I was able to do it using vice grips, a 3/4 inch socket with an extension, a breaker bar, penetrating oil, and a small block of wood (mine was about 2 x 2 x 6 inches).
I had one other person to help. If you are doing it by yourself, you might need something like duct tape to help hold your block of wood in place.
You will need to remove the deck, the battery, then the battery box (on mine) comes right out. That hole from the battery box gave me a straight shot to the nut that holds the fan in place from above.
Spray some penetrating oil on the nut and exposed threads. We tried for some time without the oil and could not get the nut off. After the penetrating oil soaked in for about 10 minutes, the nut came off. It was the key to success.
I placed the vice grips on the upper lip of the pulley from underneath. I wedged the vice grips in place using the block of wood, placing it between the nose of the vice grips and the frame. That held the pulley in place so it didn't rotate. Vice grips had to be pretty tight. If you don't have help to hold the wood block in place, use the duct tape to secure it in place. Doesn't have to be pretty, just secure enough so it doesn't move while you loosen the nut from above.
Now use the 3/4 inch socket with extension and breaker bar from above to remove the nut. The breaker bar was necessary as that nut was really on there.
Sounds more like a PTO clutch failure, rather than the switch. The clutch is mounted on the engine shaft, between the hydrostatic drive pulley (nearest the chassis) and the mower deck belt pulley (farther from the chassis).
Since it's an expensive part, make sure the problem isn't in the switch or wiring first. You could do that by probing the wires to the PTO clutch with an automotive test light - they are inexpensive and handy. Clip the ground wire of the test light to the chassis, and probe the hot wire to the clutch (it's the one that doesn't connect to ground) when the engine is running and the PTO switch is engaged. Obviously a helper has to be in the seat, and you should be careful doing this. If the light glows brightly, and the clutch doesn't engage, you definitely have a bad clutch.
Good luck! Please rate my answer if helpful, thanks.
Have you cleaned the fuel jet. If I do not have an air compressor I us a fine wire to clean the small hole out. i have a number of lawn mowers come in and that's the problem.
There is also an inline fuse which is a very thin wire sort of folded over in the section of harness going to the clutch. Unplug the very small wire at the small plug. Same method, try to engage the pto while engine is running, if it turns on it is the little fuse link at that location. My mower would stall (Gravely ZTXL)when the pto was engaged until I found that little fuse link.
If there is a fuel cup on the bottom of the carb take it off and clean it out real good. Take the fuel jet out and clean out the little hole by blowing it with air compressor or a real fine wire.The fuel jet is most likely the problem.
Just a thought, just check if the pulley does not have a locking nut or key, if locking nut would potentially be small allen key threaded shaft between pulley and axle, and key would be identified as a little slot or gap between axle and pulley, hope this might help, good luck
First make sure you have oil in it. Next take off the air cleaner box. Try restarting it if it runs fine clear or replace the air filter. Also check to see if it’s getting spark.
If you did not use the original manufacturer belts it will cause this as lawn mower belts are designed to slip when not under tension (so called graphite Belts) where other belts are designed not to slip even when some tension is lost.
You will have air in the system and will need purged. To do that you jack up the wheels to where they will turn freely then disengage the hydro and at an idle alternate forward and reverse for a for about 4 or 5 minutes. Recheck the fluid level and top off. Now engage the hydro and do the same forward and reverse for 3 or 4 minutes. You should have axle movement at this point. Hope this will help.
