Kubota L3450 PTO Frozen

[cdleerskov]

I think my PTO is frozen. I push the clutch in and try to engage the PTO but all I get is a horrible grinding sound. With a little muscle and a quick motion I can get the PTO to engage but I am pretty sure the grinding means the PTO clutch is frozen. The book says that the dual clutch, which is what I think I have, has a inspection plate but I cant find the darn thing. I've read online that I should try to get the PTO in gear and then push the clutch in all the way, since the PTO won't stop when I push the clutch pedal all the way down, and drop it into a dirt pile or something to put stress on it to try to free it up. What should I have the RPM's at? 1500? 2000? Any ideas?? I don't know if it matters but when I got the tractor I had to adjust the clutch pedal because after putting the tractor into gear I would have to pull back on the clutch pedal to get the tractor to fully go into gear. I adjusted the clutch pedal and now when I put the tractor into gear and let off on the clutch pedal it works as it should.

 

[JimDD]

Just joined TBN forums and was browsing for just what problem you posted about. I recently bought an L345 model which may be the same tractor as yours but I am unsure. At any rate, I also am experiencing a similar problem. When I try to engage my PTO with the clutch depressed all the way I also get the heavy grinding.

Transmission does not grind so that part of the two way (tranny and PTO)clutch is functioning for me. According to what I have read the first half of travel of the clutch is for the transmission and the final travel is for the PTO. To prevent the grinding I just start the tractor with the PTO in gear.

But another thing I just learned about this tractor is besides having a circulating hydraulic filter on the right side below the hand throttle it also also has a suction hydraulic filter which is about seven inches long and about three quarters of an inch in diameter. It is under a cover kind of bump shaped on the left side of the tranny behind the footrest maybe about an inch and a half in size, with two bolt heads showing. This filter on my tractor was never serviced by the previous owner because he did not know about its existence. I am hoping this may cure my PTO grinding. In order to clean it though, the recommendations are to drain the hydraulic fluid out.

I just hate starting the tractor with the PTO engaged because I know that is not the safe way. I understand there is a plate to remove and make clutch travel adjustments so I will attempt that if the oil filter fluid change does not cure the grinding.

I will be doing this right after the first of the year and will share with you what I learned. If you discover another cure for our problem, please share.
Merry Christmas!

JimDD

 

[teg]

I don't know the answer... you said you adjusted the clutch for the transmission, is there separate linkage for the PTO that needs to be adjusted?

 

[JimDD]

Not sure either if there is a separate PTO adjustment. My manual only says a little about any of the clutch adjustments. For mine I will attempt to make some clutch adjustments after the fluid change and filter maintenance not curing the problem.

 

[rbargeron]

cdleerskov amd JimDD:

About the gear grinding - the pto clutch may be stuck but it's more likely it's just not being released by the linkage.

The clutch setups on the L3450 and L345 are different.

The L345 has a dry 2-stage clutch. As the pedal goes down the travel clutch disengages first , then the pto. The clutches are NOT separately adjustable so as the linkage is adjusted for travel clutch wear, the pto clutch goes out of range and no longer releases. The only fix is splitting the tractor and putting in a new travel clutch disk. Not a huge job - I've done a few and can offer some pointers

On the L3450 three clutch options were available. One was a two-stage dry disk type, similar to the L345 but with an internal adjustment to compensate for different rates of clutch wear - see the page below from the owners manual.

Hope this helps - Happy Holidays, Dick B

 

[MichKubota]

It does sound like the clutch disc is stuck to clutch pressure plate or fly wheel. This is common issue and why some recommend locking clutch pedal down (removing the pressure on the clutch disc) if tractor is going to sit for awhile.

You maybe able to break it loose with heavy/quick loading on the PTO.

My experience with two different tractors, they needed to be split and clutch removed to free the plates. Did this last year on a L3650. After taking apart the clutch it was clear that it would never have broken free.

The picture shows the clutch disc stuck to the pressure plate. The clutch disc fell apart when it was pried away from the pressure plate.

If you do need to split tractor, it isn't hard.
Good luck.

 

[dex3361]

I do not think the hydraulic flow would have an effect on the PTO operation. Some of the newer Kubotas have hydraulically actuated clutch packs but I do not think this is the case here.

First I would check clutch adjustment and adjust if necessary.

Second I would try is to hook up a load to the PTO like a mower or a rototiller. With the tractor off (not running) I would engage the PTO. When you start the tractor the PTO will be running so be careful. Sometimes all it takes is to block the clutch pedal all the way down and leave it running with the PTO engaged. The vibration and light load is often all it takes to break it loose.

If that does not free it up I would put the mower or tiller under load while its under load push the clutch pedal all the way down. I have seen this work a few times. Let us know how you make out.:thumbsup: