The PTO clutch of your farm machinery can go bad over time and stop working. Thankfully, bad PTO clutches present a host of symptoms to help you determine what to fix. The most common symptoms of bad PTO clutch are unusual noises, delayed engagement, loss of power, excessive heat after engaging the PTO, fluid leaks, high engine revs, and failure to disengage.
Before determining whether to repair or replace a bad PTO clutch, it’s necessary to be familiar with these symptoms. Read on as I detail the most common symptoms of a faulty PTO clutch.
Contents
Delayed Engagement
Usually, a bad PTO clutch takes longer to engage. Some people claim the PTO can take up to 30 seconds or longer before engaging.
It’s worth noting that the PTO clutch engages slowly to allow a smooth power transfer to the component. Slow engagement helps to keep the clutch and drive belt in good condition for an extended period. However, if it takes longer than usual to engage, it could indicate a problem with the PTO system.
If the PTO clutch is slow to engage, the culprit could be the clutch. Check if there’s something stuck in the unit, causing the clutch to be jammed. The clutch can cause delayed engagement if it’s not receiving power from the gearbox or switch.
Unusual Noises
The PTO system makes some noise when engaging or disengaging the clutch. However, your PTO clutch could be faulty if you notice a chirping, whirring, or grinding noise.
To determine if the noise indicates a problem with the clutch, turn off the engine and release or press down the PTO clutch. When the machine is in neutral, the noise disappears after depressing the clutch pedal.
An awkward noise is a telltale sign of a defective PTO clutch and the release mechanism. You’ll usually hear unusual noises if there’s a lubrication issue.
Inadequate lubrication causes excessive friction in the gears resulting in the grinding noise. If not resolved, this problem causes the gears to wear and break.
Another component that might cause the unusual noise is the input shaft bearing. A worn or inadequately lubricated bearing can result in an odd noise.
Power Loss
If the PTO unit has a lubrication problem, you might notice various symptoms of bad PTO clutch. For example, the PTO might lose power and fail to function correctly.
Inadequate lubrication causes the PTO clutch to become stuck or fail to move. When this happens, less or no power reaches your PTO unit.
Another possible cause of power loss in the unit is a faulty PTO switch. Some bad PTO switch symptoms resemble those of a defective PTO clutch. You may encounter problems when engaging or disengaging the PTO.
When the PTO switch goes bad, it may fail to handle the electrical load in the unit. As a result, power won’t be transmitted from the switch to the clutch.
Excessive Heat
Does the PTO unit feel hot to the touch when operating the machine? The PTO gets hot when in use, but if it becomes excessively hot, you might have a faulty clutch.
If the clutch generates excessive heat, the gears might be grinding or stuck together. Like several other symptoms of bad PTO clutch, you might notice extreme heat if the gears lack enough lubricant. When this happens, the gears grind and cause more friction, increasing the PTO unit’s temperature.
Fluid Leaking From the System
When you see fluid leaking from the PTO system, the problem could be a faulty PTO clutch. It can be challenging to detect leakage in the PTO system. However, you can look for signs such as discoloration or wetness around the system. Alternatively, check the ground beneath the PTO system for dampness.
A worn-out or cracked PTO clutch could be the primary cause of fluid leakage. This results in the lubrication running low. Eventually, your machine may lose power, become excessively hot and cause the gears to wear.
If you have a problem with leaking fluid, address it quickly to avoid further damage and costly repairs.
High Engine Revs
This is another common symptom of a bad PTO clutch. High engine revs occur when you engage the PTO to transfer power to the implement. This symptom may indicate there’s a problem when transmitting power.
In most cases, a defective bearing in the unit is the cause of the high engine revs. If you have a bad bearing, it doesn’t spin smoothly, causing the engine to use more power.
High engine revs can also occur if the PTO pulley has a problem. In this case, the engine must run at high RPM to move the PTO pulley.
PTO Not Disengaging
A faulty clutch can cause the PTO to stay engaged even after disengaging it.
If the PTO does not disengage, the wiring on the PTO clutch could be the culprit. Check for damaged wires or poor connections and fix them.
Another cause of PTO not disengaging is the incorrect installation of the PTO clutch. The PTO won’t disengage if the gap between the release fingers is too wide. Thankfully, you can resolve this problem by adjusting the clutch pedal to allow it to move further.
How To Test a PTO Clutch
If you notice the above symptoms of a faulty PTO clutch, you can initiate several tests to determine the cause of the problem. Below are the tests to consider.
- Check for physical damage on the PTO clutch. Locate the PTO clutch assembly and look for cracks, excessive wear, or broken parts.
- Engage and disengage the PTO clutch while listening for whirring or grinding noises. You can also observe for any unusual vibration.
- Engage the PTO and test the flow of electrical current using an ammeter. The culprit could be the battery or wiring if there’s no current flow.
- Turn the PTO on and off and listen for an engagement and disengagement noise. Failure to hear the noise indicates a problem with your PTO clutch.
- Check for continuity on your PTO switch using a multimeter. The PTO switch doesn’t send signals to your clutch if there’s no continuity.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the common symptoms of bad PTO clutch helps you find the solutions quickly. However, some of these symptoms can result from other issues with your machine. So, before you rule out the cause of the problem, test your PTO clutch. Alternatively, hire a professional mechanic to diagnose the problem and fix it.
Hello! My name is Chris, and I am the founder of Yard Floor. When I was a toddler, my family had a lush green lawn. I was at the center of caring for and maintaining this lawn and even proceeded to take an associate’s Degree in landscaping. I am here to share my years of experience with you – be it repairing your mower/tractor or caring for your lawn.
