Century 2535 Can't get PTO to engage lever won't move to 540 setting

[NealinVA]

While bush hogging a large field the PTO began to make a high pitched sound then went into a free wheeling mode (spindle was spinning but not driving the driveline shaft) I could not get the lever out of the 540 position for quite some time then I was able to move it all the way into the 1000 RPM position (after disconnecting the driveline shaft). After it sat for a day, I was able to move the lever to neutral but it will not move to 540 anymore. The spindle runs all the time now but is free wheeling you can stop it by grabbing it and holding it. It no longer makes any noise in fact the noise stopped when it first began to free wheel in the field.
I have read many posts in here and I am wondering if the clutch is gone.
This is a 2004 model with about 375 hours.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[52wej]

Neal, looking at the breakdown of the transmission shifting assembly there could be a lot of potential problems, including the clutch. Since the problem appeared suddenly I am thinking something in the shift linkage or in the overriding clutch assembly. Do you have a shop manual? If not please send me your email address and I will scan the pages for you. Willie

 

[NealinVA]

Hi Willie, I found a grease fitting on the linkage for the PTO setting lever. It is behind the left rear tire and difficult to get to, I bought a new grease gun with a flexible shaft that allows me access but it doesn't seem to want to take the grease. I might have forced in a little bit but most of the grease shoots back out around the fitting. The good news is I appear to be on to something as the lever has begun to move up and down ( still pretty stiff) and it is engaging the PTO spindle. I am going to try and get the fitting off and replace it with a new one to see if that helps with my lubricating that assembly. I have tested the new gun on all the grease points on the tractor and the FEL and it works great so its got to be the fitting, again its in a tight spot and I really don't want to take the rear wheel off.

I do have the engine manual, the FEL manual and the users manual but don't have a shop manual for the rest. If its not too much trouble I would love to have the pages relative to this linkage as well as the part number for the manual as I think I will need to purchase one.

Once again you have really helped me out, I appreciate you!

Thanks,
Neal
neal@lasersimage.com

 

[52wej]

You are not joking about that particular fitting. It is a hateful *&^^%%$ to grease. There also is one fitting on the brake pedals that is even worse to reach for me. It would be great if the problem was a stiff linkage. While you are working on the fitting, you may try squirting some power blaster on the linkage and see if that loosens things up some. Willie