[Watch me whip]

We've been having a problem with the pto not working on our mx 170. For a while now it's occasionally not turned on but shutting the tractor off and restarting it seemed to remedy that. Now that's not solving the problem any more. When I put the lever on it will show green for a little bit like it does when it's going but then it starts flashing and the pto never starts.

 

[Watch me whip]

Switch seems good and speed sensor seems good according to our tests.

 

[rockydirtfarmer]

Do you have a digital dash? Also there is a censor on the back end of the tractor that can get un plugged ... covered in oil... or get a loose connection.. usually they start and then quit cause the pto censor doesn't read rotation ...

 

[rockydirtfarmer]

Also the dash has to be able to read rpms ... {if it s a digital dash} or the pto wont work either.

 

[garyfunk]

If your alternator is failing it won't read rpms and the pto won't work.

 

[Watch me whip]

Digital dash yes.So Garyfunk do you know in that case would it not even turn on or would it just shut off once its going?

 

[Dialed In]

I have had them do both when the tach lead on the alternator is failing, not turn on at all or start then shut off after 5 seconds. The last one I worked on I checked the AC voltage at the W terminal, the bad alternator was putting out 4.5 volts which was enough to get a RPM reading on the dash but not enough for the PTO controller to activate the PTO. I installed a new alternator and tested the W terminal and got 7 volts AC. So I would check the AC volts on the W terminal, if they are good and you have a RPM reading on the dash the issue may be between the PTO controller and the dash if they are low replace the alternator.

 

[garyfunk]

Digital dash yes.So Garyfunk do you know in that case would it not even turn on or would it just shut off once its going?

In my experience with our tm130 it wouldn't turn on.

 

[Watch me whip]

Very good to know! I'll look into that and give an update here. We've been busy doing fall work in the meantime so haven't had time to go after it again