What would make my lawnmower shake and cut out when I engage the blades?
Matthew asked:
I have a 30” 10HP Craftsman mower (M: 502-255040). It runs fine until I engage the blades, then it shakes and cuts out. I can engage a little bit and everything looks like it is turning fine, but at about half engaged, the shaking begins and the engine chokes out. I’m wondering could this be unbalanced blades. They are pretty old, but they were working fine yesterday and I don’t recall hitting anything except an ant hill. Any ideas?
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I have a 30” 10HP Craftsman mower (M: 502-255040). It runs fine until I engage the blades, then it shakes and cuts out. I can engage a little bit and everything looks like it is turning fine, but at about half engaged, the shaking begins and the engine chokes out. I’m wondering could this be unbalanced blades. They are pretty old, but they were working fine yesterday and I don’t recall hitting anything except an ant hill. Any ideas?
May 18th, 2009 at 7:16 am
You probably did throw it off balance.
If you DID hit something, I would say the blades are bent
May 20th, 2009 at 4:44 am
Check the mower deck at all points that it fastens to the chasie.It’s possible a fastener has vibrated off which will result in an unbalanced deck
May 20th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
the ant hill may have knocked a blade loose
or bent it