I have a good friend an couple of hours away who just got a new tractor (used) and a new Rhino Turbo 120 HD Pull Rotary Cutter. He said he is having a lot of difficulty connecting the PTO shaft to tractor. Because the length (@ 4+ feet) of shaft and the alignment he physically has trouble. The one time to connect took almost an hour. With two people it's easy. He hates to unhook it! Does anyone have any experience with this brand or something similar?
Rotary Cutter Rhino Turbo 120
- Thread starter AgMan
- Start date
The weight of the shaft combined with having to align the splines, push the shaft forward and pull the collar back, all at one time is a major pain sometimes. This is what I do to make it a little easier.
1) To help the shaft extend easier pull the shaft apart and remove any old grease on the small (inner) shaft with a rag. If it is really stuck on a wire wheel is needed, this can be messy. Reapply some grease and reassemble. Since his is new this may not be needed. Grease any fittings on the shaft at this time, especially the ones where the plastic guards slide.
2) To help align the pto splines look inside the end of the bush hog shaft. With the tractor off and a rag in hand grab the tractor pto stub and turn it to match the splines on the cutter side.
3) I find that straddling the pto shaft is the easiest way to physically connect the two. You can kind of squeeze it between your knees to help hold it. (some may say that is a no no, not sure, but it works for me) With the shaft in my dominate hand and the collar in the other get the shaft started the first little bit. If they won't go together repeat step 2.
4) Once they are partially together add a little grease to the tractor side, distribute as much as possible with the rag. Then push with all you've got.
This is the way I do it, opinions may vary. I hope this may help a little.
1) To help the shaft extend easier pull the shaft apart and remove any old grease on the small (inner) shaft with a rag. If it is really stuck on a wire wheel is needed, this can be messy. Reapply some grease and reassemble. Since his is new this may not be needed. Grease any fittings on the shaft at this time, especially the ones where the plastic guards slide.
2) To help align the pto splines look inside the end of the bush hog shaft. With the tractor off and a rag in hand grab the tractor pto stub and turn it to match the splines on the cutter side.
3) I find that straddling the pto shaft is the easiest way to physically connect the two. You can kind of squeeze it between your knees to help hold it. (some may say that is a no no, not sure, but it works for me) With the shaft in my dominate hand and the collar in the other get the shaft started the first little bit. If they won't go together repeat step 2.
4) Once they are partially together add a little grease to the tractor side, distribute as much as possible with the rag. Then push with all you've got.
This is the way I do it, opinions may vary. I hope this may help a little.
Last edited:
Zebrafive
Super Member
The Rhino Turbo 120 is a very nice HD cutter. I wish I had one.
Does the PTO guard on his tractor fold out of the way? That might give him more room to put the PTO shaft on the tractor.
Is there any place on the tractor he can hang a ratchet strap to support the PTO shaft? Maybe the ROPS if his tractor has one.
Does the PTO guard on his tractor fold out of the way? That might give him more room to put the PTO shaft on the tractor.
Is there any place on the tractor he can hang a ratchet strap to support the PTO shaft? Maybe the ROPS if his tractor has one.
oosik
Super Star Member
This might help. I'm hooking up my chipper so the pto shaft isn't as long but it still can be a pain. In one fashion or another I do what DT86 recommends - EXCEPT - I first connect the shaft to the tractor THEN make the connection to the chipper. The reason being - I have to support the shaft, pull it apart to make connection, pull the collar back etc, etc but I'm doing it with the drive shaft running down hill. Things seem to slide together much better when gravity is helping. It can still be a pain but generally its much easier than pulling everything uphill against gravity. Of course, my pto runs downhill until everything is hooked up and I lift the chipper to operating height.