Backhoe John Deere 318 PTO light.

Hjfowler · May 8, 2017

Hello,
I'm having issues with my PTO light. When I turn the key to "on"(before I turn the tractor over) the battery light comes on and so does the PTO light. Then, when the tractor is at idle before being warmed up, the PTO light stays on. If I give it some throttle it goes out. Then, when I actually use the PTO, the light does NOT come on. Any ideas on how to fix this? I have new switch on order.

I should note, the PTO itself works as it should.

Thanks.

texasranger556 · May 9, 2017

Was there any event that led to the PTO light acting up? It almost sounds like the PTO light is swapped with the battery light based on the idle/above idle comment.

Hjfowler · May 9, 2017

Not sure. I just bought the tractor. The battery light does come on, too, before the motor is cranked. I bought a new switch to see if that fixes it. It's in the mail.

texasranger556 · May 10, 2017

In that case I'd start tracing wires. Here is one of the first Google Image hits for "Deere 318 PTO switch"

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/motoforge/2011-05-11_141724_318_wiring_diagram.jpg

Only one circuit closes when the switch is on, and your PTO is working. I'd guess the light just gets spliced into that circuit.

The light that stays on at idle sounds more like the battery light.

Does the wiring look hacked up?

Hjfowler · May 10, 2017

Doesn't look hacked to me, but I haven't torn into it yet.

When you say spliced, does that mean another wire was connected to the PTO wire?

Hjfowler · May 13, 2017

Funny story. So the lights were switched apparently, and the true PTO light was burned out. So when I turned the key to "on" that's why the PTO light looked like it came on, because in reality, it was the oil light that was switched with the PTO light. So, I got a new bulb, switchedthe sockets around, and now everything works as it should!!