New Kubota 3901 PTO running in both the engaged and disengaged setting

[CindyCRNA]

I was mowing today and went to get off to move something and the tractor shut down. I thought I had neglected to disengage the PTO and had tripped the seat shut off. A quick google search did not help so I called my dealer. He said while pushing the PTO lever to the disengaged setting firmly and I got it restarted but the PTO continued to run in both the engaged and disengage setting. So I didn't get off the tractor for 5 hours! I am assuming this will be a service call. What is the fix? I have owned it a year and it has 45 hours on it.

 

[old and tired]

Do you hit the clutch when you disengage the PTO? I'll flip mine off but unless the RPM's are changed or I hit the clutch, the PTO will still stay "On"...

 

[Roadworthy]

My local Kubota mechanic strongly recommends depressing the clutch before disengaging the PTO to prevent undue wear of the gears.

 

[CobyRupert]

Is it really “engaged” or is it just “spinning”. That is, if something was connected to it, is there any real torque?
Though, I guess if it’s engaged enough that the safety switch is still activated, it’s probably really engaged.

 

[chim]

Not sure how yours works. On the L3200 I had there was a sticking cable / gadget under the tractor that was fixed really fast with some lube.

 

[Grandad4]

Not sure how yours works. On the L3200 I had there was a sticking cable / gadget under the tractor that was fixed really fast with some lube.

Was just going to make the same point. The PTO cable mechanism is not something that gets "reinvented" every time a new model comes out. It's pretty foolproof IF it remains lubricated so dust, grass clippings, etc., doesn't bind it up. I always gave mine a shot of spray lube every few months.

 

[CindyCRNA]

Is it really “engaged” or is it just “spinning”. That is, if something was connected to it, is there any real torque?
Though, I guess if it’s engaged enough that the safety switch is still activated, it’s probably really engaged.

Oh no, I mowed for 5 hours with it disengaged.

 

[CindyCRNA]

Was just going to make the same point. The PTO cable mechanism is not something that gets "reinvented" every time a new model comes out. It's pretty foolproof IF it remains lubricated so dust, grass clippings, etc., doesn't bind it up. I always gave mine a shot of spray lube every few months.

I called the dealer today and they said the same thing. I just got done mowing 4 1/2 acres of weeds that were 8' tall and loaded with pollen so t\I bet thats what it is.

 

[CindyCRNA]

So how does one clean this cable? Do I just follow it to the transmission and clean and lube it? Is it obvious once I get under there?

 

[old and tired]

Hst you have to remove the cover under the seat... a few photos... You pull the rubber boot back and fill it up with lube on both ends... I would also lube the spring, too...

 

[crashz]

Mine gets stuck right at the lever. I can feel the cable bow when its disengaged, so I now fiddle with it and it disengages. I've lubed it with some dry lubricant and it seemed to help, but the more its used, the less it will stick.

BTW - its not the only cable I have had issues with. The tach cable snapped at the drive end this past spring.