PTO quit working

I have a early model 17 diesel and the PTO lever appears to have a sheared or missing roll pin as it has no resistance when engaged and the PTO has quit working how do I gain access to this area

Access thru the right side where the hand clutch lever is. That older tractor used a roll pin with a lock wire. You can fish out the old and install a bolt with a lock nut. Not easy to do but can be done. Don't remove the PTO lever or things will fly apart inside and you'll have a mess.

As DrAllis said, but I will add this. I created a blog on the process here: http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/projectblog.cgi?mode=detail&blogid=338

You are fortunate since the hardest part would be getting the old roll pin out, and yours is gone. Hopefully the middle is lodged in the shaft and the two sides are lodged in the shift fork. I don't recall if it's possible for the engagement arm to fall off in such a way that it can jam the power director clutch, but being a cautious sort, I would not start it again until opening the case and getting the shift fork connected back up. If the fork were to somehow end up jamming the power director, you could bend shafts, destroy cases and power director, or worse. It's a two person job to avoid hassle, get a helper to hold the arm on the other side of the tractor.

When you drain the case, be sure to check for the broken pieces of the roll pin so you can know whether you have to find the fragments. I'm guessing they are probably lodged in the fork and the lever shaft.

I don't mention the spring and ball detent, but getting that back on may take a bit longer, though I'm sure it's just finesse, not difficult. I avoided it by holding the shift fork in place while my son handled the level and shaft. Unfortunately, you will likely have to pull the fork out to get the remains of the roll pin out. The parts manual shows the detent assembly.

Thanks so much for the information on my PTO situation I will keep you posted on what I find.