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Hello,
Advice sought please : my 1998 MTD Yard Man lawn tractor keeps damaging the wiring to the PTO clutch. The wiring under the machine runs close to the deck drive belt and pulleys. The top of the clutch (which contains the plug for the wiring from the switch) is not fixed and can rotate partly which presumably flexes the wiring, causing it to rub against the pulleys etc. Has anyone else encountered this problem and can offer a solution please?

Make sure the stop for the pto clutch isn't broken or worn in two, which will cause over rotation, and break or pull the wires out of the clutch. Also is there any way to possibly zip tie the wires up out of the way.

ILENGINE said:

Make sure the stop for the pto clutch isn't broken or worn in two, which will cause over rotation, and break or pull the wires out of the clutch. Also is there any way to possibly zip tie the wires up out of the way.

Click to expand...

Thanks very much for your advice - I will check both of these possibles.

ILENGINE said:

Make sure the stop for the pto clutch isn't broken or worn in two, which will cause over rotation, and break or pull the wires out of the clutch. Also is there any way to possibly zip tie the wires up out of the way.

Click to expand...

Hi again,
I have had a look under the chassis and found what I think is the stop - a 1/4" dia. shaft about 6" long and threaded at the chasis end. This is presently angled towards the front of the mower and will semi rotate - it is stopped from going round any further by the thread hitting the engine crankcase!! The shaft has some notches in it (possibly from wear) which seem to line up with a pully if the shaft were angled vertically. The end of the shaft is square and at the moment does not seem to do anything. The top of the PTO clutch has a prominent feature of 2 arms in which there are forks - I am wondering if the shaft is supposed to be mounted in 1 of these or an arm is supposed to hit the shaft as the top of the PTO attempts to turn. I have added a photo of the PTO and shaft in case anyone out there can relate to and help with my problem.

Something like that would be the stop. In this case it looks like it is too long and doesn't belong. May be somebody substituted that for the stop bolt that is supposed to be there.

Usually there will be a plate that engages in the slot right next to that rod in the photo or its mate at the other end.
I have bever seen a clutch like yours on a Yardman so suspect a "Hillbilly" modification to a clutch they had on hand as clutches are not cheap.
As you have not posted your model or serial numbers you will need to go and check the parts diagrams yourself.
www.partstree.com dial in your numbers or do an MTD search then check what should have under there then work out a work around.
The clutch should be a litle loose so the anchor pin/plate must not be as thick as the slot.
And they take a pounding so grade 8 or better bolts are a good idea.

bertsmobile1 said:

Usually there will be a plate that engages in the slot right next to that rod in the photo or its mate at the other end.
I have bever seen a clutch like yours on a Yardman so suspect a "Hillbilly" modification to a clutch they had on hand as clutches are not cheap.
As you have not posted your model or serial numbers you will need to go and check the parts diagrams yourself.
www.partstree.com dial in your numbers or do an MTD search then check what should have under there then work out a work around.
The clutch should be a litle loose so the anchor pin/plate must not be as thick as the slot.
And they take a pounding so grade 8 or better bolts are a good idea.

Click to expand...

Brilliant - thank you very much.