TreeDreamer
New member
One my 3046R the PTO stopped working. It is activated by a switch, passing several interlocks, to a solenoid hydraulic valve, to a hydraulically actuated clutch, through some gears, to the rear- and mid- PTO shafts. I verified it was powering the solenoid so the next step was the solenoid valve. Using diagrams in the service manual and on the Deere.com parts page I located the valve body. It is just above and behind the suction filter which is behind the left rear tire. In the first picture I have the solenoid coil unbolted and hanging down. The larger (22mm?) nut built into the cartridge is how you remove it from the valve body.
The parts page just lists the valve body and only lists as a separate part the electric solenoid coil (John Deere Parts Catalog). The valve body is LVU802970. Looking at online parts dealers this is approximately a $950 part. I did not remove this valve but I did pull the cartridge (spool valve) from it. It is cylindrical and with the solenoid part outside the valve body with the solenoid coil doughnut around it and the hydraulic on/off spool valve inside the valve body. Here is the old one (with the nut that holds the solenoid coil on) and the new one in packaging:
Inside the cartridge is the only moving part, the part that the magnetic force of the solenoid moves and the mini spool valve that moves with it. It is spring loaded so that when the PTO switch is off the solenoid is not magnetic and a spring holds the internal part away from the solenoid end. When the PTO switch is activated (and interlocks all made) it pulls the spool valve to the left. You can see the effects of that moving in a hydraulic window that is open when activated and through the end of the cartridge you can see the hollow end of the spool valve. If it is stuck open, i.e., the solenoid isn't able to pull it open so the PTO never turns, you can take something small and non-marking and push it open against the spring. I'm guessing it moves 1/4" when pushed. The spring should close it again when you release mild pressure.
Mine was stuck so it required considerable force to open it, maybe 30# of force, and when it opened it was stuck open so the spring would not push it closed. I hoped that opening and closing it would free up the piece of debris or the gum that was holding it so I found a pick that would go into the hollow end of the cartridge and pull it back open. I opened and closed the valve maybe 100 times but it never got much easier and would never close from spring pressure. I had some chipper work to do so I left it open and reinstalled it so I could use it. I used the mid-/rear- PTO shift to disable it for transport, would stop the tractor and shift it to use it. Basically the PTO was on all the time.
Although the valve body, the only part listed at deere.com to fix it, was $950, knowing the cartridge was the only bad part I started search for just the cartridge. Googling the LVU802970 part found a (if I recall correctly) that same part for a Deere 2035 and on that part page it listed the part number for the cartridge only! That cartridge is typically $248 online which is a $700 savings. I found some aftermarket parts that may have worked but stumbled on that original John Deere part for $108. I'm cheap and saving almost $850 means something around here. It only takes maybe 15 minutes to remove and install it.
I have no idea what the dealer would have charged but I'm guessing a diagnostic fee, shop time, and the full valve body part cost. So anyway, if anyone has this problem maybe this thread will save them some service and parts money.
Mark
The parts page just lists the valve body and only lists as a separate part the electric solenoid coil (John Deere Parts Catalog). The valve body is LVU802970. Looking at online parts dealers this is approximately a $950 part. I did not remove this valve but I did pull the cartridge (spool valve) from it. It is cylindrical and with the solenoid part outside the valve body with the solenoid coil doughnut around it and the hydraulic on/off spool valve inside the valve body. Here is the old one (with the nut that holds the solenoid coil on) and the new one in packaging:
Inside the cartridge is the only moving part, the part that the magnetic force of the solenoid moves and the mini spool valve that moves with it. It is spring loaded so that when the PTO switch is off the solenoid is not magnetic and a spring holds the internal part away from the solenoid end. When the PTO switch is activated (and interlocks all made) it pulls the spool valve to the left. You can see the effects of that moving in a hydraulic window that is open when activated and through the end of the cartridge you can see the hollow end of the spool valve. If it is stuck open, i.e., the solenoid isn't able to pull it open so the PTO never turns, you can take something small and non-marking and push it open against the spring. I'm guessing it moves 1/4" when pushed. The spring should close it again when you release mild pressure.
Mine was stuck so it required considerable force to open it, maybe 30# of force, and when it opened it was stuck open so the spring would not push it closed. I hoped that opening and closing it would free up the piece of debris or the gum that was holding it so I found a pick that would go into the hollow end of the cartridge and pull it back open. I opened and closed the valve maybe 100 times but it never got much easier and would never close from spring pressure. I had some chipper work to do so I left it open and reinstalled it so I could use it. I used the mid-/rear- PTO shift to disable it for transport, would stop the tractor and shift it to use it. Basically the PTO was on all the time.
Although the valve body, the only part listed at deere.com to fix it, was $950, knowing the cartridge was the only bad part I started search for just the cartridge. Googling the LVU802970 part found a (if I recall correctly) that same part for a Deere 2035 and on that part page it listed the part number for the cartridge only! That cartridge is typically $248 online which is a $700 savings. I found some aftermarket parts that may have worked but stumbled on that original John Deere part for $108. I'm cheap and saving almost $850 means something around here. It only takes maybe 15 minutes to remove and install it.
I have no idea what the dealer would have charged but I'm guessing a diagnostic fee, shop time, and the full valve body part cost. So anyway, if anyone has this problem maybe this thread will save them some service and parts money.
Mark
