Sos Guru Question Pto issue

Paging Larry Texas or Tony. Or anyone that is familiar with SOS's. My father is working on a 3cyl 1966 SOS 4000. The SOS works in all gears and shifts really well, but when I pulled the pto nothing happened. The transmission was making a wierd noise like a dry bearing or the sound of a dry tach cable. I cleaned the cable and oiled it but still noise. I was getting pretty worried, but then noticed that there was a lever ahead and below my left foot as sitting which the manual states is a two speed pto lever. I moved it and the noise went away and the pto works fine, but when I put the pto lever at my foot back in neutral it makes the noise again. If I leave it engaged it makes no noise whether or not the pto t handle is pulled. Otherwise works flawlessly so just keep it in pto, but? It sounds like if I found a place to lubricate it would take care of it. Just seeing how you would approach this or if you would worry about it.
Second. The SOS handle is on the left side of the shifter and I would like to move it to the right, but it doesn't come off easy. The acorn on the right does. Any tricks to this?
Third. The numbers that tell you which gear you are in are partly worn off. Is there a decal for this?

Last. I will do the maintenance on it with a new filter and good quality oil, but is there anything in the shifter that I should lubricate like the shifter cable to make sure we dont have problems.

Thanks for your assistance.

Does the PTO turn Off and On with the T handle when the lever on the side of the trans in 540 or 1000? If so you"re cable is adjusted properly. There is another lever on the left side towards the rear of the housing for "Ground Speed" PTO. The forward lever must be in Neutral before you can engage the Ground Speed lever.
The SOS shifter parts are often corroded together. You can try spraying PB Blaster all over the parts internally and then pry on the caps with a couple of screwdrivers but you are very likely going to break something if you pry too hard.
George Bradish sells new gear indicator decals.

Texas,

I'm pretty sure you could get two speed PTO (forward lever) without having to get the ground speed option (rear lever). I worked on a tractor just the other day that only had the forward lever.

Also, the interlock you're talking about with regards to the rear lever works in conjunction with the PTO on-off control, not the forward 2-speed PTO lever.

I am not your guru, but perhaps can help a little. The SOS with the two speed PTO is called the deluxe SOS , and should also have an additional lever on the left side, aft of the running board for ground speed control. The cable you pull does not turn, simply activates a hydraulic valve which engages the PTO clutch. The two speed lever you mention switches inside the casing and is lubricated with hydraulic fluid, assuming the fluid level is correct. The shift lever is steel mounted on an aluminum spline. Famous for breaking the shaft if corroded on. You don't want to have to find another. No longer available at CNH. Very pricey if you find one. Sounds like the two speed lever is not centering in neutral. If all other aspects work, I would live with it. Hope this helps.

Thanks for responding guys. The pto engages and disengages with the t handle when the lower left lever is engaged. If I rememeber right the lever has three positions. Is the middle the neutral? It only makes noise when the lever is in what I believe is neutral and if in another position it does not. Fluid level is correct, however I have not changed the fluid. I will.

Hello Jason , The neutral position on the forward lever is for ground speed use , which is when the lever towards the back of the trans. is engaged . The front lever should stay in either 540 or 1000 rpm depending on which speed you are using . I have never personally used or worked on a three speed pto three cylinder tractor(540 single speed is more common) but have done both on 4 cylinder tractors but have never run across a noise in neutral position but then again have never left the front lever in neutral because there is no reason to either it should be either in 540 or 1000 and right now I do not a have a three speed pto 4 cylinder here right now to check to see if it would make noise . My guess would be that the lever adjustment is not correct allowing the fork and or gears to rub the gear that it is suppose to be engaged with rather than in the full neutral postion , the manual should give you lever adjustments in it . Sometimes the corrosion between the parts is a real bit--, keep using PB Blaster and keep working at it , that's what I do . George Braddish Tractor should have the decal for the selector I loaned him my originals to use as patterns . Ford filter and Valvoline VV813 oil . I disassemble the ENTIRE SHIFTER clean it and pack with a synthetic grease or White lube if it does not get to cold where you are . Brush the grease on the cables before you stick them back in the casings so there is plenty or lube on them . Inside the shifter itself where the cable wheel winds up the cable I pack that also and of course where the shaft rotates in the housing . I do not lube where the shifter handle slides on the side of the housing because that will collect dirt and dust and act like valve grinding compound and wear the case halves out faster . Thanks Tony

Guess I missed this one. Sounds like the guys pretty much got it handled for ya!