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i have a 20hp twin briggs that had a blown head gasket that soaked the entire front end above and below

i cleaned it all up and replaced the belts and everything is functioning ok except the PTO that was working perfectly before all this happened

now the PTO is only turning the blades at 1/4-1/5th normal speed but the belt isnt slipping so i assume it has to be the PTO has oil inside the clutch

the question is, how to fix this? should i just soak the entire PTO in a bucket of gas to clean the oil out?

i thought about using carb cleaner on it but im afraid that could cause issues with the electrics

Triple check that you have routed the belt properly and the idler pulleys and idler arm are moving freely. Personally I don’t think the problem is in the clutch.

Rivets said:

Triple check that you have routed the belt properly and the idler pulleys and idler arm are moving freely. Personally I don’t think the problem is in the clutch.

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it has a brand new belt, the PTO pulley was wiped off with a rag and carb cleaner to remove any oil residue as were the deck pulleys, the belt is tight and fully on all pulleys

i can see it working and everything is in order but the PTO pulley is not turning full speed of crankshaft

when it blew the head gasket it soaked everything in oil and it was dripping from everywhere, i only got maybe half a quart of oil out of the block so i really blew just about all of the oil out

the PTO was working great before it blew the head gasket, what else could it be if not a slipping PTO clutch? the operation is perfectly silent though so no squeal or noise is coming from the PTO

Spray some degreaser into the clutch or some brake cleaner into the clutch, between the plates.
Usually oil does not worry them

bertsmobile1 said:

Spray some degreaser into the clutch or some brake cleaner into the clutch, between the plates.
Usually oil does not worry them

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so carb cleaner is ok? i was scared carb cleaner might mess up the electrics

or should i go buy some brake cleaner to be safe?

Don't know. I have never tried it
But degreaser & brake cleaner definately won't

bertsmobile1 said:

Don't know. I have never tried it
But degreaser & brake cleaner definately won't

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turns out you were right bert, PTO clutch isnt the problem, its the keyway inside it

after more closer look it seems the PTO key was slipping around the slot and not holding fast

thats rather odd but i guess its a cheap chinese replacement or something because the bump is not protruding much at all and barely sticking out (like a fingernail thick at best) which is what let it slip.

i will replace the PTO and expect that will solve the whole slippage issue

Just make sure you torque it to specs.

IS the PTO a tight fit on the shaft ?
US engines are in 1/8" incriments
EU engines are metric and not exactly the same diameter
So you may have been sold an EU metric clutch or even worse , one designed to power a Ditch Withch, Kanga or other earth moving machine where the PTO just powers a hydraulic pump which is not subject to shock loads sop can get away with a lot smaller drive key

bertsmobile1 said:

IS the PTO a tight fit on the shaft ?
US engines are in 1/8" incriments
EU engines are metric and not exactly the same diameter
So you may have been sold an EU metric clutch or even worse , one designed to power a Ditch Withch, Kanga or other earth moving machine where the PTO just powers a hydraulic pump which is not subject to shock loads sop can get away with a lot smaller drive key

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well i had the mower given to me with a bad engine and it appears the PTO is (im guessing) a recently new aftermarket chinese one
but doesnt seem to fit the shaft at all. im just gonna replace it with something not made in china. odd thing is the PTO worked great at first after i put another engine in it. it stopped working right after i had a blown head gasket cover everything in oil. when i say blown head gasket i mean literally seeing oil spray shooting out everywhere and not just smoking a bit

StarTech said:

Just make sure you torque it to specs.
View attachment 54483

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thank you, your experience and your knowledge is greatly appreciated here by me and i think all who come here for help

welp, whatever the issue was with that china PTO, it was replaced with another PTO and its working fine now

no sign it was slipping on the shaft, even though the key way hump on it barely stuck out the thickness of a finger nail

maybe the clutch itself was garbage, dont know and honestly really dont care enough to solve the mystery, just more proof to never by cheap china crap to fix your mower