Ford 1715 PTO Trouble. Help please!!

[freddvm]

I just bought a Ford 1715 with a 5' brush Hog and FEL. So excited except for small problem:
I am having trouble with the PTO disengaging while mowing. The PTO just stops turning even though I am still moving forward. If I put in clutch, stop and cycle PTO lever It will start up again and run for 10-30 yards.

At first the PTO would disengage if I put in gear (would run if gear was in neutral) but I determined on of the wires from the PTO was loose (one of two comng from next to base of PTO control lever). Once this was reattached i was able to get PTO to turn while in forward motion but it is not totally cured. Any thoughts would be very appreciated!!

Thanks,
Fred

 

[JC-jetro]

I just bought a Ford 1715 with a 5' brush Hog and FEL. So excited except for small problem:
I am having trouble with the PTO disengaging while mowing. The PTO just stops turning even though I am still moving forward. If I put in clutch, stop and cycle PTO lever It will start up again and run for 10-30 yards.

At first the PTO would disengage if I put in gear (would run if gear was in neutral) but I determined on of the wires from the PTO was loose (one of two comng from next to base of PTO control lever). Once this was reattached i was able to get PTO to turn while in forward motion but it is not totally cured. Any thoughts would be very appreciated!!

Thanks,
Fred

Fred,

Howdy and welcome to TBN blue.

I looked @ my FO-44 and it does not list 1715, went to NH website and took a look at parts diagrams and it appears as I guessed you do have a "live PTO" with dual clutch jobby. They do show single clutch with "transmission driven pto" as well but doubt you have that. If you are not familiar with the terms let us know and we'll explain. What I can gather from your first statement is that your PTO clutch is slipping. In a live PTO you clutch halfway and should be able to change gear ( change gear in motion if you have synchromesh transmission, i think you do) and then by compressing clutch pedal all the way you'd disengage the pto shaft/gear mechanism allowing you engage or disengage the PTO without gears grinding. Your clutch slippage can be due to clutch adjustment or you've lost most of the friction surface on the clutch plate. That may require hopefully just a clutch adjustment or clutch replacement at a tune of $800 for the parts, a tractor split with your labor or added hired labor.

What Wire are you talking about and what's their relation ship to pto. I don't reckon you have electro/hydraulic activated "independent PTO"... Do you?

Could the wires be part of a safety mechanism to kill the pto should you leave your tractor seat?... just thinking out loud


A picture might help.

JC,

 

[freddvm]

JC,
Thank you for your advice! I think you are correct in that I have a live PTO but I cant figure out the double clutch. I tried to haf clutch and shift the gear but was unable to do so. I could only shift the gears if the clutch was pushed all the way in.

I ran it again today after pulling off all old electrical tape and retaping all the wires. The PTO ran much better so I think there was a short in one of the wires to the PTO Shut-off. It still occasionally Stops turning if I go over big bump or if I make a sharp turn. If I stop push in clutch and cycle the PTO lever it will run again. Seemed to be worse turning right than left. Wierd! I think it may be another Short in the electrical system or a loose PTO engagement lever. Any thoughts?

I will take some photos of the wires this weekend. Aagain thanks for your advice. I need all I can get as I am a newbie tractor owner but having fun so far!

Fred

 

[JC-jetro]

JC,
Thank you for your advice! I think you are correct in that I have a live PTO but I cant figure out the double clutch. I tried to haf clutch and shift the gear but was unable to do so. I could only shift the gears if the clutch was pushed all the way in.

I ran it again today after pulling off all old electrical tape and retaping all the wires. The PTO ran much better so I think there was a short in one of the wires to the PTO Shut-off. It still occasionally Stops turning if I go over big bump or if I make a sharp turn. If I stop push in clutch and cycle the PTO lever it will run again. Seemed to be worse turning right than left. Wierd! I think it may be another Short in the electrical system or a loose PTO engagement lever. Any thoughts?

I will take some photos of the wires this weekend. Aagain thanks for your advice. I need all I can get as I am a newbie tractor owner but having fun so far!

Fred

Fred,

I see a bit of conflicting info coming back from you that make me wonder a bit. The fact that you can clutch halfway and are not able to shift is indicative of not having a double clutch. If you had a single clutch Then your PTO would be transmission driven with an internal one way clutch, in that way you must push the clutch in to either change gear or engage the pto.

Transmission driven or live PTO for 1715 is purely mechanical and can not see the role of wiring connection. Can you figure our where the wires go on both ends by tracing it. do the hook up to light to any sensors, lights or switches and such.

Although I don't see reference to having hydrostatic transmission option on NH website but Do you know if you have hydrostatic drive and maybe "independent' electro Hydraulic PTO clutch ? That may explain the wires and intermittent nature of PTO operation.

I bit some of the more learned folks here will chime in soon . Keep us posted.

JC,

FYI, attach you'll find a double clutch configuration. Yol have two clutch plate, two pressure plates sandwiched together. You have two input shaft one solid and one hollow with the solid inside the hollow. shafts are splined to respective clutch plate and work almost independently hence term "live"

 

[cnvread]

Similar problem.

After 4.5 years and about 400 hours of operation, my TC29D just started doing a similar thing this morning. Want to get the fields mowed before IKE's rains come. This is the two stage live clutch (I think). In my case the PTO lever is actually falling back out of engagement approximately 1.5" as it disengages. I can clutch in and re-engage with no problem, but after 1 minute or so of mowing, it disengages again.

Are there any thoughts on what an inexperienced tractor mechanic (but generally mechanically inclined DIYer) could try?