L3400 PTO Won't disengage

[rodrussell]

My L400HST PTO Sometimes will not disengage (stop spinning) with the lever move to PTO OFF. After cleaning, tightening, and lubricating both the mechanisms at both ends of the cable, I thought I had fixed it. A real knuckle-scrapper on both ends; with tight clearances. It worked fine for 5 more hours and 5 or 6 PTO disengagements. Then it quit again; when I was too tired to work on it and it was almost dark. Any advice appreciated. I'm sure it has to due with the cable adjustment.

 

[ccsial]

I just replaced the cable on my L3400. When it disengages the cable is pushing the lever on the bottom. It pulls it to engage. There is a spring on the lower lever. I lubed the lower lever when I had it apart. I adjusted it with the PTO lever engaged and then made sure the lower lever was at full travel. You DO NOT want it partially engaged.

My PTO has never wanted to disengage easily. I think the rake angle on the cams tend to keep it locked in. I always slow the engine down to about 2000 RPM and then clutch and disengage at the same time. You might try this if you have not. This works all the time. Last year when I broke a shear pin on the blower and there was no load on the PTO it took about 4 tries to get it to disengage. I believe having some inertia out there causes the PTO to overrun just a bit making it easier to disengage.

I suppose some internal problem could also be developing but I hope not. That would be expensive.

What kind of implement are you running on the PTO.

 

[rodrussell]

I just replaced the cable on my L3400. When it disengages the cable is pushing the lever on the bottom. It pulls it to engage. There is a spring on the lower lever. I lubed the lower lever when I had it apart. I adjusted it with the PTO lever engaged and then made sure the lower lever was at full travel. You DO NOT want it partially engaged.

My PTO has never wanted to disengage easily. I think the rake angle on the cams tend to keep it locked in. I always slow the engine down to about 2000 RPM and then clutch and disengage at the same time. You might try this if you have not. This works all the time. Last year when I broke a shear pin on the blower and there was no load on the PTO it took about 4 tries to get it to disengage. I believe having some inertia out there causes the PTO to overrun just a bit making it easier to disengage.

I suppose some internal problem could also be developing but I hope not. That would be expensive.

What kind of implement are you running on the PTO.

CCSIAL: Thanks. I using a 5' bush-hog. 5-6 years ago I was really pushing it to it's limit. Anymore I'm really just cutting the grass and weeds in areas I've previously hogged. This is the only PTO implement I have. I understand the cable pushes to engage. This leads me to think if I "adjusted it with the PTO lever engaged and then made sure the lower lever was at full travel" it would be less likely to disengage.

I have not (but will) "always slow the engine down to about 2000 RPM and then clutch and disengage at the same time". I usually depress clutch, slow to about 1200, the (attemp to) disengage. I really don't think it's internal. Every time I have been sure (after crawling out) that the cable was fully pushed; it was disengaged

Why did you replace your cable? Was it broken; or could have it just been stretched? that would seem to explain this. Also, when you replaced it did you first remove interferences (seat belt on top , cover under seat on bottom"? Thank you very much for the reply.

 

[ccsial]

Rod, My cable broke after 360 hours. Mine is a 2005. Actually the cable pulls to engage and pushes to disengage.

I removed my seat belt a long time ago since I keep my ROPS down. My land is flat so I don't worry about rolling over. If I left it up I'd damage the garage (I'm 68 and forgetful) and it is a pain to mow under trees.

The only thing I removed was the orange panel that covers the bottom/front area. There were seven bolts there. I also had to remove the 4WD lever handle. I tilted the seat forward to work on the lever end and back to normal to work on the lower lever on the transmission.

Al

 

[turfgrass]

I had a similar problem with my L3400 earlier this year. It is a 2007 model with limited PTO use. Then the cable broke one day when trying to disengage. When I ordered a new cable it came with a new bracket (top). So I replaced bracket and cable. I did not take off orange panel, only the seat belt. I figured I would try that and take off the bottom panel if I needed to---but did not. It has worked fine for the last 40 hours since replacing the cable. You may want to go ahead and replace cable before it breaks.

 

[ccsial]

I removed the panel for easy access to the lower PTO lever. I was able to put vice grips on it and hold it in the fully engaged position while I adjusted the cable to be just taught. If the cable is too tight it puts extra strain on it. If too loose the PTO may not fully engage. Too loose is probably more apt to cause serious damage. The panel only took 10 minutes to remove. It went back in quite easy too. I did everyting from topside.

 

[ccsial]

You may want to go ahead and replace cable before it breaks.

Good advice.

 

[mkane09]

It's a poor design. I had an L2800 that had the same problem. Kubota decided to use a cable to push a lever....a lever that will build up resistance over time due to the dirty environment it works in. There was a redesigned bracket that was supposed to improve leverage, but it didn't work any better than the original bracket. I got tired of having to climb under the tractor to disengage the PTO. It was certainly one of the factors that made me upgrade to the MX4700.

mkane09

 

[300UGUY]

I think you guys are engaging, disengaging the pto with too high a engine speed. I slow down to maybe 400 rpm, then engage or disengage. Easier on shear pins and clutches too.

 

[JohnQ]

I have an L3400 HST, a 2007, with only 160 hours on it, and I couldn’t get the PTO to disengage. I replaced the cable, but there was nothing that I could find wrong with the original cable. BTW, I bought this brand new. I appreciate the advice posted earlier here and will try disengaging it at a slower RPM.