First of all, did you tell the dealer to install a PTO, or did they tell you you needed a PTO? If you told them to install it..... well, that's your mistake. When you take something somewhere to be repaired, it's best to let them do the diagnostics. If you tell them what to do, they will usually just do whatever you want, right or wrong.

A malfunctioning PTO will NOT pull the engine down. Not when it's engaged anyway. In the off position it may, but not when it's on.


The resolution would depend on what your response to the above question is. If they diagnosed it and said it was fixed, you can bet your butt there would be a resolution. They didn't fix it. If you told them to do it.... yep. You're screwed.


Sounds like it's flooding out. Which may or may not be loss of spark. How about you test to see if it loses spark when it dies. I'd be checking the crankcase for it being overfull. You do check your oil before every use, right?

Black smoke indicates that the engine is running rich (too much fuel).

If this were mine (the tractor), I would do (or have done) a good & complete tune up, Carb cleaned, rebuilt, and adjusted. Regardless of the PTO situation, this needs to be done.

Your situation sounds like it has multiple issues, nothing major, but you have to tackle these issue(s) one at a time.

If it were me, I would try wiring your seat switch up direct. I have a 680 and had a similar issue, ran forever without the PTO on, but about 30 minutes with it on it would shut off. I wired the seat switch wires together and problem fixed. I know it sounds odd, but its possible. And I would also do a tune up, maybe carb adjust also. Can't remember the amount of turns, maybe somebody could put them up.

NOTE:
We only recommend doing this as a test. Removing a safety device that was originally installed is not recommended.

Edited by J-Mech

It is going back to the dealer tomorrow. Based on other research and kind feedback from this forum Im inclined to think it is an electrical issue. The seat was already disabled when i bought it..... sure woul have liked for it to be that easy. Im not done with this thread by any means. The dealer did check the carb on the last go round..... we will see.

FWIW, if you haven't looked into the 2 safety switches (seat and clutch pedal) most of the folks that permanently disable them are either lazy or CHEAP. Neither one is difficult to replace or expensive. The little rubber boots that go over them can be a little pricey, as opposed to the switch itself. Assuming your clutch pedal switch is the same as ones I have worked on, it is activated by a piece of spring steel--I did have to replace that on one of mine. I have 3 machines for mowing (2072,982,1811) that all required me to put the switches back in operation. Not preaching at you or anyone else here, just elaborating on what Jmech added to another post. In my opinion, whoever put the switches on the mowers (engineers or government regulators), got it right!:beerchug:

:Announce:

I took the Hydro back to the dealer and explained that nothing had changed since the new PTO was installed. He agreed to take another look.
A week went by and I got a call to come pick it up.
replaced points and a push rod(?) and cleaned out the carb. AMAZING difference. This machine is by far the fastest tractor I have ever owned. I am extremely impressed with how responsive the steering is. It starts and runs like I had hoped...

So. How come we didnt just do this the first time? I asked. Why did I need a 600 dollar PTO and 200 dollars worth of labor? "The PTO tested bad" Couldnt it have been rebuilt? "No" Dont really know how to take that. :bash2:

Im behind the eight ball on this machine but I will get her to carry her weight eventually.

thanks for the help Gentlemen

glad you got it going, I've got a 680, you'll like it. by the way they do 8 mph

Well, all's well that ends well I suppose.

FWIW, if the coil on the PTO tested bad, there is no "fixing" that, short of replacement.

Glad you got it fixed and are happy with it!!:beerchug:

aren't they supposed to give back your old parts?

Only if you request them. It is not required.