Older Craftsman Tractor Low Blade Power

48C-MAN

Member
I have an older craftsman tractor with the kohler 20.5hp and 46in 3 blade deck hydrostatic drive. My question is I seem to lose power and blade speed in grass that doesn't seem very thick or wet. The motor is not working hard at all and I can drive up any hill or angle with ease. What are some common things that can cause this? The blades are sharp and belts are good. Thanks
 
Is it a manual clutch or is it an electric clutch? Manual you can have a messed up idle pulley spring. Electric it can be worn out and is slipping under any kind of load. Once saw an electric that had a sheared key on the pulley shaft. The kind where it is crimped into the side of the clutch. Also could be a loose bolt going into the bottom of the engine shaft. Do your blades spin freely by hand? Had a spindle frozen in the mandrel on a machine one time. Pulled ALL kinds of power. Let us know. One more. Had a pulley where the sides, {can't remember the correct name'} had broken loose from the center shaft would go around but not a whole lot of power transfer.
 
It is an electric pto engage. The PTO is clutch is new last year so I hope that isn't bad. Is there a way to test it? Also if I take the belt off the PTO the deck has resistance but not much meaning it will turn by hand fairly easy.
 
When you engage the PTO does it seem to engage hard/suddenly and pull the engine R's down monumentally? If so the the clutch is engaging good then it almost has to be a deck b elt idler not tightening the belt and it is slipping causing the slowing of the blades. the belt is installed right? under the foot rest /bottom side there should be a belt install diagram.
GB in MN
 

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