Series 3000 PTO issue...

j33pjeff · #1 08-15-2021, 04:35 PM

I have a 3235 that my wife and I were gifted, when we moved into our new house. I completely rebuilt the deck/spindles, changed fluids, filters, and belts. It ran fine for a year or so, then started throwing PTO belts. I replaced the lower pulley, then the upper, and finally the bearings that the lower pulley and shaft ride on. I then noticed the PTO brake was hitting the lower pulley, I purchased a new brake arm assembly.

Something still doesn't seem to be quite right, should the brake still make contact with the pulley even when the PTO is engaged?

I am sure there is some simple adjustment that I am overlooking in my frustration.

Thanks,

ejl6658 · #2 08-15-2021, 05:00 PM

The brake should not make contact with the bottom pulley when the pto is energized. There is an adjustment rod for the pto brake. Item #20 on the attached pto diagram. Also a link to pto vacuum actuator issues on another site.

https://www.cubcadet.com/en_US/conte...0cdd997352cd/y

https://www.mytractorforum.com/threa...#post-12433628

j33pjeff · #3 08-15-2021, 05:24 PM

If I tighten down on the adjustment rod the PTO acts like it struggles to engage. I am curious about the plate in the vacuum actuator now. I didn't realize there was a plate in there that was prone to bending.

I am afraid with newish pulleys, fresh bearings, new belts, and a new brake arm that the plate in the actuator may be the issue...

ejl6658 · #4 08-15-2021, 05:28 PM

I've seen many weak pto actuators cause problems due bent plates. I posted pictures of how far you should be able to push the plunger in as a check, but if the plate is already cracked in half you'll be able to push the plunger in quite far but it will be weak for putting tension on the belts. You can try repairing as I do with the instructions in the link or just buy a new one which isn't cheap.

j33pjeff · #5 08-17-2021, 09:02 PM

Pulled the actuator tonight and it sounds like change is rattling around inside. I am going with the plate is completely broken. I am going to attempt a rebuild, in hopes I don't have to purchase a new one.

ejl6658 · #6 08-18-2021, 09:58 AM

Sounds like (no pun intended) that you have found the problem. After rereading your posts and the brake lever was not coming off the lower pulley the actuator definitely wasn't pulling in far enough.

j33pjeff · #7 08-20-2021, 05:30 PM

Alright, so after a week of playing with this... I was able to crack open the housing, and found that the plate was bent and then broken. I was able to recreate the bottom plate using a piece of 16ga steel. I RTV'ed the case halves back together and clamped it overnight.

I installed the repaired actuator this afternoon, and the deck starts up better than it has in the four years I have owned this machine. But, when you press the PTO switch on the dash the actuator doesn't respond to the switch. So the PTO doesn't want to turn off...

What needs to be checked now?

ejl6658 · #8 08-20-2021, 05:47 PM

Do you see the plunger on the actuator move at all? Did you readjusted the rod for your brake? There is a vacuum switch on the dash divider panel that gets 12V to activate it by the pto switch on the dash. When the pto switch is off you shouldn't be able to feel any vacuum on the hose attached to the actuator. If you pull the vacuum hose off the actuator does it shut down the deck? If it does then the vacuum switch or the control from the pto switch isn't working.

j33pjeff · #9 08-20-2021, 06:14 PM

The plunger definitely pulls down, there is roughly a 1/2-3/4 of an inch of rod exposed when the PTO switch is pulled. I had to cut the mower off to kill the PTO. I did readjust the brake rod. The brake assembly and belts are both brand new.

I will check to see if pulling the hose off will disengage the deck.

ejl6658 · #10 08-20-2021, 07:42 PM

I meant does the plunger come back out when you shut the pto switch off