.

10-4

Rookie here with the new to me Bota.