A PTO switch on a riding lawnmower engages the mowing deck (or other implements). When it’s not working correctly, your machine will have decreased efficiency or output. Or, it might not function at all. The issue I was having with our PTO switch was that every time I hit a bump while mowing, the PTO switch would disengage and stop the mower deck.
A normal PTO switch of this type has a little bit of a cam that activates when you operate the switch. This cam can get worn out over time so that it doesn’t hold correctly when engaged. Since the symptoms of our malfunctioning PTO switch resembled a mechanical, rather than electrical, failure, I surmised this to be the case. Fortunately, replacing the switch is a pretty easy task.
Parts used in this video:
John Deere GX325 PTO Switch Part #AM127394
I had to clean the terminals of the pins that connected into the new switch, but after replacing the switch performs perfectly. I was sort of correct in the diagnosis. It was a mechanical fault in the switch itself. But even though the cam was worn, I don’t believe that to be the actual issue.
The problem with the switch was that it simply could not maintain the “engaged” position. This was mostly likely due to age, as the machine is probably 15 years old. All that’s needed to replace this switch is the new switch (duh) and a 10mm socket to remove two bolts.
These are the kind of quick and dirty repairs that I really enjoy. Repairing something simple like this really gives me a sense of accomplishment, and a bunch of little “wins” equates to larger projects as well. Hope it helps!