L3700 PTO Issue

[Recoveryhill]

I was finishing up with the bush hog a couple of days ago, disengaged the PTO and noticed that it seemed to still be rotating. I shifted it in and out a couple of times and it remained powered regardless. I shut the tractor down at low rpm, restarted and the PTO was disengaged. I suspected the cable so today I dismounted the top end and was able to get a fair amount of oil down the tube that carries the cable.

After reassembly I tested and the problem was still present.

I read a couple of old posts earlier this evening and it seems that even with a good cable, the control arm at the transmission housing has been known to stick. The cure reported there was to hose the shaft with PB Blaster, where it goes through the case. I will try this tomorrow but I still have a question.

If the control arm is sticking, why does shutting the machine down cause it to go to neutral?

Also, an observation: The safety switch is operated by the control lever and when the lever is in the neutral position, the switch is contacted, even though the PTO remains live and engaged.

I sure hope some penetrating oil will free up the shift lever........

 

[Gordon Gould]

After reassembly I tested and the problem was still present.

Also, an observation: The safety switch is operated by the control lever and when the lever is in the neutral position, the switch is contacted, even though the PTO remains live and engaged.

I sure hope some penetrating oil will free up the shift lever........

Hmmmmm..............

Hope you get it figured out

 

[Sammy3700]

Please post what you find. I normally mash the clutch to disengage the pto. This should allow any pressure on the gears to be released.

 

[Recoveryhill]

Please post what you find. I normally mash the clutch to disengage the pto. This should allow any pressure on the gears to be released.

I too depress the clutch pedal prior to shifting in or out and had never had a failure of the PTO to disengage. I'm going to get under it later today, poke around and hit the shift lever/shaft with some penetrating oil. I just can't figure out how shutting the engine down with PTO engaged, (lever in disengage position) would allow it to shift when it won't shift normally. I suppose there is some additional force to the mechanism that bumps it out of gear.

 

[GaryE]

I have had the same issue on my L3710. In my case it was not the cable but the shaft that goes through the side of the transmission. Try spaying the shaft with penetrating fluid. Have someone operate the PTO lever while you work the shaft back and forth. It may take a tap with a hammer to get it started.

 

[Chilly807]

With the tractor running there may be enough load on the gears that it won't disengage as easily as it will with the engine shut down.

Sean

 

[Recoveryhill]

Thanks Gary, that's the direction I was headed and will report back after I give it a go.

Sean, that makes sense and perhaps I was thinking just the opposite, for some reason.

 

[ccsial]

With the tractor running there may be enough load on the gears that it won't disengage as easily as it will with the engine shut down.

Sean

I agree.

I had the same problem on my L3400 when I first got it. Sometimes it would not disengage. Shut it down and it would then disengage. Once I figured out how it works I started to press the clutch in and move the lever at the same time. It works every time that way.

 

[Recoveryhill]

I had the same problem on my L3400 when I first got it. Sometimes it would not disengage. Shut it down and it would then disengage. Once I figured out how it works I started to press the clutch in and move the lever at the same time. It works every time that way.

Ha....the PTO disengage dance step. I guess timing is everything. I depress the clutch before I move the shift lever and that doesn't do the trick. Since I have yet to get under the machine and deal with the shaft/lever, I'll give your method a try, out of curiosity. I'd really rather have the machine function as it has since new though so under it I will go.

One thing that occurred to me is for a tractor manufacturer that plasters 40 safety stickers all over a new machine to provide a PTO shift kit that seems to fail all too often, is curious. As stated earlier, the safety switch doesn't function in this case because moving the lever fools it into believing the PTO is disengaged.

 

[ccsial]

Ha....the PTO disengage dance step. I guess timing is everything. I depress the clutch before I move the shift lever and that doesn't do the trick. Since I have yet to get under the machine and deal with the shaft/lever, I'll give your method a try, out of curiosity. I'd really rather have the machine function as it has since new though so under it I will go.

One thing that occurred to me is for a tractor manufacturer that plasters 40 safety stickers all over a new machine to provide a PTO shift kit that seems to fail all too often, is curious. As stated earlier, the safety switch doesn't function in this case because moving the lever fools it into believing the PTO is disengaged.

That's a good point. I suspect they would have a hard time defending an accident like that.

My L3400 never disengaged every time, even when it was new.

We will be looking forward to your findings.