3-Point Hitch PTO problem with Kubota L345

[carlubu1]

I was bush-hogging and hit a stump. Instead of the shear pin on the mower breaking, something stopped the pto shaft from turning. I can turn it by hand and feel no kind of resistance. Initially, the pto shift lever would move into low or high without engaging, but then would move only into high. Otherwise, everything seems to be OK. What happened inside??

 

[Navasot]

What do you mean the PTO lever wont shift to high or low? or are you talking about the range selector

 

[carlubu1]

The pto is activated by shifting a lever from neutral to low range or high range. The pro was operating in low range when the mower hit the stump.

 

[rbargeron]

I was bush-hogging and hit a stump. Instead of the shear pin on the mower breaking, something stopped the pto shaft from turning. I can turn it by hand and feel no kind of resistance. Initially, the pto shift lever would move into low or high without engaging, but then would move only into high. Otherwise, everything seems to be OK. What happened inside??

The mower's shear pin doesn't always save the tractor gears. I did the same thing years ago with my first L345. After clobbering a rock, mine kept turning but had a loud clicking - indicating broken gear teeth. Yours sounds like a gear failure too. The machine will need to be split to find out which parts are needed. BTDT as they say so any questions fire away.

 

[carlubu1]

Guess I'll have to haul it to somebody who knows a lot more than I do. Thanks, rbargeron. I was hoping for something simple

 

[rbargeron]

If you have basic mechanical skills, a flat floor, can borrow two rolling floor jacks, it's not a huge job. Not everybody's cup of tea, but can be a confidence builder and will save a few hundred dollars. Can think of it as paid playtime.

 

[carlubu1]

Well, I do have a flat floor...

 

[Navasot]

Have you tried moving the lever while your edging forward with the tractor a bit?

 

[carlubu1]

Yes. No luck.

 

[Navasot]

Might be worth taking the frog off and getting a peak inside

 

[rbargeron]

On a L345 the pto gearbox is a separate chunk in the middle of the tractor, behind the transmission, forward of the frog. The good news is the thru-shafts have sliding couplings - the tractor can be split at either end of the gearbox. Bearings and gears are all slip-fits. Quite impressive quality. Another TBN member - grayw0lf - took his very similar L355 apart recently - maybe he'll chime in with advice for (or against) trying this repair yourself.

 

[GIFarmboy]

On a L345 the pto gearbox is a separate chunk in the middle of the tractor, behind the transmission, forward of the frog. The good news is the thru-shafts have sliding couplings - the tractor can be split at either end of the gearbox. Bearings and gears are all slip-fits. Quite impressive quality. Another TBN member - grayw0lf - took his very similar L355 apart recently - maybe he'll chime in with advice for (or against) trying this repair yourself.

Looking at the same issue with my 1983 L345 What was done to fix?
Thanks, Paul

 

[rbargeron]

I'm assuming your issue is similar in that it stopped working while running a rear mower? Can we also assume you have no drive in one pto lever position but no drive in the other?

If so, there are likely broken gear teeth inside the pto section of the tractor - requiring a split at that section's rear seam to remove and replace the broken parts.

If you intend to fix it yourself, the machine is straight-forward to work on - see above posts - and check your private messages (envelope icon above)

Back in 2014 I posted that the L355 is similar, but it doesn't have the separate 2-speed pto gearbox in the middle like the L345.