Interesting 3-pt repair and question

[SerLongfellow]

Howdy all! New tractor owner here.

Just got my first tractor, a 1989 L2550DT. Runs like a top but has certainly been put to work in its lifetime. I've been looking it over and looking through the manual / parts diagram to figure out what all I need to fix, etc. I noticed there was no drawbar under the PTO, and also some weird stuff was going on with the right 3pt pivot. Best I can tell, the original pivot lobe on the brake case broke, so the previous owner rigged up this system with the drawbar bolted in as a makeshift pivot. It works . I do wish I had a proper drawbar, but I suspect it probably wouldn't fit with this rig in place. Maybe I'll try to source a new brake case some day to fix that... but anywho!

The PTO doesn't work - I knew this when I bought it. Won't engage. My question is - with this makeshift drawbar pivot, does it look to y'all like I can I even still fit a driveshaft on this PTO? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth fixing the PTO in the first place, but I don't have any PTO implements to test with.

 

[GeoHorn]

I believe you’ve already identified the issues.

1: the ”farmerized” right-side-lift-arm modification will not likely let you use a PTO implement due to insufficient clearance…
2: IF you could get the PTO to work….
3: IF you can even find another donor-tractor to make a transplant-casting for the rt-side lift-arm mount.

However, I can see a couple ways to repair that lift-arm issue without another casting, mainly by creating a “bridge” from the left-side to the rt side to support that rt lift-arm, which will also let you use the PTO…IF you can fix that as well.

 

[SerLongfellow]

I believe you’ve already identified the issues.

1: the ”farmerized” right-side-lift-arm modification will not likely let you use a PTO implement due to insufficient clearance…
2: IF you could get the PTO to work….
3: IF you can even find another donor-tractor to make a transplant-casting for the rt-side lift-arm mount.

However, I can see a couple ways to repair that lift-arm issue without another casting, mainly by creating a “bridge” from the left-side to the rt side to support that rt lift-arm, which will also let you use the PTO…IF you can fix that as well.

Ah you mean something like using a longer rod that spans all the way across both sides? Since the right side still has one lobe in place... That's a good idea, hadn't thought of that. Maybe with some kind of welded support on the right side and/or something to keep that arm from wandering laterally.

Is that what you're thinking?

 

[PoTreeBoy]

There are several possibilities for repairing the 3ph. That's the transmission case that broke, it's no longer available new but a couple of guys on here have salvage yards and could have one, as well as the draw bar parts.

The PTO, does the shift lever move and does it move the linkage going into the case? Can you turn the PTO shaft both directions with the lever in both positions? Any difference in the feel? Does this tractor have mid-PTO? There would be a second shift lever for that, I think .

 

[NCL4701]

Definitely don’t have clearance for a PTO shaft U-joint. You might have enough clearance for a PTO extender or over run clutch. Even if that made the PTO accessible, it’s kind of a bodged workaround to compensate for a prior bodged repair. But it’s cheap, easy, and if it doesn’t work you could return the extender/over run clutch for a refund.

I agree with @GeoHorn. Long term best option is to make a better repair, and his idea sounds pretty good.

 

[SerLongfellow]

There are several possibilities for repairing the 3ph. That's the transmission case that broke, it's no longer available new but a couple of guys on here have salvage yards and could have one, as well as the draw bar parts.

The PTO, does the shift lever move and does it move the linkage going into the case? Can you turn the PTO shaft both directions with the lever in both positions? Any difference in the feel? Does this tractor have mid-PTO? There would be a second shift lever for that, I think .

Good to know about the salvage folks on here. I believe I found one on All State Ag Parts as well, so definitely seems like there are a few floating around.

The PTO shift lever does move. I haven't dug in enough yet to see how the linkage is moving, but just from feel it's moving something. But I can turn the shaft in both directions no matter the lever position. No difference in feel. I tried engaging the PTO with the tractor on, and starting the tractor with it engaged. Both cases nothing at all, like nothing was changed. No noises or grinding, etc.

It would be great if it was just a linkage adjustment but I'm not getting my hopes up.

No mid PTO on this guy (unless I'm really missing something).

Also, you're sure it's the trans case? Best I could tell from parts diagrams, it's the brake case that sits between the trans and the axle case.

 

[SerLongfellow]

Definitely don’t have clearance for a PTO shaft U-joint. You might have enough clearance for a PTO extender or over run clutch. Even if that made the PTO accessible, it’s kind of a bodged workaround to compensate for a prior bodged repair. But it’s cheap, easy, and if it doesn’t work you could return the extender/over run clutch for a refund.

I agree with @GeoHorn. Long term best option is to make a better repair, and his idea sounds pretty good.

Gotcha, thanks for the affirmation and additional ideas!

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Also, you're sure it's the trans case? Best I could tell from parts diagrams, it's the brake case that sits between the trans and the axle case.

I believe you're right. It's the brake case.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Good to know about the salvage folks on here. I believe I found one on All State Ag Parts as well, so definitely seems like there are a few floating around.

The PTO shift lever does move. I haven't dug in enough yet to see how the linkage is moving, but just from feel it's moving something. But I can turn the shaft in both directions no matter the lever position. No difference in feel. I tried engaging the PTO with the tractor on, and starting the tractor with it engaged. Both cases nothing at all, like nothing was changed. No noises or grinding, etc.

It would be great if it was just a linkage adjustment but I'm not getting my hopes up.

No mid PTO on this guy (unless I'm really missing something).

Also, you're sure it's the trans case? Best I could tell from parts diagrams, it's the brake case that sits between the trans and the axle case.

I don't know if there's any adjustment, but there's a pin that could shear, I think. The linkage moves a shift fork, which could be broken. There's an overrunning clutch, which has been known to give trouble. Also some shaft couplings. Anything internal requires opening the transmission, I think but I'm no expert.

 

[SerLongfellow]

I don't know if there's any adjustment, but there's a pin that could shear, I think. The linkage moves a shift fork, which could be broken. There's an overrunning clutch, which has been known to give trouble. Also some shaft couplings. Anything internal requires opening the transmission, I think but I'm no expert.

Gotcha . I'll try to update this thread as I get stuff figured out and fixed, for posterity if nothing else