Mountfield Mower Problem

[Rick M49]

Hi,
I have a 2016 Mountfield 1538M-SD ride on mower that has recently for no apparent reason started to kill the engine when the blade clutch operating button is engaged, to complicate matters you can overcome this by pressing the reverse cutting button but as soon as you release it it stalls again?
The usual requirement's are being meet driver on seat etc.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Rick.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

It read like your interlock switch, on the forward/reverse level, is maladjusted. Some ride-ons, include several interlocks, to kill the engine, under certain conditions, such as lifting off the seat, cutting whilst in reverse, etc..

 

[Rick M49]

Hello Harry,
Thanks for that I'll give it a look at the weekend weather permitting lol and update you as to how things go.
Cheers

 

[Rick M49]

Hello Harry,
Apologies for not updating sooner, your diagnosis was spot on and problem solved with a replacement micro switch.
Once again a big thank you for pointing me in the right direction.
Cheers

 

[Rob1e]

Hi Harry,
I gave the same issue as Rick. The Mountfield 1530M is only engaging the blades mysteriously when the reverse button is depressed. The engine starts, runs, idles ok but as soon as I pull the PTO switch the engine cuts out, unless I press the reverse button.
I have changed the micro switch for the P brake and grass collector and I am not at a loss as to why this just happened now?

 

[Rob1e]

It read like your interlock switch, on the forward/reverse level, is maladjusted. Some ride-ons, include several interlocks, to kill the engine, under certain conditions, such as lifting off the seat, cutting whilst in reverse, etc..

Hello Harry,
Apologies for not updating sooner, your diagnosis was spot on and problem solved with a replacement micro switch.
Once again a big thank you for pointing me in the right direction.
Cheers

 

[Rob1e]

Hi Rick,
I am facing the same issue with reverse gear button depressed to engage the blades moving forward. I wanted to hopefully get my problem resolved as well. Which of the micro switches did you replace to fix your problem?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

These things would be easy, if only the designers had thought to include a simple row of LED's, to indicate the status of each interlock.

 

[Rob1e]

These things would be easy, if only the designers had thought to include a simple row of LED's, to indicate the status of each interlock.

Harry,
Pulling on the PTO kills the engine unless I press the reverse gear button which then keeps the engine going. Now I can also put it into reverse gear and not depress the reverse button and the blades remain engaged. It is like the function is now opposite of what should be happening. I found another micro switch today for the forward/reverse lever and replaced that with new and still no joy.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I found another micro switch today for the forward/reverse lever and replaced that with new and still no joy.

It reads like it could be a mechanical adjustment issue, rather than electrical. You need to search for a detailed electrical diagram. The microswitches, often feed onto diodes, to provide a logic 'or' function, which under the right circumstances, kills the ignition to stop the engine.

 

[Rob1e]

Further troubleshooting and it was a faulty new forward/reverse lever micro switch. Replaced with another new and working fine again. Issue resolved. Thanks for your feedback @Harry Bloomfield.