870 Clutch Problem

I fired it up, and noticed that the rear PTO was slowly spinning...never does that. It was just free turning--you could easily stop it with your hand, but when you let go, it turned again.

When I went to put the tractor in gear, I couldn't.
Clutch all the way in, running smoothly, but it wouldn't go into gear. I pulled really hard and got in in reverse. It began moving in reverse, even though my foot still had the clutch fully depressed. I turned the key off to stop it.

A friend did some adjustment on the clutch, external to the case, and took out the free play.
But it still doesn't go into gear. However, if you just push the gear shifter forward, the tractor will creep forward. Stops soon as you take the pressure off the stick. Creep again when you apply pressure. It is not in gear--the shifter hasn't engaged...

Prior to this there was no slipping of the clutch, and there is no visible fluid or oil leaking around it.

Any ideas what happened? Does this sound like a hydraulic problem, or mechanical? thanks, Jenni

is it possible there's something else wrong?
is there something that could be disconnected? where would I check? I've already looked underneath (the obvious) and nothing unusual....

thanks

NEVER GRAB A RUNNING PTO !!!

That's why Dick Cheaney had that guy flush his birds.

I can't seem to make it work...I've tried in all 3 speeds (I can only get the shifter into reverse and 1st gears), in 2WD and 4WD, and on dirt and out on the pavement...I can't get the shifter into gear if the brakes are on too tightly, and if I get it into gear, then go full speed and stomp on the brakes-- quickly or gradually, the tractor dies.
I haven't had enough strength to push the shifter into gear when the tractor is at standstill, idling low speed, clutch depressed, brakes pedal down hard as I can.
Should I try harder? I was afraid to break something, since the shifter is so resistant to go into gear with the brakes depressed. Or is this what it takes to break the clutch loose? When I try to shove the shifter a little harder, i rise out of the seat, and the throttle starts to kill...
Thanks, Jenni

I used the tractor in low gear to help move another shed this weekend...No amount of braking ever broke the clutch loose.

I ran it in 1st and 2nd speeds, using only first gear and reverse.(shifter won't go into higher gears)
Any other ideas? I really need to use the PTO, but of course I can't until the clutch is working!