Engaging the PTO caused a stall?

[Indy443 30]

I thought this was unusual. This afternoon I started my 312-8 to do a few finish passes with the snowblower. Pushing the PTO lever all the way forward caused the tractor to immediately bog down and stall. If I pushed the lever only 1/4 of the way the belt would spin and the auger would turn. All the way forward and it would bog and stall. So, I drove up the drive with the PTO pushed the 1/4 to clear what I intended. After about 50ft I pushed the PTO all the way forward and it did not cause the tractor to stall? Worked fine from then on out.

Any ideas what this was, and why it may have happened?

Thank you-

[doc724 925]

Just guessing here. Maybe ice in the auger chain or in the auger? Pushing the PTO lever part way allowed the belt to slip (you should have smelled it), but it was enough to break whatever was preventing movement of the auger and once the obstacle was out of the way, it was business as usual.

[papaglide 542]

Maybe the engine wasn't warmed up? During the winter my 416-8 will bog down when I first start it and push the choke off and try to throttle it up right away. Even with the choke at 2/3rd closed she'll bog down when I throttle up. She needs about 1 minute or so to "act" normal. Just a thought.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,158]

Sounds more like it was a safety switch problem..... like maybe one was a little iced up? :confusion-shrug:

[Wheel-N-It 2,972]

You need to park Your Wheel Horse in a building. Keeping them outside even with a cover on is not good.

[IthacaJeff 151]

If the engine does not bog down and stall -- like it is being overloaded -- then it most certainly

sounds like a safety switch issue. Because the auger spins at 1/4 lever engagement, I'm betting

the seat switch is somehow messing up with the PTO safety switch. Try engaging the PTO

safety switch by itself (just inside the side of the dash connected to the PTO lever) and see

what happens.

 

Jeff

[tarcoleo 119]

Voting for the "cold engine" opinion.

 

Tom

[Indy443 30]

Sounds more like it was a safety switch problem..... like maybe one was a little iced up?

 

TT I have a feeling you are right about this, but I do not know how to verify it? Of the tree of dash lights, the 'Seat Safety Switch' light stayed lit up. The tractor does not stall out when I get off the seat, and it came that way. Is that the normal operating procedure?

 

Also, what do others do who not have a toasty garage to store and de-ice their Horse in? I do not (sore subject). I do however keep mine covered any time it is not in operation with a 4 season ATV cover. It keeps the ice and snow from sitting on the tractor but it is by no means comparable to a heated garage. I would love to know (see) what others do who do not have this luxury. It's funny how since getting this tractor I am wishing for a garage more than ever. The cars can sit in the weather. The 312-8....it breaks my heart to see it shivering out in the cold!

 

Thanks for any info

[leeave96 488]

I think what you are going to have to do is get the wiring diagram, find the safety switch associated with the PTO lever.  With the engine OFF, check the switch to see if it's open or closed with a multimeter, then engage the PTO and see if there is a change.  The switch is either open or closed and vise-versa as the PTO is engaged/disengaged.  If there's no change - there's your problem.

[dbartlett1958 96]

TT is right on this one.  Anyone with a working PTO switch can duplicate this by trying to engage the PTO when out of the seat.  If you push the PTO lever slowly, things will start to engage even if out of the seat, but when you push further, the switch will engage and shut things down.

[tunahead72 2,528]

Also, what do others do who not have a toasty garage to store and de-ice their Horse in? I do not (sore subject). I do however keep mine covered any time it is not in operation with a 4 season ATV cover. It keeps the ice and snow from sitting on the tractor but it is by no means comparable to a heated garage. I would love to know (see) what others do who do not have this luxury. It's funny how since getting this tractor I am wishing for a garage more than ever. The cars can sit in the weather. The 312-8....it breaks my heart to see it shivering out in the cold!

 

A lack of a garage is a sore point for me, too.  I keep all my lawn equipment in an unheated 12'x20' wood-framed shed (plywood floor, set on pressure-treated timbers on top of a very thick gravel base).  It's not ideal, but at least it keeps everything dry and off the ground (which helps keep moisture away), and keeps most of the critters away.

[IthacaJeff 151]

I understand the sore spot. No garage here either, but a 22 x 22 shed that stores my tools

(including table saw), garden tools, kids' toys (6 kids), and two WHs. The implements and

Deutz-Allis 1920 are outside. Dirt/gravel floor; cold, damp and with one side partially open it

can be snowy as well.

 

But, I have a house that can hold all the kids, 7 acres for them to play, and a happy wife.

The garage can wait.

 

Jeff

[tunahead72 2,528]

But, I have a house that can hold all the kids, 7 acres for them to play, and a happy wife.

The garage can wait.

 

Thanks for the reminder, Jeff.

 

It's good to keep things in perspective.

[ericj 1,579]

i keep my good ones inside and as many as i can, i have a 12x20 which sounded big when i bought it, and a 10x14 that i got from a neighbor.i can only get 7 or 8 inside the rest set outside under tarps. use to use the gray or blue plastic tarps but now got some rubber roofing and cut it down to fit the tractors. my workers stay in the sheds or one in the garage. i would really like to keep them all in but that just can't happen. i trying to save  money and buy a enclosed trailer to keep the nice one or show ones in and then free up space in the sheds for the other ones. then i can just hook up to trailer and go to the shows. sorry didn't mean to hi-jack this thread

 

 

eric j