IH 300 PTO issue

Wegbuff

New User
recently acquired this 300-U...has indep PTO ( big gear box thingy on back ) problem is when mowing and hit a patch of tough fescue etc, PTO sets up a horrible loud and increasing whine. Blades stop turning until mower is lifted from said grass.I have had the back cover off of the PTO and the bands look to be nearly new ( former owner maybe had an undisclosed issue also ). The drums look fine with no scoring or rough spots.Adjusted bands ( simple to do)..and have not gone any deeper into it until I find some knowledgeable tractor guys to diagnose.And whats with this seasonal disconnect thingy ( gotta drain trans twice a year to use) thank goodness it's gone..........Bill
 
Th3e most likely issue is slippage in the handle and pivot shaft and link to the right side lever on the outside. The handle has lock positions in both on and off. Assuming you are locking it, the key and keyway as well as other clevice ends are probably not putting it all the way "on". it cannot have any play at all in that linkage. Tightening the bolt does nothing. Having a new larger keyway broached in the handle and milled in the short shaft is very doable. Look up my 300U PTO adjustment in the archives for further info. Jim
 
Thanks Janicholson 4 the quick reply. The handle did indeed have slack in it when I bought it. Woodruff slopped around quite a bit.bought a bigger one and milled it down but was unhappy with the fit, still a bit of play. Finally drilled and installed a tight roll-pin.....no play now...it's really firm in the movement....I'm thinking something inside and am hoping it is something someone else has had happen to them.......??????????? Bill
 
Move the lever exactly half way between the locked on position and locked off position (little flipper catch on lever. Use bungies or ratchet straps to hold it centered. Measure this position.
Take off the little dome metal cover from the adjust screws.
Loosen the jamb nut, and tighten the front (away from you) screw until it is just a bit tighter than the point at which it begins to feel tighter as it is screwed in (maybe a eighth turn) then back it off until the PTO shaft will turn with least drag (about 3/4 turn out) and tighten the lock nut while holding the adjuster.
Do the same for the closer adjuster.
If the screws go into the jamb nuts and get flush with the top surface of the nut, the bands are probably worn out, and may be operational for a while, but plan on a rebuild.
Now (tractor off) push the the lever down toward the brake footplate. As it goes down, it should get harder to push when it is about 4" (or so) away from fully OFF. and be noticeably harder to push for the last inch, but not real hard. (this is the brake band tightening on the drum in the PTO unit.
Then pull it up and do the same feel.
The ON position should feel the same way.
The shaft should turn pretty free when the lever is half way, and not at all when in either ON, or OFF. (tractor shut off)
If it slips now, it needs a rebuild. JimN
 
Thanks 4 the thoughts on adjusting the bands.....had been in the unit far enough to see they look nearly new and the drums weren't scored etc. Had done the adjustments as per the book ( they are straight forward ). I will check it again just to re-assure myself that they are "tight"......should I take the unit off and bench it, what parts would be worn enough to cause this loud whine and slippage.....and where is it designed to "slip" when the lever is in the "off" position ? I read a lot of the archived articles and it seems this is a common problem 4 owners of this little machine...could hardly find any where an owner said " I fixed it ! My slippage is gone and I can mow again "....did this type of PTO unit carry on into other models in later years ?..........thanks again....Bill
 
Used into the 450 series where it was phased out within production (IIRC). The brake will allow a bush Hog type to slow to a stop from friction, When the lever is manually held in the mid travel position, it will coast. the brake is as powerful as the drive band, some feather it into brake position, I just lock it in to slow and stop it. (still original on our 350U. Jim
 

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