PTO won't disengage

[crackenzag]

I have a jinma 204 and it seems that when I step on the clutch the PTO doesn't disengage. The drive wheels disengage, and also it grinds like **** when trying to engage the PTO with the engine running via the PTO lever and the clutch pedal pressed. I'm new with tractors so maybe I'm just not doing something right? Any advise? Thanks

 

[quicksandfarmer]

It sounds like your clutch needs adjustment. It's been discussed a lot on this forum, do a search.

Depending on how off your adjustment is, you might be able to get away with just adjusting the pedal. There is a bolt that stops the pedal when you push it all the way in. If you back that bolt out the pedal will go in further. Warning -- you have to adjust the clutch switch placement at the same time, back the clutch switch out so that when the pedal is against the stop bolt the switch just closes. If you don't adjust the switch placement you will crush the switch and break it.

 

[crackenzag]

So help me understand how this works. I've heard that these have 2 stage clutches? Like pushing the clutch in partially disengages the PTO and all the way in disengages the drive wheels? Or is it vice versa? It is that totally incorrect all together? I don't have any manuals or anything for this tractor so I'm pretty much left to figure everything out on my own.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Pushing the clutch pedal in half way disengages the drive clutch. Pushing it in all the way disengages the PTO clutch.

The way it works is there are two driveshafts coming out of the clutch pack, one inside the other, one for drive and the other for PTO. The PTO driveshaft is inside the drive wheel driveshaft. The clutch pedal is connected to the release for the drive clutch, and the releases for both clutches are connected, but there is some play between them. So when you push on the pedal the drive clutch release moves first, then when it has moved enough to take up the play the PTO clutch release starts to move. That amount of play is critical, and it is set by a gap between the clutch release fingers on the two clutches.

Right now it sounds like your gap is too big, so pushing the clutch pedal in all the way doesn't cause the PTO clutch to release all the way. Sometimes all you need to do is adjust the pedal so it travels further. I suggested that because it's a lot easier than adjusting the clutch gap. To adjust the clutch gap you're going to have to take off that loader you just put on because the loader mount plate covers the hole in the side of the transmission you use to adjust the clutch.

 

[crackenzag]

Thanks quicksandfarmer. That was the info I was after. If the loader has to come off then so be it. I just want it right. I'll have to see if I can find some info on adjusting the clutch itself. Thanks again

 

[oldballs]

It might also help if the engine rpm was turned way down....at least until your adjustments are made.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Thanks quicksandfarmer. That was the info I was after. If the loader has to come off then so be it. I just want it right. I'll have to see if I can find some info on adjusting the clutch itself. Thanks again

Here's a description:
Jinma Clutch Adjustment | Jinma Tractor Parts | Circle G Help Guides

This video is amateurish but gives an idea of what it's like:
how to adjust the clutch on a tractor, jimna 254 xl sl 2 tractor clutch adjustment - YouTube

In the written instructions I would add one more step: setting the clutch pedal stop. The pedal stop should be set so that when the PTO clutch is fully released the pedal is against the stop. The stop is necessary because if you push the pedal in too far you can damage the clutch, the stop is there to keep that from happening.

Once the clutch is otherwise adjusted it's easy to set the stop if you have a helper. With the engine off and the PTO engaged, twist the PTO output shaft with your hand while your helper pushes in the clutch. You will easily feel any clutch drag with your hand, you want the clutch to stop at the point where you no longer feel any drag.

Many Jinmas seem to come from the factory without the clutch adjusted, so these settings may never have been set. If the stop was never set that could be your problem. I didn't mean to imply that there was something half-way about starting there.

 

[crackenzag]

Ok so I got it figured out. The long bolt you can see in the picture with the double nut on the left hand side of it is used to adjust the PTO portion of the double clutch. There are 6 fingers that the throwout bearing contacts to release the clutches. 3 for the drive clutch and 3 for the PTO clutch. What I found was that when pressing the clutch pedal, the throwout bearing was never hitting the fingers that release the PTO clutch. They hit the drive clutch fingers no problem. But wouldn't hit the PTO clutch fingers to release the pto clutch. So using that bolt with the double nut (there are 3 of them) loosen the jam nut and tighten the other nut against the lever a few turns. You will notice that the finger moves closer to the throwout bearing. Don't go too far though because if you do, the PTO clutch will stay disengaged. Don't ask me how I know...

I did try to adjust the pedal for more throw before I did all this but couldn't get it to work so the loader came back off and I did this. Works flawlessly now. My guess is it's been this way since the tractor was new. I don't think the previous owner used the PTO much if ever. Thanks again for everyone's help.