Rotary Cutter how to remove stuck pto drive shaft on gear box

[mlandry]

I have a BH SQ 600 rotary cutter and I haven't used it for at least 2 years. I'm in the process of restoring it but the drive shaft seems to be stuck. I've sprayed it with lubricating oil to loosen it up but to no avail. I've tried pressing the release pin on the drive shaft where it mounts to the gear box but the drive shaft will not budge to come off. How do I remove the drive shaft from the gearbox spline?

 

[George2615]

Welcome to TBN.....
Persistence, patients, penetrating oil, persuasion, and maybe some minor taps with a hammer and possibly some heat. It's probably got a little rust holding it on.

 

[jeff9366]

Use a specialty penetrating oil* to loosen rust, let it sit, warm it up with a small torch, tap with a brass or nylon mallet, then wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.

You may have to separate the two halves of the PTO shaft, leaving one half on the Squeeler, to give yourself room to manipulate the stuck half.

Clean both male and female splines with a short bristle, stiff bristle, wire brush and penetrating oil when you eventually separate them, wipe out splines with multiple paper towels, finally lube with Eureka Fluid Film.

Favored lube for PTO shaft connection is Eureka Fluid Film, which is a lube/rust preventative with the perfect viscosity.


*Kroil, PB Blaster, or equivalent labeled RUST PENETRANT.


And you are sure, absolutely sure, you have a push-button type spline lock and not a doughnut, pull-type spline lock on the shaft?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have never seen a PTO shaft with a push pin on the gear box. Are you sure you have a push pin release. Most of them have a bolt that slides thru a hole to hold them on. If you have a slip clutch, it for sure will bolt on.

Got any photos of your bush hog setup so we can see exactly what you have?

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have never seen a PTO shaft with a push pin on the gear box. Are you sure you have a push pin release. Most of them have a bolt that slides thru a hole to hold them on. If you have a slip clutch, it for sure will bolt on.

Got any photos of your bush hog setup so we can see exactly what you have?

I have three PTO shafts like that. There are certainly implements that have the 6 spline input. I find that arrangement quite convenient since its trivial to remove the pto shaft for storage.

... OP The bearings on that shaft are going to be quite robust and you wont have to be super careful to prevent damage to them. Heavy hammer blows on the coupler are surely out of bounds, as is any more than light heating [up the about 212] due to seals. The penetrant plus prying against the coupler from a solid point while tapping and heating will get you there. ... You have 4 hands right? :wink: If theres some way you can pry outward and tap the end of the shaft inward using a hammer and punch the results should be prompt. It might come free or resist all the way. Once it moves you got it beat.
larry

 

[gwdixon]

Have you tried hooking up the mower and running it for a bit? Maybe cut some long foliage. Usually there will be enough banging around to loosen things.

BTW, penetrating oil should be used generously. Try Ed's Red (1/3 acetone, 1/3 ATF (red), 1/3 solvent of some sort, shake well). Most penetrating oil will take some time to, well, penetrate. Apply and reapply over a day or two.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Have you tried hooking up the mower and running it for a bit? Maybe cut some long foliage. Usually there will be enough banging around to loosen things.

BTW, penetrating oil should be used generously. . . Most penetrating oil will take some time to, well, penetrate. Apply and reapply over a day or two.

^ +1

Try that first. If it still won't turn loose, separate the u-joint and use a gear puller on the stuck yoke.

 

[klm]

I'd sure like to know how this turned out, I've got the same issue.

 

[LouNY]

If it is indeed a push pin connector, penetrating oil till the pin will press and return easily, then holding the pin in start tapping with a hammer. Or more serious methods, such as a chain or cable and a sharp tug.
Be aware that there are several types of pto connectors, I have one that has 2 pins that have to be pressed in to remove it, one on each side.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Use a ratchet strap to put tension on it. Either loop through the yoke or whatever you need to do to get it attached and then get it hooked to something solid and keep applying tension as you add penetrating oil and tap on it.

I've even run a strap under the tractor and hooked onto the loader bucket when I had a PTO seize up and wouldn't extend to let me get it hooked to the tractor PTO. Just curled the bucket real slow and it slid out so I could pull it free and get it lubed back up.