PTO handle

[The Kidd 5]

I recently bought a 312-8 and am having an issue with the blade PTO handle disengaging while mowing.   I tried adjusting PTO rod both longer and shorter but it seemed to either put too much tension on the rod or not enough to engage.   The Wheel Horse brand is new to me and I’ve only had it a couple of weeks.   Love the tractor but it is aggravating having to consistently engage the blade.    Any help is appreciated 

[peter lena 8,561]

THE KIDD , WELCOME TO THE SITE, there is a " sweet spot  " on the adjusting rod that will let you engage it ,and it should stay there, does the lever and related linkage move easily ? have you lubricated all movement points ?  you are probably close to the setting. do you know if you have another w/h owner in your area ? i ask , because if you do , you could get experienced help . as you push the lever forward , getting close to  drive function , there should be a definite forward stop / drive feel , moving the trunion back and forth should correct this . pete  

[Ed Kennell 37,922]

If it is disengaging, I would thing it needs a bit more tension(shortening the effective rod length by turning the trunnion one turn to the rear).

Can you post a picture so we can verify the trunnion plate is assembled correctly?

 

 to the

[The Kidd 5]

Don’t think there are any issues with the assembly.  Mower is excellent condition.  I adjusted trunnion 2 or 3 turns to lengthen.   Seemed very tight and actually wanted to disengage by just touching the lever.  then back to where I started.   Then adjusted to lengthen the rod about 3 turns and PTO didn’t sound lime it engaged the blade.

[Lee1977 6,631]

You have to shorten the rod to keep the PTO engaged. The PTO handle on my 312-8 is very light to engage, it's designed with a cam type lock that holds it in closed position once the handle is down and tighten up once goes down. Loosing or making the rod longer takes pressure off the PTO and will cause it to slip. If you have to keep adjusting the rod there is two things that can cause this: The out side c-clip on the short PTO shaft has come out of it;s grove or the other is a bad PTO bearing.

 

 

Edited April 20, 2020 by Lee1977

[Pullstart 62,655]

@The Kidd 

[Ed Kennell 37,922]

7 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

(shortening the effective rod length by turning the trunnion one turn to the rear)

Again, shorten the rod length by turning the trunnion one turn to the rear.  This is clockwise looking from front to rear.

If one turn is not enough, turn it one more turn and try it and repeat until tays engaged.

Also with the PTO engaged, check to be sure there is nothing interfering with the rod or the engagement lever.  The lever must go forward far enough to put the rod hole in the tab above the center line of the lever shaft. This cam action is what keeps the PTO engaged.

If that is not clear, I can get a picture showing the lever position tomorrow.

Edited April 20, 2020 by Ed Kennell

[The Kidd 5]

Thanks to everyone.  I have made the adjustment. Getting ready to mow and see whats happens

[12Horse Paladin 1,038]

Going to try n get some pics 2day to add, as im having to adjust mine as well...

Got a manual (thanks again, @Achto!), andbthe instruction was easy enough to follow, but it feels like maybe i did it backwards, as the handle worked better b4; least seems thatway to me, lol...

EDIT TO ADD:

Here are pics as to how ove set mine sofar.

Ive got the gap between as noted in the manual (1/16"), but now my handle seems to move sometimes while starting (or did; havent started since yesterday when i tried addressing things, to kno for sure yet). And now the handle seems to not operate as positively between positions as it did.

According to the manual, i set the trunion right, but now have doubts...?

Edited April 22, 2020 by 12Horse Paladin
Info added