'72 2000 PTO shift lever grinding to engage (tricks - best way) ???

schiker · Nov 19, 2011

The first time I try to engage my PTO it grinds pretty bad. I sometimes cut the machine off and slip it into PTO then recrank.

Are there any tricks to help reduce grinding while running? I have tried to put into gear and rev the engine up (just to engage lever) then went back to idle to let clutch out and start mower. Sometimes certain gears will make shift better but doesn't seem consistent or I just get lucky sometimes.

What is best way to get into PTO gear (not starting PTO shaft spinning):

in neutral both shifters while hi rpm or lo ?
in hi or lo range and neutral gear while hi or lo rpm?
in Hi range 4th gear high rpm?
in Lo-1st?
hi range reverse?

etc etc

How about letting clutch rolling or moving tractor then pushing clutch back in doing any of above?

strum456 · Nov 22, 2011

Does your tractor have a two-stage clutch? If so, maybe it just needs adjusted. Also, make sure the pedal is the whole way against the running board. It helps if you slow down the RPMs when you are trying to put anything into gear.

schiker · Nov 22, 2011

Yeah, it has a two stage clutch and seems to be adjusted to max? As it disengages at top of pedal for gear changes. Is there a way to adjust the 2nd stage seperately????

I push the clutch absolutely as far as possible even wiggling and pushing it so it tries to go over top of running board.

Usually I would agree with slow rpm is better to get into gear but I want slippage so that is why I rev it. Its like the clutch/discs are a bit stuck and I just need them to scrub and free up a bit then its better.

I am pretty good with transmissions in general and can feel many out of gear w/o clutch. When they don't go into gear I let the clutch out a bit then slip into gear as they spin down when I push the clutch back in fully.

strum456 · Nov 22, 2011

The clevis on the end of the clutch linkage needs to be in the front hole for the PTO clutch to disengage. Is it in the right hole? Can you feel the increased pressure at the bottom off the stroke as the 2nd stage is being depressed? If there is some freeplay, I would try adjusting the linkage and just see what happens. It could be rust on that part of the flywheel from not being used in a long time (only you would know if that is possible).

Soundguy · Nov 23, 2011

if the clutch is 2 stage and freeplay is adjusted to spec or a lil below and it won't disengage the pto, it's either the pto section is stuck or the clutch is worn past it's service life.

with machine off, pto in gear and clutch blocked, and you cranking the starter.. does the pto shaft spin?

soundguy

schiker · Nov 23, 2011

Soundguy said:
the clutch is worn past it's service life.

with machine off, pto in gear and clutch blocked, and you cranking the starter.. does the pto shaft spin?

soundguy

I'll assume its worn past its normal life. It will slip if I get into excessively heavy vegitatation (wet, tall, and thick fescue/weeds)

Once egaged I can push clutch in and it'll stop rotation . I have not tried from starting.

I did just put on a new PTO shift lever plate and new Oring. Had a drip from the shaft. New one leaks too. I think the chamfer on the new plate is too big and won't hold the oring in the counterbore. Going to have to find another ORing or 2 and see if I can stack them up.

The spring and ball for the indent on the pto rod (inside the cover) was bad so I have to find a new one of those as well or use a bungee to hold the lever for now.