L3710 PTO question

ghl · May 16, 2002

I just purchased a new 3710 with hydrostat and a 72inch mmm. I am super happy with the machine except for one little thing. In order for the mmm to run, I have to have the rear pto engaged. By the looks of the goofy little diagrams under the levers, you would assume that its one or the other......mid pto or rear pto or neither. I have a boom mower for ditch cutting and I dont want to be having to remove it, or disconnecting the pto in order to run my mmm. Is there another option as far as something that I could add to the tractor to get the fully independant pto, or am I hopelessly stuck here???

MrP · May 17, 2002

GHL,

That doesn't sound right to me. Personally, I have never used the mid PTO on my L3410. But it is my understanding that it is Mid or Rear or Both or Neither.

This should be the process:
1. Make sure the PTOs are both off (rear PTO lever next to the seat on the right side & Mid PTO lever near your right ankle).
2. Increase throttle to desired level (2500 rpms on my L3410).
3. Step on the Clutch (left foot).
4. Engage the Mid PTO
5. Release the clutch slowly.

The Mid PTO should engage regardless of the position of the Rear PTO.

Hoosier_Daddy · May 17, 2002

There is a post on the general owning/operating that says there is a separate lever for the Mid PTO on the 3710.... Tom

ghl · May 17, 2002

The manual has two options, concerning the mid pto, one is completely independant and the other is semi indepentant although they dont call it such. The thing that really bugs me is, that the rear pto will always run when the mid pto is engaged, but the mid pto doesnt run when the rear pto is engaged(thank goodness) The dealer doesnt seem to know anything about it, but they obviously thought something was screwy because of all the greasy finger prints on the pto section......brand spanking new tractor!!!!!!!!..........I got to see it in the crate even!! I wonder if any other 3710 owners have the same problem or option, whatever the case may be?
I love the tractor, aside from this little problem, it completely meets or exceeds my expectations
ghl

cisco · May 18, 2002

Interesting - glad you brought it up, as I had not read that portion of the manual very well (my L3410 and your 3710 have the same manual). So, seems to be an HST issue, and if you have a "without independent PTO type", then you must "shift the PTO gear shift lever and the mid-PTO lever to engaged position" to run mid PTO devices, the "gear shift lever" being the rear PTO lever per the diagram. Such does not seem to be the case with "independent PTO", as no mention is made of the "gear shift lever", just the mid-PTO lever, and it does not seem to apply to geared tractors, like my GST. There is a table re. PTO rpm's on the left hand bottom of page 43 in the manual - much clearer than the obtuse text. Thanks. I learned something (which, given my advanced age, I'll forget before sunset).

Oscar · May 21, 2002

I own a L3710 with MMM and have the same situation. The Rear PTO must be engaged for the Mid PTO to work. Not the best scenario but I can live with it. You can disconnect the PTO shaft and secure it off to the side while using the MMM. You can not run implements off of both PTO's at the same time as the manufacturer does not recommend it.

ghl · May 21, 2002

Thanks for the reply Oscar, it is good to know that Im not alone with this situation. How do you like the quality of cut that you get with the tractor and deck combo? It has significantly reduced our grass cutting time......2 airstrips etc!!!Do you have any idea as to what your fuel burn per hr is? Our machine is low time with only 10 or so hrs on it. Look forward to hearing from a fellow 3710 owner
ghl