JM180 PTO Problem

donb1963 · Oct 2, 2005

Has anyone had a problem with the PTO shaft on their tractor just quitting? I was bush-hogging this afternoon and mine just quit turning after about 8 rounds. I checked the lever and it was engaged, thought it was a shearbolt on the mower but it was good. I disconnected the mower and the shaft still didn't turn after engaging it. I can turn the shaft by hand freely and i can hear what sounds like something broken or it's not engaging inside the gears inside the axle housing. I did notice that a lot of oil leaked out around the shaft after it quit. Everything else on the tractor works fine (gears, lift, etc)... How big of a job is it to tear into this to see what problems may be on the inside and how much problem is it to replace the shaft, gears, seals, bearings, etc that would have to come out once it is broken into?

bluechip · Oct 2, 2005

First the simple: Are both levers engaged? one by your right heal is main engagement, then speed selector has a neutral position too.

donb1963 · Oct 2, 2005

They seem to be.. The PTO lever is all the way down (engaged) and the speed lever is in high range. I drove the tractor on and off the trailer after this happened as well as around the yard to the front of my shop.

While mowing, I had my headphones on so I didn't hear if anything popped or not but I was mowing some tall grass with small diameter stalks coming up. This is nothing I haven't done in the last nine years I've owned the tractor...

greg_g · Oct 2, 2005

( They seem to be.. The PTO lever is all the way down (engaged) and the speed lever is in high range. )

If by "speed lever is in high range" you're referring to the Hi/Lo range select lever, it has nothing to do with the PTO. There IS a speed select for the PTO, on yours I think it's 540 and 1000 rpm with a neutral detent in between. But there also should be a PTO engage/disengage lever on the right side of the transmission, down behind your right heel. I can't remember for sure, but pretty sure there was no neutral position for that lever. You must have it in the engaged position, before the PTO speed lever will work.

If in fact you are actually referring to the PTO speed control as High and Low, what kind of mower are you using? I've never seen one that's operated at 1000 PTO rpm. In fact, I don't even think that's safe.

//greg//

donb1963 · Oct 3, 2005

I've never known about the speed control lever, where would it be located? The PTO lever does not have a neutral on it, it's either engaged or dis-engaged. I've ;ooled in the operator's manual and I don't see any reference to a seperate speed switch...

CSH · Oct 3, 2005

On the 254 the speed selector lever is to the right of and slightly behind the seat. It has a T-handle with 540 stamped on one side and 1000 on the other. As Greg said in a previous post, it has a neutral position, so maybe this has caused the problem.

johnk · Oct 3, 2005

Here is the location on my 224. Yours should be in the area.. Hope it helps..

donb1963 · Oct 3, 2005

Thanks to all who responded... I had the lever on all the way yesterday and it didn't work, I've cleaned it today and stepped on it hard with my foot and the shaft is turning. I lost quite a bit of oil yesterday, don't know if the seal went out or what. DOes anyone know what the best oil for the transmision and lift would be for this tractor? It's a 96 model and the dealer I bought it from (now out of business) said to use the same oil I use in the motor for the lift and tranny but I've seen too many other opinions on this board. I want to use a good oil and one that will not do damage as I've had this tractor almost 10 years and it's been a good one.

greg_g · Oct 3, 2005

( TDOes anyone know what the best oil for the transmision and lift would be for this tractor? )

Your 180 has separate sumps, so I don't recommend the "universal type" tractor fluids. Put diesel engine oil in the diesel engine, gear oil in the gear transmission/differentials, and hydraulic oil in the hydraulic system.

THIS THREAD should have what you're looking for.

//greg//

donb1963 · May 29, 2006

Just got a chance to start working on this PTO problem again and my tractor only has the PTO engage/disengage lever, I don't find a PTO speed control. The book doesn't show one as well. Mine only has a 540 RPM PTO on it based on th book specs and information provided to em by the selling dealer who is now out of business. It's the two wheel drive and is a 96 model... It's been an excellent tractor and everything else works on it, just the PTO all of a suddin quit. I do notice a slight "Squeek" when the clutch is pushed in and this started about the same time as the PTO stopping. Don't know if this is any correlation or not...

Don't know if I'll have to split the tractor for any possible clutch work or throw out bearing as well as to work on the PTO problem... Gotta try to get it fixed as my Ford 8N I got is knocking and will need an engine over-haul before I can mow with it.