JD 4300 PTO shift lever pin sheared

beenthere · Sep 27, 2020

Shifting lever for the PTO clutch sheared the roll (spring) pin when disengaging clutch, leaving the PTO running the brush hog. Left it running to return to the shed, because shutting off the engine means cannot re-start with PTO engaged.

Removed right rear tire, fender, and cover over the linkages.
Removed the broken spring pin and replaced. Pic shows the parts disassembled.
Reassembled and made note of how to release the PTO clutch if this happens again (without removing wheel and fender).

Last pic shows the PTO lever seen from the rear, that can be disengaged without removing the right rear tire and fender. That will at least allow the tractor to start and run.

ruffdog · Sep 27, 2020

It looks like in picture 3 that the roll pin was not all the way through both pieces. Was that the case? If it was, it would only have to shear the pin at one shear point, not two. :confused3:

beenthere · Sep 28, 2020

Before pic three taken, I managed to use the dikes to grab one broken end of the roll pin and it came out. Both ends were visible on first look.

The clutch pack has at times been very difficult to disengage, meaning a very hard pull back on the PTO lever is necessary.
Not sure why, but reading up on this early model 4300 there may be a problem with the clutch pack. Something about steel blocks used in the forks.

I don't want to have to dive in there to change it out, but thinking that may be a future adventure.

Olsen · Sep 28, 2020

I had this problem also.
Had the same problem with the range selector.
My problem was rust on each shaft that caused to much fiction when the transmission case.
I took the top of the transmission off and polished the shaft and coated with grease.

Second thought, it was the range selector and the feedback linkage for the 3pt.
Just something to consider that the shaft might be sticking.

rekees4300 · Sep 28, 2020

When disengaging the PTO is it normal to be difficult to pull the lever back? I've always had difficulty doing that and as the years pass it seems to be becoming more difficult. It has reached to point I fear breaking the lever!

ruffdog · Sep 28, 2020

rekees4300 said:
When disengaging the PTO is it normal to be difficult to pull the lever back? I've always had difficulty doing that and as the years pass it seems to be becoming more difficult. It has reached to point I fear breaking the lever!

Try spraying penetrating oil on linkage pivots and especially where the shafts go into the trans case. It is the one reason for many tractors to lose their nice lever action over time.

Also: There are HD coiled spring pins that can replace the normal slotted roll pin:
McMaster-Carr

beenthere · Sep 28, 2020

ruffdog
Thanks for the tip.. I will do the penetrating oil especially on the shaft entering the trans. case. Can easily reach that point from the rear.. Also, will do the HD coiled spring pins if the present pin doesn't hold.

I also will be adding some John Deere Friction Modifier oil additive TY27807 to the hyd. oil in hopes that it will free up the hard "disengaging" of the PTO clutch.
This modifier is used in the JD gator tranny to reduce the braking noise. A few posts on TBN of using it, and have a bottle on order for my 4x2 gator.
Experimental stage to see if there is any positive effect on the PTO clutch.

Access to the PTO clutch engagement shaft entering the trans case.

rekees4300 · Sep 28, 2020

ruffdog said:
Try spraying penetrating oil on linkage pivots and especially where the shafts go into the trans case. It is the one reason for many tractors to lose their nice lever action over time.

Also: There are HD coiled spring pins that can replace the normal slotted roll pin:
McMaster-Carr

Thanks ruffdog, I will try the oil but coiled spring pins are beyond my skills. :thumbsup: