I still don't know why but at least now I know how. I put a 33mm impact socket on the pto and a cheater to turn it ccw. Got it to rotate both ways but it was very tight so I loosened the bearing caps on both shafts and eventually got it to break loose. Seemed the drum shaft was the problem so I tightened the other two back down. Then when I snugged the bolts on the last cap it bound up again. Maybe a shim or gasket is missing.

So how is that power lift control supposed to work? I have some of the tin off for paint but would like to sort this out before it goes back together if I can.

Jim