L3400 pto frozen in gear

[ChuckLaB]

How do I get my PTO to work again? Seems to be stuck in gear - gears grind if try to engage the yellow PTO handle.

Background: My Kubota L3400 had sat unused for 2 years. Once running again (started on first crank once battery recharged - this little engine is so strong), I had to first get the clutch disengaged. (I hadn't used the spring/pin thing on the clutch pedal to keep the clutch plates apart while parked - after this, I ALWAYS will use that) To fix, I left the clutch pedal locked down and rocked the rear wheels while in high gear - did this daily and after 3 days the clutch released! Hooray, that's fixed.

But now found a second problem: The PTO seems to be stuck in gear. Gears grind if try to move the PTO engagement handle into gear. (Will go into gear if engine stopped, but then can't start it because of the safety switches (which I can't locate - where are they?)

So ... Any ideas on how to free up a stuck-in-gear PTO?

 

[LD1]

First of all, are you pushing the clutch ALL THE WAY to try and engage the PTO?

 

[Fxfymn413]

The PTO seems to be stuck in gear.

Stuck in gear or stuck out of gear? Your post says both.

If it's not possible to engage it can you turn the PTO shaft by hand? It should turn freely with the tractor off.

 

[ChuckLaB]

First of all, are you pushing the clutch ALL THE WAY to try and engage the PTO?

Thanks for asking. Yes, pushing clutch pedal all the way, holding it down. Everything in neutral. Then when try to pull yellow handle to engage PTO, the gears grind. With time waiting, or after engaging various gears (engine on or off) trying to see if I can get the gears to slow or stop, there appears to be no change in the speed of the gears/engine when the PTO handle is pulled. Grinds every time, always at the same apparent rpm.

 

[LittleBill21]

most switches are simple push bottoms that touch the levers themselves, should be under the wheel well, out in the open

 

[ChuckLaB]

Stuck in gear or stuck out of gear? Your post says both.

If it's not possible to engage it can you turn the PTO shaft by hand? It should turn freely with the tractor off.

Thanks for asking.

Stuck in gear, I guess. Apparently gears are turning somewhere, because every time I try to pull yellow PTO handle to engage it (with clutch fully depressed and held down), the gears grind. Every trick I try - double clutching, different gears, implement connected or disconnected, whatever I try, the spinning gears grind when I try to engage the PTO.

Note: if put tranny in neutral (with either Hi/Low selector or 4-speed selector, the PTO can be engaged (the lever moves into place), but then of course it's in neutral, so Bush Hog won't spin up when clutch is released.

Your second question: Yes, with tractor off the PTO spindle spins freely. (Though I seem to hear some faint rubbing noises internally that I don't recall hearing in the past.) What does this mean exactly?

 

[ChuckLaB]

most switches are simple push bottoms that touch the levers themselves, should be under the wheel well, out in the open

Thanks for answer. I can see/find the other switches (gear shift lever for instance), but the PTO yellow handle, once it goes under the floor, seems to attach directly into the transmission. I don't see a switch. (Going out to look again though.)

 

[LittleBill21]

Thanks for answer. I can see/find the other switches (gear shift lever for instance), but the PTO yellow handle, once it goes under the floor, seems to attach directly into the transmission. I don't see a switch. (Going out to look again though.)

maybe inside, prolly need a wire diagram

 

[newbury]

Messicks has online parts diagrams. Kubota does also but I don't know the links.

 

[ChuckLaB]

Thanks for answer. I can see/find the other switches (gear shift lever for instance), but the PTO yellow handle, once it goes under the floor, seems to attach directly into the transmission. I don't see a switch. (Going out to look again though.)

Follow up - after checking again, the PTO handle goes directly into the transmission. No switch attached to the lever itself. However, near where it goes into the tranny, a few inches over, are two items tapped into the side of the tranny that possibly look like sensors (they have two wires going into each one). Wondering: Is it possible to disconnect the two leads on each sensor and then connect each set together, to bypass the safety switch?