Potential PTO issue?

[new2diesel]

When mowing yesterday I shut off my tractor for about 20 minutes to take a break and when I started it back up and engaged the PTO nothing happened. It has never given me a problem before or any indication of a problem although I haven't owned the tractor very long either. So, one thing I noticed is that when I engage since I've bought it that the lever doesn't just drop in freely there is a slight feel (like gears meshing?) but it is very slight and finds its place. I don't know if this is normal or any indication of the problem. So anyhow I moved the blades a little to turn the shaft and after the second time I did that the PTO engaged and I was able to finish mowing. I did attempt several times to engage without moving the blades and it did not start. I hope this is enough information.:confused2:

 

[RonMar]

Which lever are you using to engage the PTO? It sounds like you are trying to engage it with the engine shut off?

Here is how I do it on my 284. Start engine, I leave the 540-1000 lever in the 540 position and don't ever mess with it. I push the clutch all the way in and wait a few seconds for the PTO gears to stop moving. Then I engage the main PTO lever down alongside the right side of the transmission. If you pull up on it right away, you may hear a little bit of gear grinding. Once it is engaged, let out the clutch slow enough to start the impliment blades spinning without stalling the engine. Once the cluch is fully engaged, slowly advance the throttle to PTO rated RPM...

 

[Diamondpilot]

Are you sure your 540/1000 pto selector is not in neutral?

Chris

 

[new2diesel]

Yes I checked the 540-1000 selector although that has not been touched since I purchased it. I don't usually wait a few seconds after depressing the clutch to engage the PTO. I'm pretty sure I know how to use most of the basics on the tractor but I'm sure there are quirky things that I wont know about until something goes boom. It just kinda made my stomach drop a little when the PTO shaft didn't turn.