PTO Problem on 4100 Gear

[Benson]

Help! I was running a brush hog on my 4100 Gear and it bogged down in heavy grass. I shut it off, and now it won't re-start. The lever for the PTO is almost in the "off" position, but won't move in any direction. When I try to start it, the PTO indicator light is on and it won't turn over.

The linkage underneath for the PTO doesn't have any visible problems. It seems like the linkage is jammed up somewhere and has the PTO locked on.

Has anyone had similar problems or any ideas?

Naturally, it happened at 3:01 pm when my dealer closed at 3:00 for a 3 day weekend.

Any ideas will be appreciated.

John

 

[ducati996]

It sounds like when you shut it off it was under load and left tension on the PTO....If you raise the Cutter as high as you can go, then SHUT off the machine see if you can move PTO shaft or blade to ease the load....jocky the PTO shift lever as well.

I doubt you caused damage, you need to figure how to release tension on the PTO which locked because of it...
Just be safe and have the machine off..
Let us know how you make out....I have a Jd 4100 but very limited PTO use /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif maybe one day I will get the attachment that keeps me PTO active /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I just re-read your post and you have the gear like me...The PTO is dependant on the Tranny clutch, try depressing it while starting it
Duc

 

[Benson]

Ducati996, Thanks for responding. The problem I'm having is that I can't get the tractor to start at all. I think there is a safety lockout when the PTO is engaged that doesn't let the engine start. When I turn the key to start it, the PTO light is lit, so the tractor thinks the PTO is engaged. (Since I can't move the PTO lever at all, it may actually be engaged.) I just went out and tried starting it with the clutch lever depressed, but nothing happens then either.

I'm going to look through the manual and see if there is anything there.

Thanks again.

John

 

[Cdash]

I think the pto has pressure on it, not letting you disengage the pto, which keeps the lockout, locked out.

May want to try jacking up the cutter, lightly - the three point arms should go up, and see if something is wedged under there. Try spinning the blade in either direction if you can. May want to try a pry bar/pipe wrench on the shaft if you can get around the shaft safety sheilds. Personally, I'd bet something is jammed under there and if you remove it, you'll be fine.

I am thinking if you can get either to move slightly it should come out. May want to have someone else pulling lightly on the engagement lever while you work the shaft or blade.

Remember your 3 lockouts: Seat, Tranny in N and PTO in N.

A suggestion for next time, since you have a gear tranny, is press in the clutch if you have a similar problem, then raise the 3 point and try to start the pto in a raised position with the tranny in Neutral, instead of shutting the motor off.

A little patience should solve your problem, Good luck!!

 

[Benson]

Cdash, Thanks for the message.

I don't think there is any pressure on the PTO now. I removed the brush hog from the tractor this morning to see if this was the problem, and it didn't help anything. I also tried rocking the tractor while in gear to see if this popped anything free.

I removed the linkage rods for the PTO one at a time to see if anything was jammed up. The very bottom pivot shaft (front PTO) moved freely. The middle pivot shaft (I assume the rear PTO) wouldn't move at all. This pivot is slightly off its neutral position in that it causes the linkage to put pressure on the PTO lever.

This middle pivot shaft appears to slide out of the tranny (There is a bolt holding a retaining plate in, which in turn appears to hold in the shaft). Without having a shop manual, I was reluctant to pull the shaft out (afraid to hear bearings or gears dropping inside) /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I put everything back together and am going to see if I can get a shop manual to look through.

I was just cutting tall grass, so I can't imagine I hurt anything too badly. I would assume it was just a lockout switch if I could move the PTO lever at all, but it is jammed completely.

Thanks again. I'll post again if I can figure it out.

John

 

[Cdash]

That reminds me of a problem I had within the first couple hours of owning my tractor. It cut out (like a cut off switch went) and couldn't get anything to start it for the life of me. The dealer came out at 3:00 on a saturday and had a guy fiddle with it for a while. He found something unplugged, I don't know what or where it was, as I had to leave before he finished. Left me a note saying something was unplugged and it was all fine now.

Hope you find the culprit, likely something easy in a really hard place.