755 MMM fails to engage

Yourkie · Apr 3, 2012

My 1989 JD 755 w 60" MMM that I've owned since new now fails to engage the mower deck when I activate the PTO. The 755 has been an amazingly trouble free machine.

When I engage the PTO the engine hesitates/slows for just an instant but nothing further happens. The mower is not activated. The PTO clutch is not fully engaging or is releasing. The mower blades and shaft turn freely otherwise.

Have any of you experienced and fixed this and what was it? I'm at the age where to be honest I'm not as enthusiastic crawling under the mower if this is an easy fix and common problem. Thanks again for any advice or help.

I appreciate this site.

Yourkie · Apr 4, 2012

Funny thing about the mid mount mower, it just doesn't work when the rear PTO is selected. In all the years I've owned this tractor I've never had a need to have the PTO selection out of mid mount position. Somehow it got moved out of MM position over the winter.

The possible reason for my problem didn't hit me until I looked at the schematic last night (Pg 240-15-8 of service manual) and saw the PTO selector switch and that was one of those ah ha hope it is a stupid me moments.

Posted this as a reminder that cockpit error is often a cause of problems, just in case it saves somebody else. :ashamed: