PTO Lever won't enage

[Scrivet]

......... In many cases when there is some wear on the bushing and minimal looseness or slop at end of the PTO shaft, ........

If it keeps you from engaging the PTO it's time to replace the bushing. The PTO shaft is held in place with a bearing at the back and the pilot into the bushing at the front. If the bushing is worn and the pilot starts flopping around you'll get metal to metal without the bushing. I would rather replace a $22 bushing than a $68 dollar PTO shaft and/or a $123 driveshaft and/or a $35 PTO collar.

It's OK to have a different opinion (mine aren't always right). We're all still friends. I'm kinda glad the whole world doesn't think like me actually.

[AGrinthal]

Ok.. Here's my story now. If I loosen up how tight the belt is on the pulley I can get the PTO to engage. GREAT!.. Problem is now that the belts are two sloppy and have been mangling themselves. So I had to stop as that could get expensive (Replacing belts.) Does anyone have any tips on setting up a Pennington Belly mower? Mine is in great shape but I am having problems using it due to the PTO Engagement issue... and the belts not being tight enough. Where does one get replacement belts? anyone know sizes?

The thing worked great (belt wise and overall) my first try out. after that I couldn't get PTO engaged.. and When I Let up on belt tension I get mangled belts. One of the main tasks for this baby is mowing.. and so far I have failed... (the little it did was great though!)

Frustrated but hopeful in Andover
Andy

[tmays]

Most likely something is out of alignment on your mower. Not familiar with a Pennington mower, but every time I have belts popping off, it's been a pulley alignment issue. If you can find a manual for your mower, check it out. I have a woods 44LB that started having issues. I checked parts manual and turned out I was missing a shim behind idle pulley that angled pulley straight to spindle. Put that on and no problems since

[AGrinthal]

Thanks for the tip.. However it appears its next to impossible to get any information on this mower.... It worked well when the belts were "ratcheted" on.. but then the PTO (after the use) wouldn't engage and I had to losen the belts up..... However I'm going to check out your tip.. since I got this problem by making the belts tight by playing around with the two gang pulleys in the back.. which would change alignment... I should probably make them snug by adjusting the pulleys on the deck.

Still learning.. it did do a nice job when it WAS working..

Andy

[Smokeycub]

Problem is now that the belts are two sloppy and have been mangling themselves

There should be a happy medium there somewhere. The belts should be snug, not loose, or obviously over tight. Can you post some pic's of your mower setup? That may help a bit.

Most likely something is out of alignment on your mower.

Also a valid issue. Misalignment can cause damage to the belt(s) and belts jumping off.
Here's a link for a Pennington deck topic from this site with pic's. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=71931
It kinda looks like Woods deck mounted backwards ?!? Anyway, if that's what you have it really shouldn't be too complicated to sort out your belt problem. When you get the belt issue sorted out and you still have a problem engaging the PTO then you will, as Scrivet said, need to address the PTO shaft/bushing issue.