PTO Lever

[Bill in Badger]

The lever that engages the PTO is very hard to move into gear. It does work, but I have to pull really pull hard to engage it. What do I need to do. Any help would be great.
 

[Jeff-oh]

Most likely it is just years of dirt clogging it up.

Remove the cover plate and see how well it moves in the plate. If stiff then you can work on it at the bench and free it up. If it freely moves, then there may be an issue with the PTO engagement gearing, though I do not think this is the problem.

Jeff
 

[John(UK)]

You don't say what tractor you have and the PTO gearboxes are different on the 20/30 and 35
If it is a 35 then it maybe the needle bearing in the end of the Pump main shaft that supports the PTO shaft has collapsed and the shaft are no longer lining up. If it is a 35 remove the Plate with the Lever and check it for moving freely, sometimes they stick and wears a groove on the back of the lever which makes movement difficult. If it is a 20 or 30 take off the Lever plate and see if it is the Lever itself or if that is free it will be the selector on the PTO gearbox on the back of the transmission, it could also be that the PTO is twisted at the front of the Pump and preventing the sliding coupling from moving easily....John(UK)...fergusontractors@hotmail.com
 

[Bill in Badger]

Thanks for the response. My tractor is a 1955 TO35 serial #S149526. I've checked most of the Numbers on the castings and it seems to be correct. Under all the years of paint and grime is the original green. Its under a covered part of my shop but it's just raining to hard here to want to get out in it. I hope to pull the cover in a few day's. Is there any tricks I need to be aware when I pull the cover. i.e. a stray spring or something that will jump out at me.
Thanks for the help.
 

[John(UK)]

On a TO35 the spring and ball that lock the lever is all contained within the Side Cover, there is nothing that will spring out at you.(But it will if you remove the outside lever from the selector plate inside) Look at the back of the Lever inside, this is where the ball and spring locates. Look to see if it is worn as that can cause it to lock and it can also cause it to jump out of gear too, depends on the wear. You will be able to move the Lever if you gently hold the plate in a vise and then you can see if the tightness problem is in the plate or if it moves easily (apart from the locking ball) then the problem could be in the tractor, possibly the bearing in the end of the Drive shaft through the Pump has collapsed, the end of the PTO is located in this and it will drop when the bearing fails and that could cause problems with the sliding collar sliding over the PTO and into the shaft in the Pump as it joins them together.If this is the problem then you will need to remove the Top Cover on the Hydraulics and the Hydraulic Pump as well BUT don't attempt this unless you know what you are doing. If you need this information for removing the Top Cover and the Pump, email me and tell me what you need, or if you have any questions about all this. You should take this opportunity to reset the hydraulic Lever controls when you re-assemble
If you want more details, parts explosion etc, just email me direct and I will send it...John(UK)...fergusontractors@hotmail.com