PTO hard to disengage

[Trent M]

The Cub that I would like to be the mowing tractor has a problem with the PTO disengaging. It engages just fine, but when you try to disengage it, it doesn't want to come out. I had to push on the lever real hard and then it finally disengaged. Clutch was in and PTO stopped, the lever just didn't want to disengage it. I'd like to solve this before I put the mower on, because there will be alot of PTO off-on of course. I'm also worried about it not disengaging at all sometime, so I've only tried it once.

I did a search, but I only found posts for the opposite problem, PTOs that won't stay engaged.

[Tim Martin]

This is just a guess, but do you think that there could be a groove wore around the PTO shaft making it difficult for the clutch to move? Have you taken the PTO out to examine the shaft and clutch assembly? There is not a whole lot to the Cub PTO assembly.

[George Willer]

Another guess... Have you tried backing the pulley up slightly to take the load off the splines?

[Trent M]

George- What pulley are you refering to? There is no pulley on the PTO right now. Its just a bare shaft.

I take it this problem is not too common?

[George Willer]

My last uninformed guess... Maybe the set screw that's only intended to keep the clutch sleeve from falling off is snugged down?

[Trent M]

OK, I'll try to get more info for you. Any advice on a first step? Should I take out the PTO or take the shifter cover off? Both?

[Don McCombs]

Trent,

Pulling the PTO out is easy, putting it back is only slightly more difficult. Removing the shifter cover won't tell you anything.

If in your predicament, I'd definitely pull the PTO and see what was up. Regardless of what you find, "while you have it out", I'd replace the bearing, seal and pilot bushing. None of these parts are overly expensive and relatively easy to remove and install, if you have access to a press.

http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21506

[jim turner]

You won't see anything by taking the shifter cover off it is all through the rear end of the tractor, the only sure way to solve the problem is to take the PTO out and examine the shaft and clutch

[wade51ns]

This may sound to simple but I had a similar experience and it was just the lever guide (attached to the bolt on top of the transmition cover) a little out of adjustment. Soon as I loosened it up everything worked ok.

Wade