Front PTO connecting rod adjustment

[Cub Cadet 123]

Hey Wayne, sorry that you were soaking the wrong screws. I assumed (incorrectly) that you knew which screws I was talking about. It sounds like you need a new thrust button that uses the C-clip, like this one....



https://www.ebay.com/itm/CUB-CADET-P...ss!46220!US!-1

Hope your lawn isn't very large if you are going to push mow it. You could arrange something like this.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRU-oqIpxiQ


Cub Cadet 123

[jjardina]

It is interesting that you are going through this Wayne. I was just mowing my mother-in-laws lawn and the mower started running rough and white smoke puffed out of the front of the mower. It smelled like a burning clutch. Now my PTO will not disengage, no matter where I have the handle. I am guessing I somehow cooked the clutch in the PTO, but I am not sure? Can't tell from outside inspection.

I just bought my 128 a few weeks ago and was hoping to get through the summer and do a full restore/rebuild in the winter, but...

Is it normal for these to blow white smoke and stink when they fail?

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by Cub Cadet 123

Hey Wayne, sorry that you were soaking the wrong screws. I assumed (incorrectly) that you knew which screws I was talking about. It sounds like you need a new thrust button that uses the C-clip, like this one....



https://www.ebay.com/itm/CUB-CADET-P...ss!46220!US!-1

YEESSSSS! I do believe that's it. What holds that bad boy on? Anything? Edit: Oh I see now. Those other 3 Phillips screws are holding the thingies keeping that in place.

Hope your lawn isn't very large if you are going to push mow it. You could arrange something like this.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRU-oqIpxiQ

But I'd need my Cub running to do that. I only have ohh, 2 acres or so. But after an hour of mowing with the 20 inch push Rally, I only have about 1.95 acres left though.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by jjardina

It is interesting that you are going through this Wayne. I was just mowing my mother-in-laws lawn and the mower started running rough and white smoke puffed out of the front of the mower. It smelled like a burning clutch. Now my PTO will not disengage, no matter where I have the handle. I am guessing I somehow cooked the clutch in the PTO, but I am not sure? Can't tell from outside inspection.

I just bought my 128 a few weeks ago and was hoping to get through the summer and do a full restore/rebuild in the winter, but...

Is it normal for these to blow white smoke and stink when they fail?

I dont know, but I did get some smoke out of the front end the last time mine was cutting. I thought it was the deck drive belt smoking at the pulley though, but I could be wrong and often am.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by jjardina

It is interesting that you are going through this Wayne. I was just mowing my mother-in-laws lawn and the mower started running rough and white smoke puffed out of the front of the mower. It smelled like a burning clutch. Now my PTO will not disengage, no matter where I have the handle. I am guessing I somehow cooked the clutch in the PTO, but I am not sure? Can't tell from outside inspection.

I just bought my 128 a few weeks ago and was hoping to get through the summer and do a full restore/rebuild in the winter, but...

Is it normal for these to blow white smoke and stink when they fail?

If the PTO won't shut off, but hold the mower, you didn't cook the clutch.
Bearing could have went out, but that wouldn't have caused the smoke, and wouldn't have affected anything with the PTO on. The bearing is only used when the PTO is in the "off" position.
If you slipped the clutch and it got hot, it should still disengage, and it doesn't usually make a "puff" of smoke. Rolling smoke is more common when a spinning object gets hot and starts cooking. You sure you didn't blow a head gasket and the PTO just needs adjusted? That sounds far more likely.

[ironman]

Originally Posted by jjardina

It is interesting that you are going through this Wayne. I was just mowing my mother-in-laws lawn and the mower started running rough and white smoke puffed out of the front of the mower. It smelled like a burning clutch. Now my PTO will not disengage, no matter where I have the handle. I am guessing I somehow cooked the clutch in the PTO, but I am not sure? Can't tell from outside inspection.

I just bought my 128 a few weeks ago and was hoping to get through the summer and do a full restore/rebuild in the winter, but...

Is it normal for these to blow white smoke and stink when they fail?

In jjardina's case, it could be possible that one of his deck spindles has seized, or is tightening up and is causing his PTO pulley to spin in the belt and make smoke. If the deck is causing restriction he would not be able to spin the PTO pulley by hand when it is in the disengaged position. I would suggest that he remove the belt and make sure the deck and mule drive pulleys all turn freely to eliminate that possibility. Also with the belt off he should be able to spin the PTO pulley freely while it is in the disengage (handle back) position.

[DoubleO7]

Wayne,
When you get to the point of removing both set screws that are in each hole in the pto belt pulley.............

Make darn sure you have the proper size allen wrench going into the set screws. They are an inch and more down in those holes.
You have to kinda feel the allen wrench going into the set screws a good amount.
And your allen wrench should have a fresh, like new end on it.
Sometimes I use a grinder to "dress" the end so that it is square to the length and sharp cornered. The worse thing to deal with is if you end up rounding out the hex in the set screws.
And when backing them out work them back and forth out of the holes.
Sometimes if they are really resisting I will run a tap into the holes to clean out the threads, and blow them out again with air.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by ironman

In jjardina's case, it could be possible that one of his deck spindles has seized, or is tightening up and is causing his PTO pulley to spin in the belt and make smoke. If the deck is causing restriction he would not be able to spin the PTO pulley by hand when it is in the disengaged position. I would suggest that he remove the belt and make sure the deck and mule drive pulleys all turn freely to eliminate that possibility. Also with the belt off he should be able to spin the PTO pulley freely while it is in the disengage (handle back) position.

Except he says it won't shut off..... that would indicate that at the very least the PTO is out of adjustment.

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

Wayne,
When you get to the point of removing both set screws that are in each hole in the pto belt pulley.............

Make darn sure you have the proper size allen wrench going into the set screws. They are an inch and more down in those holes.
You have to kinda feel the allen wrench going into the set screws a good amount.
And your allen wrench should have a fresh, like new end on it.
Sometimes I use a grinder to "dress" the end so that it is square to the length and sharp cornered. The worse thing to deal with is if you end up rounding out the hex in the set screws.
And when backing them out work them back and forth out of the holes.
Sometimes if they are really resisting I will run a tap into the holes to clean out the threads, and blow them out again with air.

I sense danger ahead.

And what is my goal here? Am I going for the bearings or something else in/behind the pulley? I'm wondering if this might be a job I should farm out. I'm in a rare situation where I could actually pay someone 1 or 2 hundred dollars if this is going to end poorly doing it on my own.

[ironman]

Originally Posted by Wayne

I sense danger ahead.

And what is my goal here? Am I going for the bearings or something else in/behind the pulley? I'm wondering if this might be a job I should farm out. I'm in a rare situation where I could actually pay someone 1 or 2 hundred dollars if this is going to end poorly doing it on my own.

The set screws are what what holds the pulley onto the bearing and whether the bearing itself is bad or something else is worn, to replace anything else you still have to get the pulley off the bearing. If you have someone else do it, they will have to make a house call or you will have to take the whole tractor to them. You can do it or find a friend with some skills, but just keep following the advice you are getting here!