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Ariens Gt 17 Help!

14K views 22 replies 14 participants last post by  Wm McNett  
#1 ·
this is my first REAL garden tractor - tired of the $1000 throw aways from sears.

please bear with me as i am GT-dumb.

just purchased this garden tractor for $500 which seams to run really nice and look really nice. almost everthing appears to work and function properly.

currently replacing all the hyd. hoses as they are cracked and i am big on preventative maintencance.

i actually really like this tractor and hope to make this thing 100%

i have a few questions and some areas i really need help!

1. i turned the rear pto on - an now it wont disengage, even after i shut the tractor off and turned it back on the rear pto spins. what is odd to me is the deck still engages and disengages just fine.

any ideas or suggestions???

2. i need the 3-pint hitch for it, where should i look? the tractor has has the wish bones that rais and lower, but i need the rest of the hitch as i wish to buy a dirt scoop and back blade.

3. where can i buy 0 class implements for it?

thank you to anyone that can help or point me in the right direction!
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
Welcome chrisk to the forum. You won't find a better place to find great feedback, good company and a whole lot of fun. I'm a newbie myself....even though I'm on my fourth GT in a little over a year and a half. I've posted some really simple questions and I've never been treated as though I'm "dumb" so you are in good company. I have a Case, Massey Ferguson and had two Deere tractors that have come and gone to good homes.

BTW, you'll learn quickly that we LOVE pictures around here. Not only do we like to drool over tractors but it also helps when addressing problems. The serial number and model of your tractor are also helpful.

You'll find that those 3 point hitches are in HIGH demand and can fetch a pretty penny. Good luck.

The guys (and gals) that are much more informed about the mechanics will be along shortly to help. Again, welcome.

Matthew
 
#3 ·
Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined up. Should be some Ariens folks along, may take a bit. Matthew gave you good info. We do like pics, look at the bottom of my signature for a link to a good video to help you with that.

Most of the implements for Cat0 will most likely be used, not a lot of folks selling them anymore. They are out there, though.

Model and serial does help a lot to figure out what year the tractor is.
 
#6 ·
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
Welcome to GTT. Relax and explore the site. Before jumping into any more on the tractor take your time. Read the manuals, check out the pictures here, and read the threads about the various attachments. A bit of research can make your tractor that much more enjoyable. Before you know it you will be wanting more tractors, they are addictive. My goal is to have enough tractors that I don't have to change attachments, just keys.

The PTO may be off but the bearing is just sticking abit from lack of use. It may just need to be worked alittle.
 
#10 ·
Welcome to the forum. Those Ariens GT's are a nice machine. They made a really nice snowblower for those tractors. As others have said, the PTO may be spinning but would not spin if there was a load on it. You may need to do some PM on that as well.
 
#11 ·
i was at tractor supply and they have cat. 0 hitch lift arms and essentially the entire hitch - they claim it to be a universal fit. is there any reason not to buy it from tractor supply vs. oem?

also if anyone is looking tractor supply can order just about any cat 0 implement!

i could see how my $500 tractor could cost me thousands without much effort! :D
 
#12 ·
I think the main thing on the arms is their length and bends compared to what should be on there. New implements are pricey and not always as heavy built as used.
 
#13 ·
Welcome to GTTalk!! :welcometogttalk: Come on in, pour a cup of your favorite beverage and stay a spell!

Glad you found us. We have a lot of knowledgeable folks here. Take a look around, ask questions and don't forget the pics! :wewantpics:

Geno
 
#16 ·
Pto has drag sometimes and spins if lubed good. Careflly try to grab the shaft lightly with a gloved hand and see if you can stop it. If a female end you would need a shaft to put into it. Don't grab hard if it won't stop easy! Maybe it should have a brake on it that is not touching??

The three points at most farm stores seem to be for Old Ford N's and are pretty long. I have made my own arms by buying the end ball sockets and using thick flat stock for the main arms. You mention "Yokes". That mean that it DID have lift and just parts missing? Some tractors have mount tabs right on axle castings for the arms, some have pins on body or holes for pins or rods to hold. Not familiar with what they used. The lift links are the harder peices to make if you want adjustable ones. Look at the manuals for your tractor model and hitch as linked above and study them to get better idea what is needed.

If this is KT17 engine, a twin, make sure to use good oil like Rotella in it, they are known to have rod breakage on early models. Don't drive on hills sideways, the oil doesn't circulate well in them. IF you have oil filter, your have better model with pressure.
 
#17 ·
Welcome to the forums Chris!

You found yourself a nice tractor. I think that you might have to call Ariens to find out when yours was built. I don't recall ever seeing a database with their production years. I will check the length of my 3 point arms for you, offhand I am guessing about 16-19" long. Be careful with trying to stop the rear pto. It can pull you in fast. There might be corrosion in the clutch causing it to spin.
 
#22 ·
Welcome to site Fossel! It is neat to know the build dates of different models. I had thought of checking with Ariens to see if there would be a list of production info available. Just didn't get that far yet.
 
#23 ·
Careflly try to grab the shaft lightly with a gloved hand and see if you can stop it. If a female end you would need a shaft to put into it. Don't grab hard if it won't stop easy!
DON'T EVER NEVER grab a spinning PTO shaft! That's a great way to loose something like a finger, hand, arm, life! and if the glove gets snagged on something spinning it's going to wrap your hand up with it.

Use a broom stick or some other device that does not belong to your body.

Mine spin on both my GT17 and GT19 rear electric clutch pto's unless I have something attached to them.

My S14-H Sperry Rand New Holland spins all the time at engine speed. As do some Ariens.

The front PTO's have a plate that they rub on when disengaged that keeps them from spinning, the rear's do not.