782 PTO Clutch Problem

[Cubpwr1811]

My 782 has had a PTO issue that started late last summer that I'm finally getting around to addressing and need some help. When mowing, at random times, the engine will go to shut down almost like you turned the key off. After it shuts down, you turn the PTO switch off and turn the key it fires right back up. Turn the PTO switch back on and you may mow 30 seconds or 15 minutes before it does it again. While I was mowing, I discovered that if I hurry up and shut the PTO off as the engine is shutting down the engine will spring back to life like clock work, I mean every single time without fail the engine comes back. I ran it like this to finish out the season until it got so frequent that I just couldn't mow with it so I let me 1811 & 1861 pick up the slack. I checked the PTO switch & it checks out fine. I did put a new PTO relay on it last summer in that the old one was in pretty bad shape, but it made no difference.

As long as you don't run the PTO the tractor runs fine, I plowed snow and hauled firewood with it all winter with no random shut downs at all, but if I turned the PTO clutch on while plowing or hauling wood, it would do the same as if the mower was on it and shut down at random until I flicked the switch off and the engine would come back.

So today, I tested the resistance on the clutch according to the manual and it tested out at 2.5 ohms. So I removed the clutch and took it apart to inspect. The bearing doesn't feel very healthy and the electro magnet has small cracks on the face that look like it has gotten super hot. Is this likely my problem? Could there be a short inside the magnet that is shutting the engine down until I disengage the clutch? I've just never heard of a failing PTO clutch completely shutting the engine down the way this one does. Any ideas?

[R Bedell]

The 782 has two different Wiring Configurations, depending on the Chassis Serial Number range.

What is your Chassis Serial Number....???

[Cubpwr1811]

I can't give you the exact chasis serial number until tomorrow. Its the later style, it's actually a CCC built 782 not an IH if that helps. Has the series II KT17

[ol'George]

It is possible that the pto is not the problem.
possibly you are not charging enough to supply the pto and ignition coil.
OR
it is running out of fuel under a load, it costs nothing to check both.

[J-Mech]

Regardless of chassis serial number, the seat switch (or that circuit) is the only component that if not working properly would cause the engine to stall while the PTO is on. In both systems, as long as the seat switch is depressed (and the circuit is good) the engine will run. Issue has to be in that circuit.

PTO itself isn't the issue.

[Cubpwr1811]

Well yeah that makes sense, honestly I didn't even think about the seat switch. It has been rigged since I bought the tractor to not function so the tractor doesn't ever shut off if you get off the seat. I do think the seat switch is still on there, it's just always depressed. I'll have the switch and the circuit. I'm assuming the circuit ties into the PTO relay that I replaced over the summer. Is this correct?

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Cubpwr1811

I'm assuming the circuit ties into the PTO relay that I replaced over the summer. Is this correct?

No, it actually bypasses the relay.

The fact you have the relay answers the question as to which electrical system you have though....

[Cubpwr1811]

I gotcha, I've some investigating to do!

[Cubpwr1811]

@ J-mech Well I tried bypassing the seat switch as a first step and ran the tractor around for over an hour with the PTO on without any shutdowns. So, so far so good, haven't been able to have the PTO on longer than 2 or 3 minutes with out a shutdown all winter. Hopefully it's that simple of a fix, much cheaper than a clutch. Thanks for steering me in the right direction.

[J-Mech]

Good deal! Hopefully that was it!