PTO won't disengage
 

Rebuilt the PTO on my 122. New disc, bearing, button, and a brass button on the arm. It won't disengage. What did I do wrong?

Did you put a new spring in it?

Yes new spring

My best guess is that you have it too tight, but without seeing it I don't know that for sure.

There should be a little air space between the buttons when it's engaged, and when you pull the lever back you should be able to turn the pulley (engine off) with your hand.

If you don't have a deck or other belt driven attachment hooked up, the pulley will turn with the engine no matter what.

Have 1/64" between the buttons. Can't turn it by hand when the lever is back. Do you mean I have the bolts tightened too much? I used a gauge. Guess I'll pull it off and see what's up.

Just to confirm the 1/64" is with the handle forward?

You might try folding some cardboard (cereal or shoe box type) and put it between the buttons and pull the lever back (gently) to see if the pulley will turn then. Just to see if you're close or not.

If not then you may have to take it back apart.

Lever forward. With a double thicknes of a Kleenex box I can turn the pulley if I hold the starter generator belt.

Yeah, unless the casting and plate are terrible rusty, it sounds like you have it a little tight.

Keep in mind, when you put it back together you don't necessarily need to tighten the set screws. You can just slip it on the bearing, reattach the lever, pull it back and see if the pulley turns. Just make sure it is all the way on the bearing. This just makes the process a little easier if you have to do it a couple of times.

Once you feel confident that everything is as it should be, then tighten the set screws down.

Good Luck

Are you trying to disengage it with a belt driven implement on? A mechanical PTO won't disengage w/o resistance of a mower/tiller/thrower, etc.

Plates were both cleaned up. It has a mower on it.