212H electric clutch controlling mower deck PTO problem

[DougNewForest 1]

Hi All,

 

I have a 1990 Wheel Horse 212-H. Rescued it from a ditch in a field where it had been for 15 years. It has 1250 hours on the clock and we're trying to get the thing working again. Th 12.5 hp Kawasaki engine is running fine but the electric clutch controlling the mower deck PTO has developed an interesting fault. When I switch on the PTO with the ignition on but the engine not running, the clutch works fine. But when you switch it on with the engine running, the clutch works but the engine cuts out. The fault is not in the clutch itself – I’ve disconnected it and put a test light across the leads from the switch. I’ve also disconnected the PTO switch itself and cleaned all the terminals, but the fault persists. I’m pretty sure it worked ok when it was first hauled it into the workshop, so something might have failed recently, since we've been working on the machine.

 

Any suggestions would be gratefully received! Thanks Doug

[Ed Kennell 37,835]

 Doug.     Is the engine stalling out due to the deck load, or is it electrical?

[oldredrider 2,548]

Sounds to me like a seat safety switch problem. Time to pull up the wiring diagram.

[DougNewForest 1]

Thanks guys, and for the welcome! So, the engine cuts when the clutch switch is activated, even when the clutch itself is disconnected from the wiring loom. So its nothing to do with the clutch itself, or load.

Its definitely an electrical fault. I've bypassed the seat safety system so I can work on it whilst it's propped up in the workshop, using an exhaust extractor. Could it be the switch, or perhaps the regulator/rectifier unit? Any suggestions gratefully received! Doug

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,000]

If you jumpered the seat switch that is likely the problem. Remove the jumper and try it.

 

Wiring diagram is in this 1991 manual

Seat switch is normally closed which grounds the ignition with the pto ON.

 

Can find 1989 and 1991 models only with a Kawasaki engine.

 

Garry

[squonk 40,904]

There also might be a diode that feeds that clutch that may be shorted. I had a 210h with a Briggs that was fine and all at once I lost all electric. Diode was melted

[DougNewForest 1]

Garry, thank you, that is exactly what the issue was. I've just removed the jump on the seat switch and problem resolved! Grateful to all those who replied as I can get on with the restoration now. Cheers Doug

[muz123 1,191]

Those 200 series are good tractors, i snowblow/plow and cut grass year around and its the same model but a 6 speed pearless transmission. I had the same problem too, Good luck