Husqvarna Mower Dies When Blades Engaged: 7 Reasons and Fixes

Husqvarna Mower Dies When Blades Engaged Image

Husqvarna riding mowers are some of the most reliable lawn care machines, but they are not immune to technical problems. One such problem is when the Husqvarna mower dies when the blades are engaged.

Knowing the common reasons why the mower dies when engaging blades can help you determine where to begin and how to fix it.

This knowledge can save you the trouble of dealing with downtime. So in this article, you will find not one but seven reasons Husqvarna lawnmower dies when engaging blades.

The article also provides handy solutions for each problem to get you back up and running.

See: File for sharpening lawn mower blade

Why Husqvarna Mower Dies When Blades Engaged

Husqvarna lawnmowers can die when engaging blades due to a misaligned grass box, loose grass bag sensor cables, a faulty grass bag sensor, a dirty carburetor, bad gas, or a faulty carburetor.

This problem can also arise if the grass box is not fully closed. This is among the most common reasons Husqvarna lawnmowers will die abruptly when engaging blades.

1. Misaligned grass box

The grass bag on your Husqvarna lawnmower attaches to the rear of the unit. In that position, its support arms can become bent or misaligned, losing their orientation if you accidentally ram into something while reversing.

When this happens, the frame of your mower’s grass bag may no longer rest on its sensor. This causes the sensor to send a negative response, triggering the mowing vehicle to shut off the engine.

What to do

Locate the bent arms causing the grass bag misalignment and straighten them.

After fixing the alignment problem, ensure the grass box presses against the sensor to send the correct signal before operating the mower.

Related: Husqvarna self-propelled lawn mower problems

2. Loose grass bag sensor connection

The grass bag sensor is an essential component in your mower; it alerts the operator when the bag is full and needs emptying before it can take any more grass.

The sensor is responsible for sending a bag-full signal allowing you to tell when it is time to empty the grass bag.

Like any sensor mechanism, the grass box sensor on your lawnmower is connected to the rest of the system using cables.

This sensor has a wiring connector at the back. This connection acts at the point of attachment for the component.

Over time, this attachment point can come loose, get covered in rust buildup, or have damaged cables.

Any of these faults can cause breakage in the circuitry. As a result, the sensor cannot send the appropriate signal to your control panel.

What to do

Start by removing the sensor connector and inspecting it for dirt buildup or corrosion.

For dirt accumulation, use an electrical contact cleaner to remove the layer of dirt. Experts recommend adding a drop of silicone grease to prevent moisture from entering the unit.

Damaged cables or a corroded connection may leave little to salvage. The best solution for that problem is to replace the damaged pieces.

You should find any missing pieces, complete with a repair kit, at your local auto parts shop.

3. Faulty grass bag sensor

Husqvarna mowers come with incredibly reliable sensors, but they can still wear out or malfunction at some point, so you cannot rule out the possibility of a faulty sensor.

If the grass bag arms are well aligned, and everything else seems to work well, you may be staring at a faulty sensor.

Such a malfunction will send the wrong signal to the control panel, potentially causing the engine to shut off when you engage the blades.

How to address it

Begin by checking the function of your sensors to determine if they are the culprit. Then, use a digital multimeter to measure the output from the sensing unit.

You want to set the multimeter to its Continuity Test mode before placing the test lead on the sensor terminals.

Next, use your free hand to press the sensor and check for a change in the readings. If the readings indicate no change, you have a faulty sensor. Replace it with a new one.

4. Stale gas

Gasoline remains sound for about 30 days from the time you purchase it. So if the gas in your mower’s fuel tank is several weeks old, it might be stale, making it less combustible.

Such fuel will struggle to keep the mower engine running and could keep stalling whenever the engine demands more from it.

A lawnmower engine with bad gas may stall when forced to exert itself to fulfill demands such as climbing a hilly terrain or running the mowing blades.

What to do

If your engine dies when engaging the blades due to a bad fuel, drain the mower’s gas tank and refill it with fresh fuel.

If you intend to keep the gas in the tank for a while, add a fuel stabilizer to slow down its degradation process. This measure should allow the fuel to remain serviceable for months.

5. Dirty carburetor

Using stale fuel in your mower for a while leaves gummy deposits and other contaminants in the vehicle’s fuel system. This can affect your fuel pump, fuel lines, and more.

The carburetor is among the areas most affected by stale fuel. When it is dirty, it becomes unable to supply the engine with enough aerated fuel to facilitate internal combustion within the engine.

As a result, the engine will starve and struggle to run and die in the event of increased demand or overload. This may be the reason your mower shuts off when you engage the blades.

Husqvarna Mower Dies When Blades Engaged Image

What to do

A dirty carburetor problem can be fixed by cleaning. This involves taking the component apart and cleaning each affected area before reassembling it.

If you have limited mechanical experience, consider taking it to an auto mechanic to clean it for you.

6. Carburetor malfunction

Just like a dirty carburetor, a faulty one will not mix gas and sir in the required ratios and supply the engine appropriately with the mixture for internal combustion.

This issue may lead to fuel starvation, potentially causing the engine to stop in case of increased demand.

What to do

The solution for a faulty carburetor is to untie it from the front mount and a replace. Damaged components in a carburetor may be impossible to fix permanently, so the best long-term solution is to replace the malfunctioning carburetor. Here is where to find your carburetor.

7. Partially open grass bag

If the grass bag in your mower is not fully closed, the sensors in the mowing unit will detect this issue and send the signal to the control panel.

This will register as a problem, stopping the operation. The sensors in your mower are designed to keep you, the operator, safe by cutting the engine whenever something does not seem right. And a partially open grass box is read as a problem.

What to do

If a partially open grass bag triggers the grass bag sensor to cut the engine when engaging the blade, check the bag and close it fully.

Examine it for any object, such as grass that might be jammed in, keeping it from closing.

If the grass bag cannot close properly, remove the wiring behind the sensor and join them to bypass the mechanism.

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FAQs

Why does my Husqvarna riding mower shut off when I engage the blades?

The riding mower may shut off when you engage the blades due to a partially closed grass bag, misaligned grass box, loose grass bag sensor cables, a dirty carburetor, a faulty grass bag sensor, bad gas, or a faulty carburetor.

See: Box scraper vs grading scraper

Why Husqvarna zero-turn shuts off when arms are engaged?

Husqvarna’s zero-turn mower shuts off when arms are engaged, most likely due to an issue with the mower’s safety safety switch or the seat switch. The sensor on the seat safety switch may think the mower has no operator when arms are engaged, cutting the engine for safety purposes.

Why does my Husqvarna lawn mower keep shutting off?

If the riding mower keeps shutting off, it likely has a clogged air filter,fuel line, fuel filter. Fuel filter blockage restricts the fuel flow into the carburetor, where air and fuel are mixed in a specific ratio. Low oil levels or dirty, degraded oil also lead to engine overheating and automatic shut-off mechanisms. Do not worry what oil for Husqvarna riding mower to shop for when we have a guide for you.

How to engage blade on Husqvarna riding mower

To engage the blades on your Husqvarna riding mower, start by powering it on by turning the ignition switch clockwise. After that, increase the mower’s throttle to half speed, and leave it there for a few minutes for the engine to warm up. Once done, lower the mower deck to the desired cutting height and push the lever to the right-hand side of the steering wheel to engage the blades.

Why Husqvarna Mower Dies When Blades Engaged: Final Thoughts

While Husqvarna mowers are reliable machines, a few problems may keep them from working as required.

Thankfully, most of these problems are easy to fix without the help of an auto mechanic.

The Husqvarna mower dying when blades are engaged is one problem you can easily fix if you know where to look.

We hope this article helps you make your Husqvarna lawn mower operational again if it shuts off abruptly when attempting to engage the blade.

If you have any questions or additions, please leave them in the comments.