A PTO puzzle. Wanna try and guess it?

[Dutch445]

it sure sounds like a loose wire or connector..
did the connector come off the switch?

or, isn't there a solenoid that engages
the mid pto? did that one have the connector
come off?

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Oh oh, the crowd is starting to get ornery now. I'd better give the answer before things get worse.

The problem was a sticking solenoid. On the 4310 there is a solenoid/hydraulic valve that engages the PTO clutch. I ran two wires (one fused) from the battery to the solenoid and it wouldn't click. That was my clue. I kept trying power on, power off, over and over and it started clicking a little, and then more until after a few more times, it sounded healthy again. I hooked up the connector to it, and it worked perfectly. Talk about a lucky break.

One comment about the shop manual - In their diagnosis procedure they have you start at the power source and measure voltages at a whole bunch of different points on various relays and switches that you have to hunt for and identify. Eventually, you eliminate every possible problem until you end up at the solenoid. In my case, I would have been way better off to start with the solenoid. I guess it could have gone the other way, though.

Thanks, guys, for playing along with me on this. I hope it was at least a little bit interesting for you.

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Hey Dutch, you were almost right on the money! I guess I was in the middle of typing up my answer when you posted yours so I didn't see it.

Tom

 

[Dutch445]

yea,
seat switch wouldn't allow movement or the rear pto,
and the rear did work, so it pointed to that solenoid..
or the swith that energized it.... glad you found it though!

now maybe the snow will stop and it will warm up!

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

now maybe the snow will stop and it will warm up!

I wish! the last two weeks if it's not storms, then it's lake effect. Where's the dang off switch? Seems like winter came about a month early this year.


JC - I guess you know by now that I did have the blower hooked up to the PTO and that wasn't the problem. Thanks for giving it a shot.

Tom

 

[mfreund]

I thought the best reply was the one that guessed you forgot to put on PTO shaft!!! I did that once on my X495 with the blower!

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

I thought the best reply was the one that guessed you forgot to put on PTO shaft!!! I did that once on my X495 with the blower!

Actually, the first time I tried it and it didn't work, I jumped off and noticed that I HAD forgotten to hook up one of the two driveshafts. If only that had fixed it, I would have saved a lot of time!

Tom