Stumped - 4310 mid PTO won't engage???

[sleepyhollow]

Stumped - 4310 mid PTO won\'t engage???

I've got the 59" JD front-mounted snowblower on since last winter when it was working fine - this year I start up the tractor and hydraulics work fine for the blower but the PTO won't spin. The PTO light is on on the dashoard but there is no noise, no diagnostic light flashes on the side console etc.

I called the dealer and they said to check under the seat for an additional set of controls for the PTOs. I never remembered seeing anything to that effect but checked the tractor and the manual and saw nothing. I looked at the fuse diagram in the manual and the fuse box but nothing was PTO specific. The rear
PTO seems to be working with no issue. Nothing seems to be bound up - I keep up on the lube.

I'm guessing this is something electrical but I want to eliminate all the simple stuff before I shell out the $$$ for the dealer repair guy to come out. I don't want to pay $100 for him to come out and say it was a simple loose conector or blown fuse that I could have fixed myself (I made sure all the fuses were seated properly on teh other hand, I've got a snow storm heading my way Sunday and the dealer is open from 8-4 tomorrow so any ideas you can throw my way would be much appreciated. Thanks,
Sleepyhollow

 

[beenthere]

Re: Stumped - 4310 mid PTO won\'t engage???

Two things I'd check.
That the right sequence is followed to operate the mid PTO.

That the switch wire to the midPTO is still connected, and has not been ripped off like I did while using the rotary cutter in the brush or when pulling out logs from the woods. It plugs in (at least on the 4300) just on the side of the transmission where the mid PTO is located.

 

[tanuke01]

Re: Stumped - 4310 mid PTO won\'t engage???

This may not help, but is the Mid-PTO engaged. I have a 4300 there is a yellow knob in front of the 3ph control, It must be pulled up to run the Mid-PTO. Just a thought since you have not used it since last year.

DPR

 

[RogerH]

Re: Stumped - 4310 mid PTO won\'t engage???

Let me go a bit deeper into the previous suggestions. The 4310 mid PTO requires two actions to engage. First pull on the mid PTO switch (the front one), then pull on the main (rear) PTO switch (the rear one).

Next, the solenoid that controls the mid PTO is located on the right side of the tractor just ahead of the rear axle housing. There is a block that will have 3 solenoids side by side. One for the rear PTO, one for the mid PTO and one for MFWD engagement. Check the wires going to the solenoids and make sure that none of them have been torn away. There have been a few reports of that happening on this forum.