L3301 PTO whine

[gshamilton]

Hello, new member here, first time post. I bought a brand new L3301 last year. From day 1 it has a very loud high pitch whine or squeal when the PTO is under load. I would describe it as metal on metal at high speed like a metal lathe. It does not make the noise if nothing is hooked up to the PTO and it is engaged, only with an implement attached. It is loud enough that I can barely hear the sound of the engine over the whine. Of course I called the dealer and he sent the field mechanic to my house to check it out. I assumed I had a bad bearing or a loose pin or something inside the PTO. He stated it didn't sound normal to him either and they should probably take it to the shop. Several days later I received a call from the shop manager stating they couldn't really find anything wrong but they were able to get the noise reproduced at the shop on the dyno and he thought it also was odd and they were getting Kubota regional involved. Several more days later the manager calls to say the regional guy says its normal and they run into that from time to time with the PTO setup on the 3301 and the 3901's. I asked if they had tested others on the lot and they stated they didn't have any 3301's at that time but a 3901 did also make the noise. They suggested I could trade up to a different model that has a different PTO design but I would have to go up into the 40 series at a cost of several thousand dollars. I find the noise very annoying and not convinced it is normal as this seemed to be news to the shop guys and they have been in business for many years. I can't believe that if they all do this that no one has questioned it before. The final resolution I received was just keep using it and bring it in for the 50 hour service and we can check it again and maybe it will get better. Well 50+ hours later it is still making the noise and as loud as ever. I have not had the 50 hour service done but I'm sure it will be the same answer that its normal. Has anyone else had this issue and is it normal or am I getting the run around?
Thanks

 

[diesel85]

Interesting. I'm looking at potentially getting a L3901 in a year or so.

 

[Fallon]

Odd, never had any particular powertrain noise on my L3200 with the PTO on. The HST was always the noisy part. The Lxx01s were just emissions updates to the Lxx00s, so powertrain should have been the same.

 

[Ortimber]

I think you are getting the run around. Myself and my father in law both have L3901s. The PTO is barely noticeable on either tractor no matter what implement we are running. The HST in medium and high gear can be rather noisy at times.

 

[mdhughes]

Is the L3301 a HST or DT model?

 

[Topesrule]

My 3301 never made any noise like that with the PTO engaged. The hydro whine was pretty severe, but having the PTO engaged never made it any worse.

 

[Gov23]

I’ve got and L3301 hydro and the pto is not loud. The hydro on the other hand whines like they all do.

 

[gshamilton]

Its an HST. I am not confusing this with the hydro noise. It is specific to when the pto is engaged under load.

 

[gshamilton]

HST model

 

[gshamilton]

FullSizeRender - YouTube
Here is a link to a video of the noise.