L 3650 PTO problem

Ole Orange · Dec 12, 2016

well seems how there are a lot of guys and gals with way more knowledge about tractors than me perhaps they could point me in some direction.
Hooked up the snow blower today (3 point rear mount) and noticed that the pto shaft from the tractor I believe is slowing down then speeding up while the tractor has the pto engaged? this is a GST model
I don't hear any noise from the transmission but noticed clunking noise from the snowblower due to the speed change.
any ideas on what would cause this? thanks for any help

KennyV · Dec 13, 2016

Check to see that the PTO engagement cable is actually moving and that the outer sheath is stationary...

Ole Orange · Dec 13, 2016

Thanks,
I plan on looking at this tonight now that its sitting in my warm garage.
does anyone know if there is adjustment to the PTO engagement.

gwdixon · Dec 13, 2016

You probably already know that the clutch is two-stage. Depress halfway (or so) and the PTO disengages.

If you operate with your foot on the clutch, the PTO could be disengaging based on foot pressure.

There may be a clutch adjustment problem as well. Check it out. If you have a FEL installed, the clutch is a royal pain to get to. The FEL subframe has to be removed.

Not to be an alarmist, but the clutch on the L3650 can last as little as 1000 hours depending on how it is used. Mine died at 1100 hours about a month after it was sold (whew). It had been used for logging so the clutch got a lot of work.

rbargeron · Dec 13, 2016

The L3650 with GST does not have a dual stage clutch. It has a dry single disk main clutch, and has a wet shuttle further back.

The pto is powered after the dry clutch, ahead of the wet shuttle. For the pto there's a lever and internal linkage for gear selection/engagement, with foot pedal engagement by the main clutch.

If the pto shaft is slowing down, it could be the main clutch is slipping. Does it take up at the top of travel? (does it disengage as soon as you touch the pedal?) If so, clutch pedal adjustment should help. On the GST model, clutch adjustment is external and easy.

The thing is, if the pto shaft is slowing down from clutch slippage, tractor motion would slow down too. If only the pto shaft is slowing down it could be something simple like a sheared pin in the pto shaft. But it might be a problem inside the transmission, a bigger deal.

KennyV · Dec 13, 2016

The PTO on a GST Should be independent, (completely independent of any clutch) other than it's own hydraulic clutch...
Check the cable that controls the PTO.

Ole Orange · Dec 13, 2016

i did know that the clutch was not a 2 stage the tractor does not surge while in gear and that clutch seems fine, I posted on another post it almost seems to be free wheeling ahead of the push from the engine not even sure now that I have a problem only time will tell. I plan on using it gently to see how out goes. I also do not have a cable for pto engagement but a lever to the transmission.

thanks for all the help

rbargeron said:
The L3650 with GST does not have a dual stage clutch. It has a dry single disk main clutch, and has a wet shuttle further back.

The pto is powered after the dry clutch, ahead of the wet shuttle. For the pto there's a lever and internal linkage for gear selection/engagement, with foot pedal engagement by the main clutch.

If the pto shaft is slowing down, it could be the main clutch is slipping. Does it take up at the top of travel? (does it disengage as soon as you touch the pedal?) If so, clutch pedal adjustment should help. On the GST model, clutch adjustment is external and easy.

The thing is, if the pto shaft is slowing down from clutch slippage, tractor motion would slow down too. If only the pto shaft is slowing down it could be something simple like a sheared pin in the pto shaft. But it might be a problem inside the transmission, a bigger deal.