A few more questions about the 1948 ZTN

I have a few more questions about this tractor, which I can't answer from my shop manual.
1. The rockshaft engagement lever is attached to a shaft the goes inside the PTO assembly. It leaks pretty bad. Is there an internal O ring, and can the PTO assy be removed without draining the differential fluid? There is a drain plug just in front of the shaft (pictured), which I presume lowers the level in the PTO and not the entire differential. It's too bad about the leak, because NOTHING else leaks on this tractor.
2. What do the 2 adjustment screws pictured do? One is on the shift lever cover, the other just below the steering support on the top of the diff cover.
3. I have a 'clank' in the area of the clutch when the motor is running. Removal of the inspection cover and you can really hear it. I can reach in and rock the clutch assy maybe 5-10 degrees of rotation, with the motor off of course. Is this normal?
4. Are these MM motors pretty thirsty? Seems like I go through 10 gallons of fuel in no-time. I have been using this tractor to drag the arena.... but man does it gulp the fuel.
Luv this old girl....really has character and a lot of low end grunt for pulling.
Thank is advance.

mr.precision,

1- The PTO can be removed, without draining the tranny case, by placing the front wheels in a hole, or down hill. The cork oil seal is probably dried out and needs replaced.

2- The one stud is the lock out to keep the tranny from being put into fifth gear; in case the tractor came with steel wheels.

3- I suggest you adjust the carb high speed screw in, a lot on that TSX97. Maybe a good clean up, a new needle and seat, a float adjust, and a carb gasket set will work wonders for a fuel gulper. A well tuned Z is a fuel sipping machine that runs all day on one tank of fuel. When I was a pup; our ZTU would go all day on one tank. I got mighty tired trying to run her out of fuel on days I wanted to do something else.

Happy motoring.
Charlie at
Moline Parts

The noise you are hearing from the clutch area is more than likely normal clutch noise. I
have that on my ZA. The clutch disc plate has teeth on it that run inside the flywheel which
also has teeth. I believe that is where the noise comes from.

Thanks for the tips.
I rebuilt the carb recently, but could not remove the "economizer jet" as it was stuck in place. The carb still runs rich, with the idle jet turned out 4 turns and the load needle screwed in until the engine starts to die, then backed out 1/4 turn. I suspect that failure to remove the economizer jet is the source of the problem. Can the jet be drilled out, re-tapped and replaced?
Can I use a modern O ring in place of the cork seal? Charlie, do you have these cork seals?
Thanks again-
Mike

If I remember correctly from the manual on my ZA which should be about the same as a ZT, two
turns out on the idle jet and two turns out on the main jet to get the tractor running and
then adjust from there. 4 out on either is a bit much which I suspect might be why it is
loading up.

A note of caution, The PTO.Power Lift unit is VERY heavy. Be carefull , Mite be good to have someone help you take it off. If you need more foot room on the platform , leave the unit off and put a cover over the opening. If you do that , be sure to take the P T O mid shaft out , if not , it can slide back and roll around in the rear end. BTDT !
The rattle from the clutch is normal for M-M s with hand clutches. clint