L2800 PTO Woes

[ccsial]

All is well. Got the tractor back yesterday. My dealer installed the newer PTO clutch and lever bracket as warranty work. No charge. They also did not charge me for pick-up and delivery. AND, they even washed and wax (ok maybe not wax) it.

Spent 3 hours on it yesterday with the flail mower and tiller. Works great.

That's good news. You have a good dealer to be thankful for.

 

[canoetrpr]

Thats a first class dealer!

 

[teg]

pax_tractor, Just trying to figure out what you actually had done by your dealer. You said at the start, you mentioned "awful clanking sound" and then you mention about getting a "newer PTO clutch". Is there a chance that you did not have a broken PTO but instead got the "fix" (Product Improvement Bulletin) that submerges the racheting cams in transmission fluid to make it quieter?? ...and that you still have the same cams?

 

[pax_tractor]

pax_tractor, Just trying to figure out what you actually had done by your dealer. You said at the start, you mentioned "awful clanking sound" and then you mention about getting a "newer PTO clutch". Is there a chance that you did not have a broken PTO but instead got the "fix" (Product Improvement Bulletin) that submerges the racheting cams in transmission fluid to make it quieter?? ...and that you still have the same cams?

After having my tractor for a 1.5 weeks, my dealer replaced the PTO clutch with the non-ratchet style one and replaced the lever bracket with a newer style. They also replaced some kind of push lever that activates the clutch. They it was worn likely from the cable being over-tighten. I can't say whether the PTO was broken other than I was having repeated problems getting the PTO to stay engaged. Oh, I can also see where they split the tractor because of the new gasket. So, I'm very happy with the outcome and the dealer - (Since 1927... Hugh C. Gardiner, Inc.).

 

[canoetrpr]

This is the first I've heard about a new lever bracket. Does that replace the cable? Could you post a picture or two? The rest of us would appreciate it very much.

 

[ccsial]

Canoetrpr: I've heard about this bracket. What I heard is that it changes the angle on the cable so it is less likely to kink. I have not seen part numbers for it though.

 

[8226hamer]

I was the original poster who had the PTO problems with my L2800 PTO. After having my tractor split twice and having the two different types of cams installed with less than 100 hours on the tractor and from what I was told by Kubota, I traded the L2800 for a new B3030. i have put about 200 hours on the 3030 and have not had a bit of trouble with it. I wish you all L2800's the best of luck, but my life is much better now that I don't have to worry when I engage my PTO. Kubuta has did their part in taking care of this problem for me. It took several calls from me, but the problem was taken care of.

 

[canoetrpr]

Hammer - welcome back. Haven't seen you here in a bit.

Did they ever get you upgraded to the 'new style' non racheting cams? Did you still have a failure after that? It would be worth knowing because many have gotten upgraded to the new style cams based on your experience and wit would be worth knowing that it fixed your original problem.

 

[8226hamer]

Hammer - welcome back. Haven't seen you here in a bit.

Did they ever get you upgraded to the 'new style' non racheting cams? Did you still have a failure after that? It would be worth knowing because many have gotten upgraded to the new style cams based on your experience and wit would be worth knowing that it fixed your original problem.

They got the new cams in to replace the old-new style, but my dealer,or Kubota made me an offer to trade my L2800 for a B3030. I felt that it was the best thing for me to do. I had to pay some money in difference, but it was a lot less than what the original offer was. I have used the 3030 with my tiller and have not had any problems.

 

[Elliott Wave]

They got the new cams in to replace the old-new style, but my dealer,or Kubota made me an offer to trade my L2800 for a B3030. I felt that it was the best thing for me to do. I had to pay some money in difference, but it was a lot less than what the original offer was. I have used the 3030 with my tiller and have not had any problems.

Hamer, I am glad to hear of your resolution. As a perspective buyer ($500 deposit placed) of an L-3400 HST (Serial in the 73,000 range), I read and re-read the posts on the PTO issue a number of times. I was always curious to know how your story ended... I am glad to hear that the new tractor is problem free.

I struggled with my decision to go with either a B7800 or a L-3400. I have ordered the tractor as a TLB (Woods BH-80X) so I decided to go with the heavier machine. I contemplated going with the DT version as the threads (regarding PTO) all indicated that the DT versions were not thought to be problematic. However, it seemed the HST would be better for my application. If a B-26 would have fit in the garage, I think I would have gone that route. I felt the Grand L would be too large. Anyway...

I have a few questions regarding the PTO on the L 2800 / l3400 tractors:

When you have a problem does it affect the PTO only? (i.e. if you are not using the PTO, does everything else on the tractor operate normal)

In my instance, can the PTO be checked without an implement for function and proper adjustment of the cable?

For folks that have tractors and are not using the PTO, what if anything should be done to make sure it works 2 or 3 years later when one may have a use for it?

Thanks in advance to all who comment.

 

[Harvest Moon]

Several other posts have refered to service bulletin PSB-2007-27 in regards to replacing the cable and bracket due to "breakage".

Bigballer posted some photos of the new bracket here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...e-off-cable-l2800.html?highlight=PSB-2007-027

Has anyone with the new bracket had any problems? Is it a good fix?

 

[RayMunising]

I'm glad Kubota did right by you Hamer. Kudos to Kubota for addressing your problem.

 

[ccsial]

Elliot: Everything else about the L3400HST is fine. I have 180 hours with no problems. In my case even the PTO is OK. Almost all my hours are using the PTO mowing and snow blowing.

The cable adjustment can be checked to insure that the lever engages fully. This is a visual check. Ask your dealer to check it. You can engage the PTO without an implement and see if it turns. If your dealer is a good one he should be happy to put a mower on it to test it before the BH is mounted.

If you don't use the PTO I would still engage it now and then just to insure the cable does not freeze up. I'd also lube the cable when you do periodic maintenance.


Al

 

[emmy71]

I will share my experience with the PTO not shutting off with everyone. I saw the cable on mine kinking and lubed it with one of the motorcycle cable lubers (Cable Luber), which by the way works very well on the cable. Just had to loosen the seat belt mount and swivel it out of the way, engage the PTO lever to allow enough room on the cable to install the luber, pull the rubber boot back, and spray the lube in. Forces the lube through the cable in about a second. However, the cable was not the problem. The PTO still would not shut off. I disconnected the cable at the transmission and operated the cable and it moved with no resistance. I then manually operated the lever on the side of the transmission without the cable installed and noticed that it was slow to return to its disengaged position. I don't know if the spring on it is weak or if there is some internal resistance on it, but it just gradually returned to the disengaged position. So what was happening when I disengaged the PTO with the cable was the cable was trying to push the lever at the transmission which was causing it to kink up top. When that happened, the lever at the bottom could not pull the cable. Now when I disengage the PTO instead of forcing the lever up top to the off position, I move it slowly and give the lever at the transmission time to pull the cable. I hope this made sense.

Terry

 

[canoetrpr]

Elliot:

Same experience as ccsial here. I've got 110 hours. A lot of that is mowing and snowblowing and absolutely no problems with the PTO. I lubed the cable for the first time about 10 hours ago and will continue to do so as part of normal greasing.

I am also on the old CAM style.

IMHO The weak points on this tractor are as well known as they are because it is an incredibly popular tractor. While we've agreed that the original PTO cams are not the greatest design, actual failures with them have been few and far between. That said, all newer tractors have the new style PTO cams.

The cable for the PTO and problems with it have been more reported than anything else wrt. the PTO. I wish it were a lever instead. Note that the L3240 also uses a cable operated PTO.

 

[teg]

I sure would like to hear from someone that has 1,2 or 3,000 hours on this machine ...and can honestly say "everything is fine"... yes, putting lube on the cable has "help" but it's not 100% (for me) and I worry so much about the PTO, that I shut the tractor off anytime I connect/remove a PTO shaft.

 

[RayMunising]

Note that the L3240 also uses a cable operated PTO.

While it's true both use a cable to operate the PTO I think WHAT the cable is operating to engage/disengage the PTO is totally different between an L2800/L3400 verses a GL3240. The cable on the L2800/L3400 seems to be moving a spring loaded shaft whereas the cable on the GL is engaging a hydraulic clutch. Based on Terry's experience it would seem moving the spring loaded shaft on the L2800/L3400 can be a taxing task for the cable and as you suggest perhaps a lever of some kind would be more appropriate for the L2800/L3400.

 

[canoetrpr]

Ray, no question. I think Terry's post was particularly interesting and helped explain what the root cause of the problem might well be. A lever definately seems more appropriate here.

 

[Ed_C]

Does the 3400 have this PTO problem or is it limited to the 2800? If so what's the serial number cutoff for the 3400?

 

[RayMunising]

Does the 3400 have this PTO problem or is it limited to the 2800? If so what's the serial number cutoff for the 3400?

Since no one else has kicked in here I did a quick search and found this:

"The over running clutches with problems was installed prior to serial number 57745 in the L2800 and L3400 HST tractors only. Kuboto has no real fix for the earlier models.
The PTO design after 57745 seems to be improved with no reported problems.
Posted by Marcussen"

I don't know how accurate that information is. Try doing some searches and maybe you'll find some more info on which serial numbers have what fixes or maybe one of the friendly dealer members will provide some definitive numbers.