I installed a snowblower on my x758 but I forgot to latch the draft arm rod to the latch plate (item 25 in the image below). So now the pto shaft rubs on the draft arm rod. For some reason I can't lift the draft arm rod high enough to sit in the cradle of the latch plate. Any idea what I'm doing wrong? Should the draft arm rod move freely or do I need to adjust the range/limit somehow so that the draft arm rod will go higher? thanks
draft arm on x758
iowguy
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
I installed a snowblower on my x758 but I forgot to latch the draft arm rod to the latch plate (item 25 in the image below). So now the pto shaft rubs on the draft arm rod. For some reason I can't lift the draft arm rod high enough to sit in the cradle of the latch plate. Any idea what I'm doing wrong? Should the draft arm rod move freely or do I need to adjust the range/limit somehow so that the draft arm rod will go higher? thanks
Attachments
Do you have auto-connect on the mower? If so, where is the PTO shaft stub currently located? If you missed the latching step earlier you may also have missed placing the PTO shaft in the hanger bracket and it might be in a place that is preventing the draft arm from raising all the way.
If it were me, I'd do this:
- Shut tractor off
- Remove front PTO drive shaft from rear PTO output
- Turn hydraulic diverter valve to summer mode
- Start tractor and lower draft arms all the way
- Shut off, get underneath and put autoconnect PTO shaft in hanger
- Start up, raise draft arms up, watching underneath to make sure PTO shaft stays in place and isn't binding with the draft arms
- Now you should be able to latch the draft arms up
- Shut off and replace the front PTO shaft to the output
- Turn diverter valve back to winter mode
Rob
If it were me, I'd do this:
- Shut tractor off
- Remove front PTO drive shaft from rear PTO output
- Turn hydraulic diverter valve to summer mode
- Start tractor and lower draft arms all the way
- Shut off, get underneath and put autoconnect PTO shaft in hanger
- Start up, raise draft arms up, watching underneath to make sure PTO shaft stays in place and isn't binding with the draft arms
- Now you should be able to latch the draft arms up
- Shut off and replace the front PTO shaft to the output
- Turn diverter valve back to winter mode
Rob
Joined
·
4,589 Posts
The draft arms will just lift enough to bend the latch if it’s not pinned out of the way. You can just push/lift the draft arms to latch in the full up position. It looks like the latch is only for keeping the draft arms from rubbing the driveshaft. I have a post about the same latch, only because I hadn’t pinned it out of the way and bent it. The newer latches have more clearance. Also, if the latch doesn’t move freely, the locknut on the mounting bolt is too tight.
https://www.mytractorforum.com/12-john-deere-forum/1302531-x738-deck-draft-arm-latch.html
BigBlue had a good suggestion about the Auto-Connect, but you must have it disconnected if you have the driveshaft installed. Just make sure the Auto-Connect is up in its hanger and not stopping the draft arm.
Right, I knew he had the mower's PTO shaft disconnected but that doesn't mean it was stored in the hanger... It may be the thing keeping the draft arms from being able to be pushed all the way up if it is hanging 'limp' and getting stuck on something else.
Rob
How about taking the draft arm/auto connect off for the winter? I haven't done it for a while but it seemed pretty easy at the time with just a few pins to pull if I remember correctly. Doing so would keep all the winter grunge/water out of the auto connect shaft and bearings.
Joined
·
4,589 Posts
FWIW My draft arms won’t lift all the way either resulting in the draft arm sitting on the driveshaft. I have to lift them by hand about half an inch to get the latch in place to hold it. Seems to be the reason for the latch.
I never tried lifting the draft arm with the valve closed so I can’t comment on needing to turn the valve open. I can attest to the fact the draft arms have to be down to put the Auto-Connect driveshaft into the hanger, but arms have to be raised to get the driveshaft into the fully stowed position.
I never tried lifting the draft arm with the valve closed so I can’t comment on needing to turn the valve open. I can attest to the fact the draft arms have to be down to put the Auto-Connect driveshaft into the hanger, but arms have to be raised to get the driveshaft into the fully stowed position.
Joined
·
4,589 Posts
So what did you find out? Was there something keeping the draft arm from going all the way up? Finding your problem, may help others with theirs.
Hi. Thank you for all of the responses. I'm sorry that I didn't reply sooner.
My x758 doesn't have auto connect.
I was able to finally get the draft arm rod to latch to the latch plate. I'm not sure what I did that allowed for the draft arm to raise the additional 3/4" so that it would fit in the latch plate.
It is very possible that opening the hydraulics diverter valve did it. I also tried changing the depth stop, disconnecting the hoses to the quick tach, raising and lowering the snow blower. Something I did eventually gave the draft arm another 3/4" or so of play.
My x758 doesn't have auto connect.
I was able to finally get the draft arm rod to latch to the latch plate. I'm not sure what I did that allowed for the draft arm to raise the additional 3/4" so that it would fit in the latch plate.
It is very possible that opening the hydraulics diverter valve did it. I also tried changing the depth stop, disconnecting the hoses to the quick tach, raising and lowering the snow blower. Something I did eventually gave the draft arm another 3/4" or so of play.
Joined
·
4,589 Posts
Great to hear. Second, third, fourth time is the charm.
I asked the regional John Deere rep where to find the procedure. He got back to me and said it’s in the front PTO manual. I read through it and it’s barely enough when installing the blower and nothing when going the other direction. I wouldn’t have been looking if I hadn’t bent my latch and had to replace it. I have a post on it.1 - 10 of 10 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
