L3400 PTO grind

[fma1015]

When engaging the PTO on my Kubota L3400, I get a grinding sound. It does not matter if the attachment (mower) is attached or not, it still grinds. Can you help me figure out what to do?

After doing a little research, I did this and:

I adjusted the freeplay of the clutch pedal. I can get the PTO going without grinding if I let off the clutch pedal about 1/2 inch from the floor before moving the PTO lever over. If I get the PTO up to speed and push in the clutch, it grinds when I let it back out. Is there something else I can try, perhaps adjusting another rod down there near the clutch pedal rod that I did before where you loosen the lock nut and tighten it? There are other similar rods down there and one that goes the other way down below the one I adjusted does not move when depressing the clutch pedal.

Tractor has 288 hours on it.

Thank you!

 

[Billrog]

I could be wrong but my manual says to engage and disengage the PTO when the engines idling and clutch depressed.

 

[Oldpath05]

With only 288 hrs tractor must still look looks new and if not used much might want to pin the clutch petal down when not in use, the pin is is right there when petal is all the way down on floorboard.

There's only one clutch rod to adjust, max free play is about 1 inch when pedal is at top, I have mine 1/2''. There is one more adjustment for the two stage clutch engagement, think it's for to keep the clutch release at mid point, when clutch petal is at mid point it makes it possible to change gear speed without stopping pto. You should be able to feel a slight indentation when petal is at mid point.

That adjustment is on the right side, inside of bellhousing, have to take loader off, then loader mount, then take small cover plate off. For that adjustment, the 3 or 4 clutch screws are inside, feeler gauge required, it's a little more of a hassle from what I know, that's where an online shop manual would be really helpful. I haven't done that on my 2 stage clutch yet, it still releases at mid point with 1000 hrs. on tractor, so I keep putting that off.

What I do is with rpm's down, I push clutch petal in, sometimes the pto dont go in so I let clutch out a little then push back in, then I get a slight grind, then it goes right in. On mine I added 2 more gallons of trans oil to help slow drive train down, that also helps in shifting into gear when tractor is warmed up.

But now my issue is lot of times my tractor sticks in gear, have to push on brake, jerk the clutch petal couple times to get the clutch to release, the joys of the L3400dt....

 

[Oldpath05]

I could be wrong but my manual says to engage and disengage the PTO when the engines idling and clutch depressed.

Right as rain Batman................

 

[fma1015]

I still get a grinding at idle unless I move the pedal off fully depressed about 1/2 an inch.

 

[fma1015]

When engaging the PTO on my Kubota L3400, I get a grinding sound. It does not matter if the attachment (mower) is attached or not, it still grinds. Can you help me figure out what to do?

After doing a little research, I did this and:

I adjusted the freeplay of the clutch pedal. I can get the PTO going without grinding if I let off the clutch pedal about 1/2 inch from the floor before moving the PTO lever over. If I get the PTO up to speed and push in the clutch, it grinds when I let it back out. Is there something else I can try, perhaps adjusting another rod down there near the clutch pedal rod that I did before where you loosen the lock nut and tighten it? There are other similar rods down there and one that goes the other way down below the one I adjusted does not move when depressing the clutch pedal.

Tractor has 288 hours on it.

Thank you!

I always had tractor running at full PTO speed when I put the PTO in gear. I would do everything at full PTO throttle. I now know better. Could this rough use be causing it to grind when I put the PTO in gear or when I let the clutch out?

 

[teg]

There are "older" PTO Cams that will "Click" or have a "Ratcheting" type sound. It will happen if you have the PTO engaged and you throttle down speed.

IF it's really gut wrenching grinding... after you figure out the problem, change the oil and filters!

I used to have the instructions to adjust the PTO cable... I'll look for it to post.

 

[Oldpath05]

There are "older" PTO Cams that will "Click" or have a "Ratcheting" type sound. It will happen if you have the PTO engaged and you throttle down speed.

IF it's really gut wrenching grinding... after you figure out the problem, change the oil and filters!

I used to have the instructions to adjust the PTO cable... I'll look for it to post.

Before you look to hard, I think the OP is talking about the L3400dt vs HST, no cable, has a pto lever.

 

[teg]

Before you look to hard, I think the OP is talking about the L3400dt vs HST, no cable, has a pto lever.

It's HST... been following from another board OTT... (third post down)

L3400 PTO grind - OrangeTractorTalks - Everything Kubota

 

[Oldpath05]

It's HST... been following from another board OTT... (third post down)

L3400 PTO grind - OrangeTractorTalks - Everything Kubota

Guess your right, but begs the ????????????? OP, post 1>("I adjusted the freeplay of the clutch pedal. I can get the PTO going without grinding if I let off the clutch pedal about 1/2 inch from the floor before moving the PTO lever over.") <<<<<Why what where is he adjusting a clutch pedal on a HST?

 

[teg]

Little rough but here they are...

View attachment 526137

 

[teg]

....Why what where is he adjusting a clutch pedal on a HST?

The clutch is needed for the PTO to enguge on either model... definitely not out of the question.

For the OP, when you do this (since I had to) it will scare the crap out of you finding the correct spot!!! Hearing the Grinding is not a good sound.

 

[Oldpath05]

The clutch is needed for the PTO to enguge on either model... definitely not out of the question.

For the OP, when you do this (since I had to) it will scare the crap out of you finding the correct spot!!! Hearing the Grinding is not a good sound.

Never would guess that, a clutch pedal on a HST. Just incase your board, are/do all HST tractors have a clutch pedal for a pto or is that L series thing?

 

[teg]

...or is that L series thing?

No, it's a "standard" thing (read that as economical / basic / bare bones HST tractor). The only reason I use it is to engage the PTO (I flip it to the off postion without hitting the clutch).

 

[varmint]

Yep, the clutch is there for the PTO. L3400's are known for fussy PTO adjustments, I believe. I have never actually used mine, although the previous owner did, since all he used the tractor for was mowing. I checked it, and it works, but nothing beyond that. Good luck in getting it right!

 

[Fallon]

No, it's a "standard" thing (read that as economical / basic / bare bones HST tractor). The only reason I use it is to engage the PTO (I flip it to the off postion without hitting the clutch).

I did the same on my L3200hst. Clutch to start, extra overkill safety as it had the go pedal interlock too. And cluch to start up the PTO. Never had a problem poping the PTO off without the clutch, but I was never under load when I did it. Hit the clutch a couple times when the mower hit something. I prefer the button/knob electro-hydraulic setup with no clutch pedal at all on my new L4060, but not by a lot.

 

[fma1015]

Help please.I think this is a PTO lever adjustment issue. The PTO will engage (with some grinding) only if I push the lever forward some and even then it won't stay engaged. It looks like it could be adjusted below the lever. I don't know if I want to raise or lower the part with threads that has the two nuts to tighten up the cable. Do you know if I want this to go up or down?

 

[Fallon]

Help please.I think this is a PTO lever adjustment issue. The PTO will engage (with some grinding) only if I push the lever forward some and even then it won't stay engaged. It looks like it could be adjusted below the lever. I don't know if I want to raise or lower the part with threads that has the two nuts to tighten up the cable. Do you know if I want this to go up or down?

If things are grinding when you move the lever is not the lever or adjustment (which may be a separate issue). I really hope you skipped over mentioning properly clutching, as not using the clutch means you have been doing naughty things to those gears.

Make sure everything is at a complete stop. Fully depress the clutch. Wait a few seconds for anything else in the transmission to come to a stop. If you still get grinding, your clutch isnt properly adjusted & things are spinning when they shouldn't be.

If you haven't been clutching properly, change the hydraulic fluid & hope there isnt a lot of metal chunks or sparkly bits (really small metal pieces) in it.

Kubotabooks.com go grab the appropriate workshop manual

 

[fma1015]

L34 PTO Grind A - YouTube

Here is the sound video. The PTO is in the engaged (on) position.

 

[fma1015]

The PTO grinds on my L3400. I just tightened the cable all the way and it went from mild grind to heavy grind with a slight turning of the PTO. Do you think replacing the cable is the next step? Thank you.