300U band adjustment - exit speech

So Jim, and others here and there, here is how my day went. Printed another set of your previous instructions regarding the adjustments along with those from Mark/MI and others. Before I had at it I checked the fluid and it was full but pretty dark, so I drained and refilled it. Then I backed off the screws and started from scratch on the adjustment. After reading it a couple times I figured out what you wanted me to do but, quite frankly, the solution to my problem still eluded me. Looked at that linkage again and decided I needed to shorten it to compensate for an issue with the control arm and then started all over with the adjustment. This time things started to work out. The control arm moved more freely and the PTO only turned in the mid range. So I started her up and, yes, it turned when engaged and stopped when disengaged! Onliest thing is, it still has a howl of sorts which is mostly noticeable at low RPMs and only when disengaged. As long as nothing is rubbing that you know of which might wear out and cost me a lot of money or, worse yet, time...I can live with the howl. I cannot tell you the PTO will work under load because I haven't tested that yet but I'm hoping it will. Appreciate all the help over these past couple weeks! Never would have done it without you. So the howl is going to be OK, right? If so, I'm outta here!!!

The Howl will be OK. It may go away with use. There may be a seasonal disconnect. (used primarily to get rid of the howl. Under the trans, a slotted lever with a bolt holding it in position. loosening it and turning to the other extreme stops the PTO. When not needed. Jim

Hi, Dave.

Glad to hear that it all turned out well. It's also good that it's in the archives for the "next guy."

My I350U has the exact same howl you described. I've just left the PTO engaged, but I've been a little concerned about safety. It's good to know that the howl is normal so I can leave it disengaged instead.

As for seasonal disconnects, my I300U has one but my I350U doesn't. Maybe it's a model-specific thing; I don't know.

Mark W. in MI

Whether your tractor has a seasonal disconnect or not apparently depends on the day of the week it was built and the phase of the moon.