PTO noise-Do I have a problem?

[Bliz]

Hello All, I have a 6115D with 110 hours and when I hook up a PTO driven implement to it I noticed the rear end of the tractor (where the pto exits) it very noisy, almost like rattling gears. I have had a number of other tractors and I don't ever remember the pto being noisy. Has anyone else got a similar tractor and do you have this noise. Thanks for any help.

 

[Wayne_H]

Wonder if it makes the same noise regardless of the implement you put on it? Any chance it is the PTO shaft? Does it make the noise under load? I've never had a tractor that made more noise when the PTO was engaged, I would assume it is not part of the initial design...

Wayne

 

[jenkinsph]

Does this model use a removable spindle for 540 and 1000 rpm? May not be inserted correctly.

You should not have noise back there, i would get this checked out right away.

 

[Bliz]

Wayneh, Jenkinph, Thanks for the responses. I don't think it is the implement shaft because the noise is clearly coming from the tractor. Are you saying the shaft could cause this noise in the tractor?
I think this tractor does have a removable spindle based on what another forum member told me, but the book has no reference to it at all. My neighbor listened to it (he has owned many tractors) and said he thought it was not seated properly. I will have the dealer look at it and see what they say. Problem is the dealer is a long way off and are not real responsive.

 

[RoyJackson]

First, make sure the fluid levels are where they should be. Gears don't run well if they're dry.
Try pulling the PTO implement off, then operating the PTO. If the noise isn't there, then the noise was implement or hookup related (with a caveat...down further in the post).
If the tractor's PTO is still noisy, and the fluid level and type is correct...well you may have a problem with the PTO gearing or brake. Changing the fluid and filter may help, especially if the fluid has been in there for a while.

Now, the caveat: Even if the tractor's PTO is quiet when the PTO is running with no implement, the problem may only occur when there is a load on the PTO. Noisy gears normally whine if the backlash isn't set right. Some gears whine regardless (you might remember this from older pickup trucks...especially in reverse gear). If the rattle comes back, or happens when the PTO is running with no implement, you have something worn or loose in there. That's teardown and rebuild time.
If this is a working tractor (as opposed to residential use like most TBNers), your livelihood depends on it operating. It's tough, but if you wait for the PTO to fail, it could cost you a lot more money.

 

[Bliz]

Update: I called my dealer (service manager) and explained what I was hearing. He only has a couple 6D series tractors out and said he had not heard this issue before but would contact John Deere for any info. He called me back a couple hours later and said he got a response from John Deere which he read to me. Basically, John Deere described the condition I have to a "T" and said it was 100% normal at idle to hear what I was hearing. They said they confirmed it with engineering that the 6D tractor would make that noise at idle with the PTO engaged. Interestingly, I had a logging winch on and was only running it at idle to twitch in my logs. I guess I got concerned for nothing but it was nice that my dealer and John Deere addressed the issue so quickly and put my mind at ease.