Craftsman ZTS 7500 problem

super99

Well-known Member
I bought this mower from a neighbor’s estate. After mowing for a while, if you stop the deck and then try to start it again nothing happens. If you shut down the motor and let it set for a half an hour or so then you can start the motor and the blades will engage. The battery is from 2017 and I have had to charge it a couple of times to get it started. My thought was that after running for an hour or so that the battery didn’t have enough juice to start the deck, but I checked the battery before I started and it was 12.6 volts. When I tried to restart the deck and it wouldn’t, I checked the battery and it showed 12.2 volts. Is that enough battery to engage the deck? I wondered if it was charging the battery when running and the battery was discharged enough that it wouldn’t start the deck but now I’m not sure If it ran for an hour with the deck engaged shouldn’t the volts at the battery be higher? I want to sell it but need to get this fixed first. Any suggestions? Thanks, Chris
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I am assuming by your description this mower has an electric PTO clutch. After mowing a while this clutch warms up and gets weak. If you can, I would try decreasing the gap in the clutch, so the electro magnet can pull easier. Just a thought.
 
(quoted from post at 11:49:43 06/06/20) I am assuming by your description this mower has an electric PTO clutch. After mowing a while this clutch warms up and gets weak. If you can, I would try decreasing the gap in the clutch, so the electro magnet can pull easier. Just a thought.
nother thought hit me. Thats 2 in one day, might be a record. This reminds me of the John Deere "[i:6228d866b6]Clicking Starter Syndrome[/i:6228d866b6]" Plenty of voltage at the battery, but not at the starter solenoid. You say you have 12.6 volts at the battery. What voltage do you have at the clutch. Bad PTO switch, wire connectors, can all cause a significant voltage drop.
 
It sounds to me like the alternator on the engine is not charging the battery. You should not be having to charge the battery regularly. And after running an hour, voltage on the battery should be 12.6v or a bit more.

Like the other guy said, your clutch may also have some problems. if your clutch is adjustable, you can adjust the clearance to about .011 with the clutch off. Some electric clutches have no adjustment and when the plates get about .040 apart they sometimes won't engage when hot.

Also, check the resistance in the clutch winding. It should be 2 ohms or above. But since you don't say its blowing fuses or other electrical issues, the clutch resistance is probably O.K. The clutch winding should not be shorted to the case either.
 
first off you talking two different issues, first you have to charge to get it started correct. for this issue make sure the valves are at correct setting,then see if unit is charging when its running. the clutch issues lots times is wire connection between unit harness and clutch or the clutch is shorting out. seen very few clutch switch issues on units its usually one of the two mentioned. when you try start unit turn the motor backwards by hand some then see if it will start easier, if this helps you need to adjust the valves.valves out of adjust will act just like weak or dead battery
 

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