Try disengaging the park brake and driving the tractor forward a touch before engaging the PTO.

garydewater: That's about 1/2 the price as a new one and 135 hours is about 3 years of average homeowner use (about 40 - 50 hours/year). If it is in good condition and not been abused it sounds like a pretty good deal. You did not mention what year model it is. I have an acre and 1/4 myself and usually rack up about 40 - 50 hours/year depending on what projects I'm working on. I mow, dethatch, aerate, overseed, pull a cart loaded with rocks, firewood, etc... and mulch my leaves in the fall pulling a lawn sweeper to collect them. You can usually save a bunch of $$$ buying a good used quality tractor. Just make sure it has been well taken care of by the previous owner. If it looks rough it probably is rough. An engine coated in oil, grass clippings, etc..., faded paint, cracked seat and weathered plastic components typically indicate that it was left outside in the elements and not well cared for. Good luck!

Before you shell out the big bucks for a new PTO there is one more thing you might want to check. PTO coils are huge inductors. They should have a diode across them to protect the PTO switch from the inductive kick that happens when you turn off the PTO. Without the diode the switch will have a short life. I don't know how your tractor was made. If it has a diode it could be someplace in the wiring harness or built into the PTO itself. If you did your resistance check properly, you disconnected the PTO completely from the harness when measuring. Then you would have gotten a good reading provided there is not a diode built into the PTO assembly. If there is a diode built into the PTO assembly you have to be aware of the meter polarity. One way the diode is not a factor and the other way the diode would likely cause a lower reading, like you measured. One more possibility exists, if the diode is built into the PTO. The diode itself could be bad! If you have a good schematic of the wiring it should indicate where the diode is located.

****"I enjoy mowing so much better now that I spent such a small amount of money on something that actually works and some of you act as this is some sort of offense that I did."**** Does the device come with a bunch of discount coupons ("50% off cost of one pediatric visit to the emergency room", OR "One free child embalming with purchase of child coffin") that you can transact when that curious four year old grandchild runs over from next door and you back over him/her as you enjoy mowing in reverse, thanks to the wonderful thing you discovered on ebay?? Of course, you may be that perfect human that the world has been looking for, and will never suffer to make a mistake or have a momentary lapse of attention. You are just another egocentric individual who thinks it's all about you. In the case of RIO, it's not about you, it's about the kids. If you had spent a bit more time reading some of the past postings on this subject, you would have been aware of the number of emergency room visits every year due to children being cut to pieces when their dad or neighbor backed up and ran over the unseen child. You would also have been enlightened as to why the RIO safety interlock was developed and implemented in the first place. Defeating safety interlocks is about as smart and responsible as leaving open prescription medications on the coffee table or leaving a loaded pistol on the couch when the grand kids come to visit. But, I guess that doesn't concern you (except if the bullet hits you). Oh, if you look into some of the obscure corners of ebay, you can find shirts that are printed to look like you are wearing your safety belt when you drive and thus avoid being ticketed for not wearing the safety belt. Comes in all sizes, several color combinations and configured for driver and passenger sides. I'm sure you don't wear a safety belt (based on your blatant contempt for all things safety).