Broken PTO cable... 230 hours.

[ccsial]

I have found that when disengaging the PTO (cable is pushing, not pulling) it helps to move it slowly. It seems moving it slower allows the spring to pull the cable and disengage the PTO. Moving it fast bends the cable before the spring can pull it. Once it gets bent the spring can稚 pull it down. Since I have been moving it slowly I have not had any problems with disengaging the PTO, even in cold climate.
I did have the cable replaced once but I don稚 know if they upgraded it a newer style though.

Has anyone else had any success with this?

The PTO cams have a rake angle on them and disengaging with the clutch pushed in and the implement stopped requires a lot of force. I push in the clutch and disengage quickly at the same time. This way the implement is causing the clutch to unload and making it easy to disengage. I've been doing this for 270 hours and still on the first cable and the original 2005 bracket.

 

[Marcussen]

So, leaving the cover off was not a bad idea since there's not doubt I'll be at it again ...and again. I did notice that when I engaged the PTO by hand, the spring was really weak and it did not retract worth a hoot. I lubed it up a little bit with WD40 - really need to get some Fluid Film... and work on another method to engage/disengage it or maybe add another spring to help it retract. Open to ideas!!!

My guess is that kubota knows about it since I don't think I was charged for the bracket that came with the cable.

Kubota knows about the problem that is the reason for the new bracket, i think the idea of additional spring force may be part of the answer.

 

[daveinnh]

Well my L4310 HST PTO's cable broke today and the PTO is stuck on.

Does anyone know if Kubota redesigned this in the L 40 series?

 

[canoetrpr]

The PTO cams have a rake angle on them and disengaging with the clutch pushed in and the implement stopped requires a lot of force. I push in the clutch and disengage quickly at the same time. This way the implement is causing the clutch to unload and making it easy to disengage. I've been doing this for 270 hours and still on the first cable and the original 2005 bracket.

I've been doing exactly the same as ccsial here also on the 2005 bracket, original cable, original cams and 290 hours. Touch wood.l

 

[teg]

I've been doing exactly the same as ccsial here also on the 2005 bracket, original cable, original cams and 290 hours. Touch wood.l

My first question is do you use it much? Some people just don't use it that much. Also, Let me know if it breaks this week!!!! ..and do you have a replacement readdy?

Next question is I wonder if how they were set from the factory has anything to do with it? Maybe yours was set up better?

 

[canoetrpr]

My first question is do you use it much? Some people just don't use it that much. Also, Let me know if it breaks this week!!!! ..and do you have a replacement readdy?

Next question is I wonder if how they were set from the factory has anything to do with it? Maybe yours was set up better?

Who knows Murphy might strike just as I am getting ready to trade mine in for a Grand L4740 / L5x40.

I do use it quite a reasonable amount. I bush hog with my tractor regularly (every 5-6 days) and blow snow in the winter. Non PTO use includes loader work rake etc. If I were to guess at least half the hours are using the PTO. 150 is not a heck of a lot and I DON'T expect this type of a problem with this low hours but if the rest of you are running into it I better be prepared.

Something that might make a difference is that mine is ALWAYS stored inside and away from the weather. Not everyone can do this. Maybe exposing it to the elements causes some weakness in the design to show up prematurely.

Hard to tell really but given this issue is as prevalent as it is and it involves the PTO also not shutting off they ought to be more proactive about getting it fixed.

 

[ccsial]

Something that might make a difference is that mine is ALWAYS stored inside and away from the weather. Not everyone can do this. Maybe exposing it to the elements causes some weakness in the design to show up prematurely.

I store mine inside too. After snow blowing I wipe all the water and snow away from the top end of the cable. I also keep it lubed twice a year along with the suspension seat. I always do the prescribed maintenance too.

Mine has 320 hours and is used only for mowing and snow blowing. If the L3400 is started the PTO is used. I don't have a loader on the L3400. The 1910 gets that duty.

Shortly after getting the L3400 I did check to insure that the PTO cable allowed the cams to fully engage. I would worry a bit about rototilling with the cam setup. I don't think it is the most robust setup for shock loads.

This winter we had a big storm and the farmer across the street asked if could clear his gate area. I hit a tree branch about 3" in diameter. It took out the shear pin on the blower. At that point the PTO did not want to disengage since it no longer had much of an inertial load on it. I reved the engine up and down a few times and it disengaged. Once the shear pin was replaced all was back to normal. I finished that job with the 1910 and loader since I wasn't sure what else may be under there.

 

[canoetrpr]

Interesting experience ccsial.

I've dug some post holes with my L3400 also. Not many - probably about 30 or 40.

I've broken at least 8-12 shear pins on my rotary cutter and snowblower. Never had a problem disengaging the PTO. I guess I've just been lucky.

 

[teg]

I would have to say that broken cables don't come up much on TBN... maybe it's not that "news" worthy and people just replace it. Pretty easy to figure out what happen, even I figured that one out all by myself. :ashamed:

My Cable didn't have a bit rust on it (I'm sure by not lubing it the first few years, didn't help). It cut right where the stop was.

 

[Piston]

Thanks for posting this Teg.

I don't use my PTO too often and when I went to use it last month it wouldn't disengage. I had to get off the tractor and reach up with a screw driver to force the lever (that the end of the cable attaches to) to disengage the PTO. I figured it was from lack of use. My tractor has 600 hrs on it now. I thought if I lubed the cable it would work fine but now I'm not so sure.
I didn't realize this was a common issue with these tractors. Mine is a L4610. I may be in need of a new cable.