Wow, can't believe I am reading this.
So about 2 months ago I could not get my PTO to engage, lever would not move no matter how hard you tried. Last time I used the PTO was last winter (2013) and it took some struggling to engage the PTO in order to use my cutter. The PTO has always been not so easy to engage, even since day one when I purchased the tractor new. Being a first time large tractor owner, I just assumed that this is the way it is. Bought the tractor new in 2008 and never had a problem with the PTO until 2014.
Had to have the tractor hauled ($500 cost) to the closest JD dealer and where I purchased the machine. Then I get the dreaded call from service manager that they would need to break apart the tractor in order to get to the problem area just to see what could be wrong - $1500-$1800 just to break tractor apart.
Then got the call that tractor was broke apart and the problem was found. The clutch housing is so rusted that the fingers that work PTO are siezed in rust. And of course, all the clutch parts are about worn out from working in rust environment. NO WAY!!
My tractor is barn kept, only has 260 hours, plastic still on the seat and never even seen the rain. So why is there moisture in my clutch housing? JD dealer could not answer my question and says only explanation is water got in there somehow - either driving it thru water, dumping it in the water or something else along these lines. I personally know exactly where this tractor has been since the day I purchased it new and no way it was exposed to water.
Now I am reading these post and it is very clear to me that the clutch housing is not a sealed unit. Only explanation of where water could come from with my situation is it must have happened when it sat on the dealer lot for who knows how long before I purchased it, collecting water.
My tractor has been fixed and I am being presented a $3300 repair bill. I am beyond pissed!! Even more so now that I am reading these post. JD has a problem with the design of the clutch housing on this tractor, that I do know now from reading these post. Shicker, was your tractor ever operated in the rain/water? Exposed to rain/water? it appears to me that these tractors are leaving the factory collecting water in the clutch housing.
And don't even get me started on other issues I have had with this tractor. I now believe I have a lemon. I have had oil getting into my water cooler and this happened with about 150 hours on the machine back in 2009. when they broke the tractor apart for the PTO problem, they discovered oil in the water cooler, AGAIN!! I have also had my front drive shaft shear off while driving in 2 wheel drive on pavement, had a new floor liner installd cuz the first one peeled up only weeks after I purchased it and the tractor has always made a loud clanky noise when hitting bumps. I now wonder just what in the world else could be wrong with this tractor.
When I purchased this tractor, I made a decision to go quality so I could have a tractor that would last me the rest of my life. I bought into the green tractor because I felt it was the best equipment on the market and I was willing to pay more money vs buying an orange machine. Now 8 years later I feel burned. I paid 45k for a POS!! Should have bought orange.
I am still waiting for the JD rep to call me to discuss my current dilema. I refuse to pay to have this PTO fixed and really in truthfully, I don't care to own this tractor anymore, I just can't...it has failed me now 4 times and I have zero confidence in this machine.