PTO question---

drglinski · #1 06-25-2013, 03:55 PM

Lost a throwout lever on the mechanical PTO of my 147 today while mowing. Fortunately I found it sitting inside the front end, with the screw/bolt running through it. I haven't pulled the PTO yet (frustrated me and I just needed to walk away and deal with the problem later) and I presume the nuts are on the backside floating around somewhere. I just had the PTO rebuilt last april (2012), no problems with it until now. Anyone heard of this happening before, and how can I prevent it in the future?

rweaver · #2 06-25-2013, 05:31 PM

sounds like one of the locking nuts came loose yes I have seen it before it most times wrecks things

drglinski · #3 06-26-2013, 06:11 PM

Pulled the PTO today and found the lock nuts bouncing around the bearing area. No damage. I think I got lucky and it came off at the end of the mow yesterday. (thankfully the throwout lever landed in the front end and not in the grass somewhere, or thrown to the neighbors or what have you) A bit of thread lock on the offending bolt, and then tightening of the other 2 and it's mowing again.

Question: should the throwout levers be a bit loose when it's disengaged? They are loose enough that I can move them (a bit) but not risk them falling out. When engaged, they don't move at all. Does this seem normal?

Roy Najecki · #4 06-28-2013, 08:52 AM

I've got two 149's and when I rebuilt the PTO's the levers were tight. In the PTO rebuild kit is a gauge to assist in setting the levers to their proper height and tension. From your post it sounds like you had someone else rebuild the PTO so perhaps they didn't use the gauge. Also, I always put Lock-Tite on the bolt/screw threads.

For what its worth, even though I have wide frames, I use the narrow frame PTO kit. The difference is the spring tips. On the wide frame the spring tip is flat, on the narrow frame the spring tip is bent inwards. I found the bent tips version held the center thrust button in position much better, so the three levers couldn't slip off the button. These have last six years since I rebuilt them. I also use a bronze PTO button, instead of the OEM fiber button, and a stainless steel thrust button, instead of the OEM steel.

cubfixer · #5 06-28-2013, 10:21 AM

The throw out levers should be tight engaged and disengaged. I suspect that the lock nuts were not as tight as they should be. I had this happen to me once. Then I learned to really lock the nuts down against each other. When the lock nuts back off, nothing good happens. Lock tite is a good idea, but you shouldn't need to use it if you tighten down the nut/locknuts.

When you use the template to measure the amount of spring pressure on the disk, the throw out levers will be tight. Then when you press in on the center thrust button, they will get even tighter because they are pressing against the spring to release the pressure plate.

sawdustdad · #6 06-28-2013, 12:29 PM

I ground down a spare 7/16" open end wrench just for tightening these lock nuts together.

drglinski · #7 06-28-2013, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy Najecki

I've got two 149's and when I rebuilt the PTO's the levers were tight. In the PTO rebuild kit is a gauge to assist in setting the levers to their proper height and tension. From your post it sounds like you had someone else rebuild the PTO so perhaps they didn't use the gauge. Also, I always put Lock-Tite on the bolt/screw threads.

For what its worth, even though I have wide frames, I use the narrow frame PTO kit. The difference is the spring tips. On the wide frame the spring tip is flat, on the narrow frame the spring tip is bent inwards. I found the bent tips version held the center thrust button in position much better, so the three levers couldn't slip off the button. These have last six years since I rebuilt them. I also use a bronze PTO button, instead of the OEM fiber button, and a stainless steel thrust button, instead of the OEM steel.

I had a guy that's been doing IH stuff for 30+ years rebuild my PTO last spring when I acquired the tractor and it had PTO problems. This was also when I didn't know as much about it as I do now. I got the nuts on the backside as tight as I could get them with two wrenches, also ground down a 7/16" wrench for this purpose. I have the NF pto with the spring that goes inward.

When i was thinking about my issue the other day, the thought occurred to me that it isn't a HUGE deal because there is significant tension on the PTO when engaged and the levers only move slightly with some amount of force when it's disengaged. When the PTO is disengaged it doesn't spin so there is no threat of them coming out again, especially with the lock nuts tightened down.

I'll keep an eye on it, but not likely worry too much about it, until I have an issue again, then I'll cuss at it some more.

SharkyOhio · #8 06-28-2013, 08:28 PM

The same thing happened to me; very frustrating. I removed the PTO and when I put it back together I used Locktite on the nuts. That was over a year ago and I have not had a problem since, and I use that tractor at least once a week year round.

drglinski · #9 06-28-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SharkyOhio

The same thing happened to me; very frustrating. I removed the PTO and when I put it back together I used Locktite on the nuts. That was over a year ago and I have not had a problem since, and I use that tractor at least once a week year round.

That's reassuring to know it's not just me. Thanks