PTO Handle won't engage on TC35DA

[frdtrukman]

I was mowing the other day and someone drove up. I shut the tractor off without disengaging the PTO. When I went to start up again I first disengaged the PTO and then started the tractor and went to re-engage and I couldn't budge the handle. I was afraid I was going to bend the handle. I got underneath but couldn't see anything that was binding.

Anybody have any ideas?

 

[BarnStangz]

I was mowing the other day and someone drove up. I shut the tractor off without disengaging the PTO. When I went to start up again I first disengaged the PTO and then started the tractor and went to re-engage and I couldn't budge the handle. I was afraid I was going to bend the handle. I got underneath but couldn't see anything that was binding.

Anybody have any ideas?

Is this mid-pto or read pto? What impliment(s) do you have hooked up? Did you try pushing in the clutch and rock the lever back and forth? Maybe you can try jumping the starter to get it running, or move the safety switch out of the way (if it's mid pto) then maybe it'll start. I know on my TC34DA you can slide the mid-pto safety switch away from the lever and it won't make contact with the switch. I know some times with my rear-pto I have to give the lever a good bop or bangin with my hand to get it to engage. If you searsh for pto and spring you'll find others who have replaces the spring inside that has made for better lever engagment. I have not got around to installing the spring in my TC34DA yet... I'm sure another TBN'er will chime in to help... I wish I could be more helpful...

Max

 

[frdtrukman]

I had the bush hog hooked up at the time. The tractor restarted without incident. I just couldn't get the PTO handle to engage. It was stuck. I gave it a little adjustment with a rubber hammer but I was afraid I would break the handle so I stopped. BTW it is the rear pto. I had read where others could not get their tractors started afterward but that wasn't my problem. Mine started and ran fine just no more mowing for the day.

 

[jinman]

I had the bush hog hooked up at the time. The tractor restarted without incident. I just couldn't get the PTO handle to engage. It was stuck. I gave it a little adjustment with a rubber hammer but I was afraid I would break the handle so I stopped. BTW it is the rear pto. I had read where others could not get their tractors started afterward but that wasn't my problem. Mine started and ran fine just no more mowing for the day.

Your PTO is controlled completely by hydraulic pressure. The PTO lever it attached directly to the PTO clutch control valve and just opens or closes the valve. If you have binding of the control handle, there could be a binding somewhere or corrosion inside a pivot, but the valve should operate easily.

The valve is directly below the seat. To get to it, you have to remove the seat and seat bracket. There will be a square opening below the seat bracket. The PTO control valve is right there with the shaft coming from the lever on the left side of the valve. You can remove the rollpin from the shaft collar and then see if the lever operates. If it does, then the problem is inside the valve. If it does not rotate, the problem is mechanical binding before the control valve.

This valve also has a relief setting that controls how much pressure goes to the PTO clutch, but it should not be adjusted without a pressure gage and the written adjustment procedure from the Repair Manual. Since you said your PTO is working when engaged, this is probably not the problem. I think you probably have binding of the mechanical linkage, but it could be the valve is locked up.

If all this disassembly is too much for you, or if your tractor is still in warranty, I'd check with my dealer before doing anything. They see lots of tractors and may have an easier solution.

 

[jinman]

Did you try pushing in the clutch and rock the lever back and forth?

Max, our class III Boomers have a PTO that is quite different from the class II tractors. Yours is completely mechanical, gear-to-gear engagement. Ours is engaged by a hydraulic clutch/brake dedicated to the PTO. Our tractors have no regular clutch at all, only brake pedals and hydro pedals

 

[BarnStangz]

Max, our class III Boomers have a PTO that is quite different from the class II tractors. Yours is completely mechanical, gear-to-gear engagement. Ours is engaged by a hydraulic clutch/brake dedicated to the PTO. Our tractors have no regular clutch at all, only brake pedals and hydro pedals

I had a feeling I was off. Jinman, thanks for the schooling, now I know! I lean so much on this forum, I hope I can pass it on some time... Interesting how the Class III have a different engagement method, I wonder why they did that... oh well. Thank again!

Max

 

[frdtrukman]

Thanks Jinman,

Next time I'm down there I'll check it out. I got under the tractor but wasn't prepared to take the clip off the lever. It was really hot and fire ants were mad too. I'll try it in the barn next time. The weird thing was that it had worked flawlessy all day until shutting it down prematurely. Hopefully, it's not an expensive lesson.

BTW this forum is awesome!!!

 

[jinman]

Thanks Jinman,

Next time I'm down there I'll check it out. I got under the tractor but wasn't prepared to take the clip off the lever. It was really hot and fire ants were mad too. I'll try it in the barn next time. The weird thing was that it had worked flawlessy all day until shutting it down prematurely. Hopefully, it's not an expensive lesson.

BTW this forum is awesome!!!

To have the best chance to view your PTO lever and pivot points, you can look from behind the tractor between the left rear wheel and running gear. It's really not best to view it from the bottom looking up.

If you want the best view, jack up the left rear tire and take it off carefully. You'll be able to look right into the mechanism and also see the PTO control valve on the top of the running gear. It will be very dirty and probably filled with debris. That's the way the top of my running gear always looks until I rinse it off with a hose.

I cannot understand why the control valve would lock because you shut the tractor down. Your PTO control valve routes about 250 PSI oil to the PTO clutch to hold it engaged. After hydraulic pressure drops when the tractor is off, there should be no pressure at all. My PTO lever works very easy with the tractor running or off. Do you think there might be a stick wedged in the linkage somehow?

My MFWD lever is tough to operate sometimes, but my PTO lever is always smooth. I'm just really surprised by your symptoms.

 

[frdtrukman]

Thanks again, Jinman!!!!

I'll take a look when I'm down in Blanco again. It will probably be a couple of weeks before I can get down there again. I see you're up in Wise County. I live in Arlington and work in Fort Worth. It seems the good information comes from close to home. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[frdtrukman]

Update: If I held a crescent wrench against the upper handle the pto would engage. So, the actual switch it okay and the junction where the handle attaches to the rod appears okay. It appears that where the rod attaches to the switch is the problem. The service guy at Landmark Equipment told me that if the junction gets wet it will rust in place and make it difficult to move the handle. He suggested spraying lubricant on the junction and giving it a little adjustment on the top of the head as they say. I'll try that the next time I'm down at the property. Thanks for all the help.