GF 1800 mower not turning

[clipper]

Love my GF 1800, unfortunately I said that to someone today. So of course, well you know.
Mowing deck stopped, and a loud whine started. disengaged the deck opened it up, cleaned it and took a look. Belt is good, pulleys and wheels all operating, coupler attached and turning the shaft has everything moving freely on the deck. I engage the mower and slight action on the belt, and the whine starts again. PTO is what I am guessing.
what should I be looking for,

 

[BruceP]

Is that a SHAFT driven deck? From your description, it sounds as if the gearbox may have problems.

 

[clipper]

Is that a SHAFT driven deck? From your description, it sounds as if the gearbox may have problems.

Yes it is shaft drive

 

[Dave_eng]

Yes it is shaft drive

Check the lube level kin the gearbox if it is shaft driven.

I would loosen the deck belt and run the mower to see if the noise persists. If it does then gearbox is suspect.

If the noise goes away, then check idler pulley(s) on the deck.

Dave

 

[clipper]

On further investigation the PTO is not engaging the drive shaft to the deck. I have found that a plug on the fill port extension was missing on the PTO, and the fluid level was nonexistent. It looks like grass clippings have entered thru the fill port extension next to the dipstick. Any help on how to clean would be helpful.

 

[lugbolt]

well if the pto shaft turns but the blade pulley don't, you have a gearbox problem. Remove it disassmble it and inspect for the damage.

if the pto shaft does not turn when engaged, you have a transmi$$ion problem.

 

[GeoHorn]

On further investigation the PTO is not engaging the drive shaft to the deck. I have found that a plug on the fill port extension was missing on the PTO, and the fluid level was nonexistent. It looks like grass clippings have entered thru the fill port extension next to the dipstick. Any help on how to clean would be helpful.

Fill it with fluid and replace the plug and operate it. Hopefully it will do just fine. Don’t worry about a few grass clippings.

 

[clipper]

Fill it with fluid and replace the plug and operate it. Hopefully it will do just fine. Don’t worry about a few grass clippings.

Thanks GeoHorn, I did just that with no luck. The PTO is screaming. I took it in to my service company they are quoting a couple of thousand bucks to rebuild. 1600 hours on this unit, still in good shape but I am reluctant to invest that much. I am in the process of relocating from 5 acres to 1 acre. I also checked with another service shop, they were in the same ballpark for repair costs. Kinda in a quandary on which direction to take.