jml755
Silver Member
Bought a 3600 last week. Borrowed a brush hog to test it over the weekend. Everything was fine but..... Live pto clutch would not release. Could engage/disengage PTO lever WITHOUT an implement attached regardless of clutch action. Attached the brush hog and it would grind if you tried to engage it. Was able to mow about 5 acres by starting it with pto engaged until the shear bolt on the mower broke. 
Since I had the Oper Manual with me, I discovered that the clutch pedal free play was excessive (about 2.5"). I didn't have any tools with me to try adjusting it, so I'm going to try that this weekend. Was really bummed driving home from the property where it's at. But... trying to get my ducks in a row and plan for a worst case scenario, I've been reading the I & T Shop manual and browsing this and other forums and I've found this to be a pretty common issue. So... in case the adjustment doesn't do it, I'm probably looking at a split. The questions I have are: 1)Since only the PTO clutch appears to be STUCK, can you get access to it through the starter hole to spray some cleaner on it? Or poke it with a screwdriver or something? Can you even see it from there to see if it's frozen? Or is it buried behind the larger trans disk and pressure plates and inaccessible? I don't mind doing a little repair work in a field with no electricity/lights/work bench, etc. but I can't do a split there.
2) If I do need a clutch(es), is it worth it to buy the kits (cover plates, springs. release levers) or just buy the friction disks? Several hundred dollar difference, but is this one of those things where it's not worth the aggravation of taking the cover apart, resetting levers, etc.?
3) Any other things I should try this weekend?
Hopefully, the pedal adjustment works but this has been nagging at me all week. Thanks in advance.
Since I had the Oper Manual with me, I discovered that the clutch pedal free play was excessive (about 2.5"). I didn't have any tools with me to try adjusting it, so I'm going to try that this weekend. Was really bummed driving home from the property where it's at. But... trying to get my ducks in a row and plan for a worst case scenario, I've been reading the I & T Shop manual and browsing this and other forums and I've found this to be a pretty common issue. So... in case the adjustment doesn't do it, I'm probably looking at a split. The questions I have are: 1)Since only the PTO clutch appears to be STUCK, can you get access to it through the starter hole to spray some cleaner on it? Or poke it with a screwdriver or something? Can you even see it from there to see if it's frozen? Or is it buried behind the larger trans disk and pressure plates and inaccessible? I don't mind doing a little repair work in a field with no electricity/lights/work bench, etc. but I can't do a split there. 2) If I do need a clutch(es), is it worth it to buy the kits (cover plates, springs. release levers) or just buy the friction disks? Several hundred dollar difference, but is this one of those things where it's not worth the aggravation of taking the cover apart, resetting levers, etc.?
3) Any other things I should try this weekend?
Hopefully, the pedal adjustment works but this has been nagging at me all week. Thanks in advance.
