4 Common Lawn Mower Clutch Problems (Fixed)
A damaged clutch can prevent you from using the mower efficiently. After all, it’s an integral component of the lawn mower.
This is the part that transfers the power to the blades of your mower and controls its spinning.
When the clutch gets damaged, you’ll notice these common lawn mower clutch problems.
You’ll hear noises wherever you engage the blades, the mower will vibrate, the clutch becomes hot, and it might stop working.
Leave all your worries because all of these issues have a solution which we’ll discuss further in the article.
We’ll share the problems of the bad clutch in detail and how to test the clutch yourself without contacting any technician. So let’s get into it!
What’s the Purpose of a Lawn Mower Clutch?
In a nutshell, the clutch, also known as the PTO clutch, is the part that controls the rotation of the mower blades.
It consists of various parts like the output pulley, armature, rotor, brake plates, and field assembly.
The clutch works in a clockwise or counterclockwise position and helps in starting or slowing down the spinning of the blades.
You can watch the video below to understand how the PTO clutch works.
Common Lawn Mower Clutch Problems
What will happen when the clutch stops or doesn’t work properly? This question might be ringing a bell in your mind, right?
Don’t worry; we’ll answer this question below in detail.
According to our research, there are multiple things that will happen when the PTO clutch gets damaged.
You might face one, two or all issues at a time, depending on the condition of your clutch.
- You’ll Hear Noises – The first and most common symptom of the bad lawn mower clutch is you’ll hear noises like it might be whirring. It will happen when the clutch is engaged.
- The Mower Will Vibrate – If you’ve been using the mower for years, you may have noticed the clutch engages instantly, but the same thing doesn’t happen when the clutch is bad.
- Clutch Becomes Hot – So you know that your clutch isn’t working properly, then you try to check it yourself and find out it’s hot. This is the third problem and the symptom of a bad clutch.
- The Clutch Might Stop Working – Another common issue you’ll face is the clutch might stop working, and even if it works, it will take time to engage.
Also Read: 7 Common Simplicity Zero Turn Mower Problems [Fixed]
How to Test the Lawn Mower Clutch?
We’ve explained the common lawn mower clutch problems that a person faces when the clutch gets damaged.
But there’s a catch; these problems aren’t necessarily happening because the problem is with the clutch.
Mower vibrates when the deck belt is damaged or loose, the blades won’t engage when it’s not installed correctly and there are countless reasons like this.
That’s why you have to make sure that the clutch is bad before you try to replace it.
Rest assured; it’s an easy process; you only need a multimeter for testing, and you’re good to go.
Also Read: John Deere Hydrostatic Transmission Problems – Fixed!
Step By Step Process to Test the Lawn Mower Clutch
- The first step is to get a multimeter to test the clutch.
- Open the case of the mower; you’ll see a lead that needs to be connected with the multimeter.
- Connect the lead with the negative and positive wires of the multimeter.
- Set your multimeter at Ohms settings.
- If you see the results between 2 – 4 ohms, then the clutch is working fine.
- If the result is below two or above four, you need to replace the mower clutch.
For a better understanding, you can watch the video below.
How to Remove Bad Clutch From the Lawn Mower?
Once you are sure that the clutch is bad, go to the market and get a new clutch. Then start the process of removing the bad one.
- Open the case of the lawn mower to access the clutch.
- Remove the electrical connection from the clutch and belt from the pulley.
- Use an impact driver to remove the bolt and take out the clutch.
For More Information, Watch This Video!
You can watch the video below to understand how you can install the new clutch after removing the bad one.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can you repair the clutch of the mower yourself?
Yes, it’s possible to repair the clutch of the mower yourself but to do this, you need a little bit of experience.
If you don’t have it, then you won’t be able to repair the clutch at home.
What happens when the clutch goes out on a lawn mower?
You’ll notice a few common problems when the clutch goes out on a lawn mower.
For example, the clutch will stop working, or it will work slowly.
The other symptoms are the clutch will be hot, the mower will vibrate, and you might hear noises.
Why does the lawn mower clutch get damaged?
Over time, the lawnmower clutch or its internal part can wear out.
Otherwise, debris or foreign objects may interfere with normal operation and prevent the blade from rotating.
Conclusion
Now you have all the answers, like what are the common lawn mower clutch problems, what are its symptoms, and how you can test it and install a new one.
The only thing that remains is your actions of following our guide.
Before you get into the test or replace the clutch, ensure to read our guide carefully.
And if possible, watch the videos we’ve added to the guide so you can do everything without any problem.
