exmark/kaw power droppage w/ engaging blade

[jnmaney]

Have a exmark that drops pwr momentarily when engaging blades. Any ideas

[Smooth Operator]

I have the same problem with mine, was thinking of posting on it too. Saw thread on engaging blades at low rpm to save clutch but when I engage at less than 3/4 throttle the engine stalls. This can't be good for it either, probably better off to smoke the clutch a little IMO. Other than this it has plenty of power, I've been mowing areas that haven't been mowed all year with no power problems. Just try to minimize the number of clutch engage/ disengagements I guess. Are you happy with it otherwise ?

[landscaper3]

Normal!!

[RYAN]

That will happen with my Kohler. Especially on the first lawn of the day it will sometimes stall out. after the first lawn it is OK though. The power is fine the rest of the day also. I guess my mower is a lot like me, it hates the morning.

[landscaper3]

Its probly the electic engaging system our toros do it to

[Turf Kutter]

That is not good at all you might as well get a res mower then.You start it on high speed:D.I would suggest notifying exmark both of you and tell them the problem and ask why and what they could do and what you could do I`ve heard they are good with customer service or if you do not want to wait call em up on the phone and raise hell.:D

[65hoss]

The kawi on my exmark and my encore do the same thing. Its just the instant load put on it. You can still engage the blades at a lower rpm.

[landscaper3]

Thank you 65 hoss thats what i was trying to say it is normal!!

[excel25]

Do you let your mower warm up good befor you engage the blades??

[65hoss]

Only from the trailer to the grass, then I go for it.

[Smooth Operator]

I warm it up 5 min. it still stalls at less than 3/4 throttle. Gets a little better after working a while will engage at 1/2 w/o stalling.

[Eric ELM]

When I get to the first lawn of the day, I let my mower engines warm up while I take the tie downs off and lower the gate. I wouldn't want to start up my truck and run it at 3,600 rpm's plus, until it had warmed up a bit either. In the fall when it gets down to around freezing when we are mulching leaves, I let them warm up for a good 5 minutes before engaging the blades on the first job.

[Five Star Lawn Care LLC]

hey guys solve all your problems with one stone and go out and get a Chopper!!

[Eric ELM]

FiveStar, I have two 60" Choppers. One is a 2001 XWD2600 diesel and it will start up 6 blades at an idle, no problem, but I still warm it up a bit. The other is a 22 HP XW2400 with almost 3,100 hour on it and it will start up 6 blades at an idle too, but that is an advantage of a hand clutch. Even my 1990 JD with a 60" deck will start up 6 blades at an idle with an electric clutch, but that is the advantage of a Yanmar diesel, torque galore.

[Grassman]

Sounds like your crankshaft to deck belt may be a little too tight.

[bondlawn]

I bought a 36" wide Toro with a 17.5 Kawa (I know its more engine than needed, but I have a 52" with the same engine - therefore less spare parts sitting around). When I engage the clutch the engine would almost die. The 52" never has shown the symptom. Finally found out that I had one coil that wasn't firing on the engine. If you took the plug out of the cylinder and grounded it, the thing fired all day, but when you put it in the cylinder she quit firing. Replaced the coil and all is well.

[Smooth Operator]

As far as the mule belt or deck drive belt being too tight both are on spring tensioners so I doubt it. Also engine runs smooth, definitely not misfiring due to bad coil, I'm inclined to believe it's normal as some have said. I tried turning the pulley's by hand today before starting mowing and it does take a fair amount of effort to turn them when it has sat overnite less after mowing perhaps the belts stiffen up some when cold. As I said earlier the machine is certainly not lacking power for mowing, properties I've been mowing are way overgrown, more like bushogging than mowing in some places LOL.

[Runner]

As I had just said on another thread, that to help save wear and tear, if you're engaging your blades in deep or thick grass, engage them with your deck up until you have your rpm's up, then drop your deck.

[MJB]

My Exmark 22 LC does the same thing. But I wouldn't trade it for nothing. I use Grasshoppers, Walkers, Toro, and
my buddy has a DC, but I still like the Exmark best. Especially with the EZ Striper. I still like the other
mowers listed just not as much as Exmark.

[jnmaney]

was doing it before replacing all new belts, will try a couple of your suggestions (choke adj, fuel additive, new fuel filter.. thanks for all replies

[jaybee]

I have two Exmark walkers. One has a 14 hp Kawi that I've used for two years and the other one I just bought and it has 26 hours on it . Neither one stalls out or slows down when I engage the blades. I engage at low rpm's but have also done it at full throttle and no problem. I don't let them warm up for any period of time either. That's just my 2 cents.