MY 1997 poulan (mfg#HD145H42)(MODEL#733-864)riding lawnmower dies when I engaged the blade. How can i fix it?

SAM, July 2004

I have the same lawn mower. It was starving for fuel. I checked the fuel line and it was collapsed. Also the fuel filter was clogged and one more thing. You must look at the fuel line as it comes from the bottom of the fuel tank. It must flow downhill to the carburetor. Once these simple problems are corrected, you have a running machine.

Wally, August 2008

I had the same problem. COme to find out the belt which runs the mower blades was slipping or coming off. Had to get a new one and replace the bracket that keeps it from coming off.

Janet, June 2008

My name is Ron and jus the other day I got may Craftsman riding lawn mower out. It engaged the blade and in a few seconds it die. I did this about 2 more time. Then I started the mower again, but this time I did not engage the blade and decided to run the mower around the yard for a while. It went about 25-30 feet and the died.

I had the battery looked at and it has plenty of charge. It has plenty of gas and oil. When I try to restart it the fly wheel will not turn over and there is a clicking sound.

The lawnmower is 15-20 years old. I wonder if the motor has locked up? Last year when I put the mower up I had no problem with it working. The only thing that I have had to do in all the years I have had the mower is to add oil. It uses alot of oil, but I aways keep it checked.

Can you help me!

Ronnie Smart, April 2005

points

mark, July 2004

Sam; Just checking the site for a answer for mine and saw your having trouble. First thing first. How was the mower running befor this problem started? Could you have run over a piece of rope or amybe a piece of wire? As there are usely the cause of that type of problem. If not than Remove the spark plug wire from the plugs and grab the blade to see if it turns freely. Check both to make sure that there is no restriction on them. If there is tention of one or the other you have something wedged between the shaft and the blade. Or the bearings in your cutting head are binding up and that won't let them spin and chocking the motor out. Also there is a switch on the leaver that sets the mower in motion. If it becomes disconected the motor will stop sunning. Check these things out first. Sure hope they work and you get the grass mowed.

Lester, July 2004