Electric Lawnmower Blade Seizing

Simp21

Hi

We have a qualcast electric mower which will run fine for about 5 minutes then the blade seizes.

I've had the belt off and both pulleys turn freely but with the belt on, turning by hand in the correct direction, it's fine at first then locks. If I turn in the opposite direction a few turns it will start turning in the other direction again then eventually lock. On a couple of occasions  I have managed to force it past the lock by pushing hard.

Any ideas please

subjecttocontract

Have you tried cleaning all the vents......it may be overheating.

Section62

Simp21 said:

We have a qualcast electric mower which will run fine for about 5 minutes then the blade seizes.

I've had the belt off and both pulleys turn freely but with the belt on, turning by hand in the correct direction, it's fine at first then locks. If I turn in the opposite direction a few turns it will start turning in the other direction again then eventually lock. On a couple of occasions  I have managed to force it past the lock by pushing hard.

What model?

At a guess it could be the blade brake playing up... but that depends on what kind of braking system your model is fitted with.

Simp21

Section62 said:

Simp21 said:

We have a qualcast electric mower which will run fine for about 5 minutes then the blade seizes.

I've had the belt off and both pulleys turn freely but with the belt on, turning by hand in the correct direction, it's fine at first then locks. If I turn in the opposite direction a few turns it will start turning in the other direction again then eventually lock. On a couple of occasions  I have managed to force it past the lock by pushing hard.

What model?

At a guess it could be the blade brake playing up... but that depends on what kind of braking system your model is fitted with.

It's the MEB1640M

subjecttocontract said:

Have you tried cleaning all the vents......it may be overheating.

Don't think it's this as it does it when I turn by hand. With the belt off the pulleys turn fine. When I put the belt back on and turn by hand, it's fine for a while then locks, a few turns in the opposite direction it will start turning in the correct direction again then lock again

Section62

Simp21 said:

Don't think it's this as it does it when I turn by hand. With the belt off the pulleys turn fine. When I put the belt back on and turn by hand, it's fine for a while then locks, a few turns in the opposite direction it will start turning in the correct direction again then lock again

Can you confirm... with the belt off there is no problem no matter how many turns in each direction?  The problem only happens with the belt on?

When you turn the pulleys by hand, do the rotate smoothly, or is there any 'lumpiness'?  Is there excessive wobble in either of the shafts.

I've not been able to find a parts diagram for this mower model, and it seems the only available spares are the belt and the blade.  I have a feeling this is one of those mowers designed to be thrown away as soon as anything abnormal happens.

There are other possible causes such as snagging of long grass or string wrapped round one of the shafts... but if the problem only happens when the belt is fitted it points towards a mechanical problem which occurs only when the shafts are loaded by the belt.