Shorten PTO shaft

[Capricious]

I need to shorten a PTO shaft 6 inches. No big deal, I thought.



I cut 6 inches off the one side, which was a solid square bar of steel.

I then went to shorten the other side 6 inches and found this:




The outer 6 inches is a welded-on sleeve with the inside shaped to engage the square steel bar; the rest of the shaft is just round tubing. If i cut 6 inches off this half of the shaft, the sleeve will be gone and there will be nothing to engage the square bar on the other half.


Do I have any options other than paying a driveshaft shop to cut and weld, or buying a whole new shaft?

How much can new shafts be shortened? This shaft apparently cannot be shortened at all, and looking at new shafts i think i would need to cut 20 inches or more out of the shortest of them.

Thanks.

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . Do I have any options other than paying a driveshaft shop to cut and weld, or buying a whole new shaft? . . .

Sounds like a trip to the driveshaft shop is in order. It will still be way cheaper than a new driveline.

 

[Soundguy]

there is another thread on this.

you simply cut the tub off the yoke end.. trim there and reweld and keep it timed right.

no magic..

 

[bullbreaker]

everything attachments videos how to shorten pto shafts - Bing Videos



Everythingattachments.com has an instructional video on this .

 

[2458n]

Most muffler shops can do this also.

 

[Capricious]

Will be stopping by a drive line shop on my lunch hour today to see what the cost for doing this right is.

I don't trust my welding "skills" on something like this.

Thank you for the comments.

 

[Zick]

everything attachments videos how to shorten pto shafts - Bing Videos



Everythingattachments.com has an instructional video on this .

The OP has a completely different type of shaft that what is shown in these videos.

Will be stopping by a drive line shop on my lunch hour today to see what the cost for doing this right is.

I don't trust my welding "skills" on something like this.

Thank you for the comments.

I have this same type of shaft that came w/ my Farm King snowblower.

I was able to cut off the side w/ the square hole and re-weld it back on. I am not a pro-welder by any sort but it has held up for a couple years now.
However, I didn't realize it at the time and didn't keep the PTO in phase. So far it hasn't seemed to give me any problems.
What Causes PTO Vibration?

 

[Sodo]

Other thread about timing a PTO shaft. Its an easy weld, doesnt require a lot of strength for a tractor with 20 hp PTO. A muffler shop can do it.

Check post #10 of other thread for a note about timimg the U-joints when you reassemble.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/319105-can-i-shorten-solid-splined.html

 

[Capricious]

Other thread about timing a PTO shaft. Its an easy weld, doesnt require a lot of strength for a tractor with 20 hp PTO. A muffler shop can do it.

Check post #10 of other thread for a note about timimg the U-joints when you reassemble.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/319105-can-i-shorten-solid-splined.html

I have a new shaft coming, a series #4, about $119.00 including slip clutch. Which means I have an extra slip clutch, which I will probably try to sell or maybe make a trade for a boom pole.

If I am measuring this thing correctly, the existing shaft is a "North American" series #35, good for 85 hp. The previous owner of the cutter had a 16 hp tractor. I can only assume that he lost the original shaft, went to the local farm store for a replacement, and this thing was the only shaft they had on the shelf that had splines on both ends.

I remember phasing U-joints from way back when I thought I would try to replace the u joints in the front driveshaft of my Scout II. Another episode from my youth that did not turn out well.

 

[CobyRupert]

PTO shaft phasing? Thanks for the link Zick.

Hmm, learned something new today. I guess I better go look at that one I cut down. Maybe I guessed right (50/50 chance). I haven't heard any problems.