Toro 4500-D blades cut off Cancel The title field is required!

1. Jennings Dustin T

   
   5/13/2014 10:05 AM

   Toro 4500-D with rotary blades
   Intermittently while mowing, the blades will suddenly cut-off. Driving around a bit, forward and reverse, picking up the decks and dropping them back down, all this will typically make the blades turn back on...
   
   We have ruled out the magnetic sensor switches on the arms and replaced the control module. We have ruled out the possibility of overheating. We had gone about 2 or 3 weeks with no issues, then suddenly the same thing keeps happening again. We have checked all the wiring connections, cleaned most connections, and blown out the dust and debris from all the connections, still stuck.
   
   Any ideas?

   
   
   
   
2. Roland McPhearson

   

   9 posts
   
   5/13/2014 1:05 PM

   Are both PTO lamps on your control module illuminating when you activate the PTO switch? And what happens to those lights when the blades cut out?

   
   
   
   
3. Rodney Crow

   

   0 posts
   
   5/13/2014 1:05 PM

   Check your seat switch. I had that happen a few years ago. Turned out to be that the seat switch was going bad and wasn't sending the signal to the computer.

   
   
   
   
4. Jennings Dustin T

   
   5/13/2014 2:05 PM

   Rodney Crow said: Check your seat switch. I had that happen a few years ago. Turned out to be that the seat switch was going bad and wasn't sending the signal to the computer.

   
   
   we've bypassed the seat switch. blades still cut off. all lights are operating like they should. We found the relay that controls the blades. I guess it's the hydraulic solenoid relay. With the ignition on but engine not started, you can hear the relay clicking on and off. This means whatever is supply that relay with power is faulty. But we can't find what that is.

   
   
   
   
5. Dinger Greg

   
   5/13/2014 2:05 PM

   Dustin T Jennings said:

   Rodney Crow said: ...This means whatever is supply that relay with power is faulty. But we can't find what that is.

   
   
   Id be leaning toward the controller. Little white box under lift lower handle.

   
   
   
   
6. Roland McPhearson

   

   9 posts
   
   5/14/2014 8:05 AM

   Dustin T Jennings said:
   
   This means whatever is supply that relay with power is faulty.

   
   
   I'm not following that but...
   
   My diagram shows a "center pto K2" relay. If it's clicking I'd suspect the ramp-up module or the diode D1-C associated with the joystick. Your mower may be different, but it's a shot.

   
   
   
   
7. Jennings Dustin T

   
   5/14/2014 10:05 AM

   Roland M Mcphearson said:

   Dustin T Jennings said:
   
   This means whatever is supply that relay with power is faulty.

   
   
   I'm not following that but...
   
   My diagram shows a "center pto K2" relay. If it's clicking I'd suspect the ramp-up module or the diode D1-C associated with the joystick. Your mower may be different, but it's a shot.

   
   
   I suspected the diode also. Just ordered it. We'll see what happens. On a side note, we found a way to bypass the faulty relay and just jump the wires that keep the blades running. It's jumped in such a way that when you raise the decks the blades still run. Unsafe I know, but we are desperate. So this method worked for an entire day, then suddenly the blades cut off again even though we bypassed what we thought was the electrical issue. I'm stumped. if the diode doesn't fix the issue then I think i'll call the toro service department and get one of their mechanics out here.

   
   
   
   
8. Kenneth Meals

   

   2 posts
   
   5/14/2014 12:05 PM

   What year is it? Some of the controllers and wiring vary greatly from certain years and models.

   
   
   
   
9. Jennings Dustin T

   
   5/14/2014 1:05 PM

   Kenneth Meals said: What year is it? Some of the controllers and wiring vary greatly from certain years and models.

   
   
   2008. the model # is 30856

   
   
   
   
10. Roland McPhearson

    

    9 posts
    
    5/14/2014 2:05 PM

    serial #?

    
    
    
    
11. Jennings Dustin T

    
    5/16/2014 6:05 AM

    Roland M Mcphearson said: serial #?

    
    
    280000001-280999999
    
    on the wiring diagram it shows that the center PTO k2 relay is connected to both the ramp-up module and the Diode box. Other than those two components I'm not sure what the issue could be. Both have been ordered, we will see if it works.

    
    
    
    
12. Jennings Dustin T

    
    5/22/2014 10:05 AM

    update. Finally fixed. It was the pto k2 center relay. Only it was the wired end not the relay end. There was a small piece of metal in the female end of the connector that was bent back and not making a proper connection. All that time, frustration, and money spent because of 1 thin metal flap on a connector...

    
    
    
    
13. Dinger Greg

    
    5/22/2014 4:05 PM

    Good find. It is always nice to "find something" for the peace of mind.
    
    Skip and others have been preaching "voltage drop" for a long time. This is a prime example of where voltage drop testing may have helped pinpoint the troubled circuit. Also, the "Power Probe Hook" with its circuit integrity test function, may have helped. Its a high dollar unit, but count in down time, and the dealer tech that came out, I bet you would have one paid for in a hurry.
    
    Intense electronic are here to stay... we better be ready for them.