PTO frozen

[a-dougk1]

In my previous message, I mentioned that my PTO was frozen.

Here's what happened. I was mowing for about 5 hours and everything was working just fine. Suddenly, I heard a loud clanking noise and smoke began to rise above the back of the tractor. I thought that maybe the belt on the mower was causing the smoke (possibly from a frozen pulley). But with the PTO disengaged, the belt moved easily on all of the pulleys, and the PTO pulley rotated freely. I added a little more grease to the PTO and started it up again. It worked for about a minute, then made a clanking noise again, and the engine died.

Now when I engage the PTO a let up on the clutch, the tractor engine threatens to die, so I've put the tractor away for now (it is in Kansas and I live in Washington state, and my vacation is over).

Anyway, does anyone know what I might have done wrong that caused the PTO to die? The only lubrication instructions I see in my operator's manual is to put 2 or 3 pumps of grease in the PTO. Is there something else I should have done? I just replaced all of the transmission fluid, and made sure it was at the proper level. Does this sound like a frozen bearing in the PTO?

Any advice welcome.

Doug

[Bigdog]

Sounds like the bearing has seized. It is normally splash lubed from the differential fluid and the grease fitting is primarily for stationary use. It could just be bearing failure - perhaps from water accumulation if the tractor sits a lot.

[WKPoor]

I'm surprised it froze this time of year. Seems a little warm out to freeze.

[Bigdog]

It's cause cubs are cool!