870 pto

[klog53]

my jd870 clutch will not stop the rear pto. Transmision works fine but the pto grinds when you engage or disengage. Is this adjustable or do i need a new clutch? Any advice apreciated.

 

[RoyJackson]

You can try adjusting the free play in the clutch...but I'm guessing you'll need a replacement clutch. 2 Stage clutches aren't cheap (about $1500 for the parts, I think).

 

[JimRB]

Here is my theory as I own a 870 that has sat in the yard for 13 years. You have input shafts that the splines of the driven disk slide on. Something rusts and the driven disk does not move as it should so it is dragging and causing some grinding. I have my engine at low idle. I depress the PTO clutch. Wait more than a few seconds for things to slow down and then engage. If things do not slow down after 20 seconds then you have a lot of drag. You do not engage the PTO lever at anything more than low idle and not until you have waited a little bit. There is no synco on that gear engagement that I am aware of.

When I did the clutch in my car I had rust from the driven disk where it rides on the input shaft. New clutch came with sticky grease which is kind of like Stihl bar oil and its tackifier. If I had a covered shop I would do all my mowing and split my tractor to inspect and grease the input shafts and pivots on the pressure plate. I have a bad reputation for starting some projects and taking a long time to finish. Weekend car paint job that took 10 months for example. Storm door that took a few months to install after fixing rotten subfloor and outer band. I still have not got the proper stain on the oak flooring I replaced. Too much time on the computer instead of working.

 

[klog53]

You can try adjusting the free play in the clutch...but I'm guessing you'll need a replacement clutch. 2 Stage clutches aren't cheap (about $1500 for the parts, I think).

Not only am i scared of weapons, i am scared of 2 stage clutchs. Think i will trade my trusty old 870, which i bought 20 years ago for perhaps a 3038e or a 3400l kubota. What do you think?

 

[beenthere]

Up to you to trade up.
But seems you can engage the PTO while engine is stopped, and then exercise the clutch more frequently to clean off the plates.
Or doesn't this work for you?

 

[RoyJackson]

Not only am i scared of weapons, i am scared of 2 stage clutchs. Think i will trade my trusty old 870, which i bought 20 years ago for perhaps a 3038e or a 3400l kubota. What do you think?

If you got 20 years on that 2 stage clutch (and how many hours?), you have nothing to fear...and the repair/replacement cost isn't bad, considering how long you've had the tractor.

 

[JimRB]

Not only am i scared of weapons, i am scared of 2 stage clutchs. Think i will trade my trusty old 870, which i bought 20 years ago for perhaps a 3038e or a 3400l kubota. What do you think?

If it was mine I would have it split for inspection and lubrication of the input shafts. For me my 870 works just fine and I have no need for anything new. If my clutches really mess up I will roll the tractor into the garage and kick something else. Split the case and figure out what is wrong.

By the way people use rope, hammers, baseball bats, shovels, hoes and picks as weapons. Some even use words as weapons.

 

[beenthere]

klog53
Question for you.

For the time you have had the 870, have you used the PTO a lot or just occasionally?

How many hours per year would you estimate?

 

[jd110]

my jd870 clutch will not stop the rear pto. Transmision works fine but the pto grinds when you engage or disengage. Is this adjustable or do i need a new clutch? Any advice apreciated.

When you push in the clutch, can you feel the second stage for pto? When pedal is pushed about half way down, you should feel pedal get stiffer. The second half of travel disengages pto. If you dont feel second stage or second stage is less than half of travel, then an internal adjustment on pressure plate is required to get more life from clutch. On 70 series it is possible but difficult to do without splitting tractor. Remove the two plastic covers from the front of tunnel area in front of shifter. On the right side of the clutch hosing is a screened cover held on with two bolts. Remove the screen and inside are three adjusting bolts that you can adjust if you turn the clutch to proper positions. Using a 14 mm wrench, loosen the jam nut on each bolt. then turn the bolt in until you get .060" clearance between head of bolt and clutch plate. Tighten the jam nuts and then try pto operation.
If the two stages of clutch feel correct and clutch still wil not release, the disk might be rusted to the pressure plate.

 

[klog53]

klog53
Question for you.

For the time you have had the 870, have you used the PTO a lot or just occasionally?

How many hours per year would you estimate?

have averaged over 200hr.s/year for 20years using the pto constantly

 

[beenthere]

That is a lot. Can't suggest that this clutch is rusted together then.

And adjustment as spelled out in hopes that is all that is needed. Next step some new parts, I'd suspect.

 

[JimRB]

4,000 hours is a lot different than my occasional use and maybe 500 hours. Looking at something newer might not be out of the question.

 

[rockyroadfarmer]

When you push in the clutch, can you feel the second stage for pto? When pedal is pushed about half way down, you should feel pedal get stiffer. The second half of travel disengages pto. If you dont feel second stage or second stage is less than half of travel, then an internal adjustment on pressure plate is required to get more life from clutch. On 70 series it is possible but difficult to do without splitting tractor. Remove the two plastic covers from the front of tunnel area in front of shifter. On the right side of the clutch hosing is a screened cover held on with two bolts. Remove the screen and inside are three adjusting bolts that you can adjust if you turn the clutch to proper positions. Using a 14 mm wrench, loosen the jam nut on each bolt. then turn the bolt in until you get .060" clearance between head of bolt and clutch plate. Tighten the jam nuts and then try pto operation.
If the two stages of clutch feel correct and clutch still wil not release, the disk might be rusted to the pressure plate.

JD110 - I have the same problem as the original poster. The tractor is new to me but has ~2300 hours on it. PO replaced the clutch just before selling it and didn't seem to use the PTO much. I tried the clutch pedal free play adjustment with no change in behavior. Then I read your post and one on another thread about the 0.060" clearance between the heads of those bolts and the clutch plate. The problem still exists. I can feel the 2 stages of the clutch. with the engine running and drive gear in neutral, I push the clutch all the way in and engage the PTO. There is a grinding noise if I have a PTO implement attached. The implement starts to spin due to the PTO being engaged. All the while, I've had the clutch pushed all the way in. The clutch doesn't stop the PTO from spinning.
Is there any other adjustment to the PTO clutch? This being a new clutch, which looks clean through the side access hole, I don't think there is a problem where any plates are rusted together.
Is there anything goofy the PO could have done wrong when installing the new clutch that could cause this problem? The guys that did it seemed like they had some experience with tractors and equipment, but were by no means experts. I haven't split the tractor yet.

Thanks in advance, any help would be appreciated. I'm assuming that grinding the PTO engagement every time is not a good idea in the long run.

 

[joecdeere]

If you need a PDF of the Deere Tech manual for the 870, which should cover this, shoot me your email

Joe