44" mini-Z blades stay engaged

[Perry1961]

Was cutting today,and started feeling vibration from transmission. Engine won't start with the red knob in up position,but blades stay engaged with knob up or down. There's a plate directly under the lower belt pulley on the transmission that looks out of whack. Is that the clutch plate,and does it need changing,or do I change the whole transmission? My dealer has a 3 month wait on repairs.

[mowerconsultant]

The engine isn't supposed to start with the pto knob in the up position....
It sounds like you may have a clutch failure, but with out seeing it, its hard to diagnose.
Your Hustler dealer has a 3 month wait on repairs???
E-mail me that dealer information and I will look into that.

Pj

[Perry1961]

PJ,I'm on the westbank of New Orleans. My dealer was overwhelmed after Katrina. There was a labor shortage and 100's of mowers were flooded out. I just called,and the wait is down to three weeks.

The PTO knob works right on engine starting,but blades stay engaged when it's up or down. I ran over something and skinned that wire running to the transmission once before. I taped it up,changed the fuse,and everything has been fine since. Anyway,I'm gonna check it out again,since I ran through some water right before the clutch started messing up.

[mowerconsultant]

PJ,I'm on the westbank of New Orleans. My dealer was overwhelmed after Katrina. There was a labor shortage and 100's of mowers were flooded out. I just called,and the wait is down to three weeks.

The PTO knob works right on engine starting,but blades stay engaged when it's up or down. I ran over something and skinned that wire running to the transmission once before. I taped it up,changed the fuse,and everything has been fine since. Anyway,I'm gonna check it out again,since I ran through some water right before the clutch started messing up.

Ok.
Let me know what you find.