MF TO 30 PTO problem

64guruman · Jan 11, 2014

Hi All, I am looking at what is supposedly a MF TO 30 that has a problem with the PTO engaging. The lever on the side wil hardly move and it grinds as you try to engage it with the clutch al the way depressed. The guy says he and his back yard mechanic pulled the PTO shaft and bearings and they looked brand new. (Local tractor repair told him to check that). They said it could also be a roll pin that has fallen out some on the shaft inside and is blocking the lever. Any insite would be appreciated as I am supposed to give my answer ( I am trading and 89 GMC vandura for it possibly) by Monday. The tractor reminds me some of me grann dads old Massey Harrison and I am quite interested in it but am leary of getting into too much PTO/CLUTCH work right off the bat. The 3pt lift seems to work. The only other things it appears to need are a carburator choke baffle reinstalled in the carb and a new start button, his didn't work and he has been jumping it with a screwdriver. Seems to have good compression coming out the exhaust. Any assistance or warnings are welcome.

The kid · Jan 11, 2014

Pictures? Lower the RPM's to see if it will slide into gear. If not it could be the clutch. Will it shift into gear when it's not running?

64guruman · Jan 11, 2014

Just a recap. Haven't bought/swapped for the tractor yet. Swapping a 89 GMC Conversion van wife estimates is worth $1000-1500 for it. I reckon the van is worth $150,000., but the wife usually wins when something is setting unused inthe driveway. He has a bushhog that will probably come with it too.

64guruman · Jan 11, 2014

Hello Kid!, no pictures of the TO 30 but it didn't go in with the tractor running or off. It was tried at idle and higher RPMS. I was wondering approximately what it would cost to fix it if I do get the tractor Monday, best and worst case scenario.

coss · Jan 11, 2014

Sometimes, the shifter fork that engages the PTO will pop out of the slot in the shaft. This can happen if you hit an object with a bush hog with an improperly adjusted slip clutch, so too much of a shock gets transferred back through the shaft. To check it or to fix it, you can drain the oil out of the gearbox, remove both of the side covers, and make sure the fork is settled into the slot.

You may need to buy a shop manual. The I and T manual is cheaper, and usually not as good as the original shop manual. However, for this particular problem, the I and T manual is actually pretty good, with a clear diagram showing how the parts are supposed to go together.

This is, as you requested, a best-case option, with a cost of zero, (except for perhaps the cost of a manual).

The kid · Jan 11, 2014

64guruman said:
Just a recap. Haven't bought/swapped for the tractor yet. Swapping a 89 GMC Conversion van wife estimates is worth $1000-1500 for it. I reckon the van is worth $150,000., but the wife usually wins when something is setting unused inthe driveway. He has a bushhog that will probably come with it too.

If your truck is worth approximately $1500 for an even trade the tractor needs to work. It sounds like several issues = $$ ? If it where me. i'd pass on the trade. It might be an easy fix or you may open a can of worms. Sounds like a gamble. Feeling lucky?

shona13 · Jan 12, 2014

G'Day 64guruman.
A quick check would be to remove the side plate that is the one with the pto lever on , (before you remove the plate mark the plate so that you can check when it has been removed) it ,with the engine stopped get a screwdriver and lever the pto gear forward and start the engine ,make sure it turns
no rumbling/bearing noises if o.k. refit the plate ,make sure the selector pin fits into the slot on the gear BE CAREFUL it is possible to fit the plate ONE HOLE OUT OF SEQUENCE.
Apart from that I would go with the Kid .
Happy days.
Hutch.
P.S. Try a bit of the kids cake !!!:thumbsup: