Flail Mower Implement Hook-Up Difficulty

[vlcakc]

I run a 2000 New Hollland TC45D tractor here on my small farm (107+ acres) that I bought new along with a !7LA loader, New Holland 918H flail mower, 6' box blade, 6' tiller and 55 gallon sprayer. I have been very satisfied with the set up. I am getting on in years, turned 81 this summer, with some health issues that have made it difficult or impossible for me to switch implements. I installed a JD imatch quick hitch on the tractor last night along with the bushings on the mower and box blade. Hope to try some test hook-ups this evening to see how it may work. The biggest problem is hooking up the flail mower pto shaft. It was always a hassle and I no longer have the strength to lift and align the shaft and rotate the shaft to line up the splines. The pto shaft on the tractor is locked in place when not running, so I can't rotate it to align. This seems to be a common problem with some of the newer tractors. I have a pto overrunning clutch on order to see if that will help with the spline alignment problem.

While at the JD dealer picking up the quick hitch I asked the salesman about the imatch auto-hitch option. According to the on-line videos it allows the user to hook-up the hitch AND pto without leaving the tractor seat. The salesman said he had never sold one due to the cost and the need to use an adapter on each pto implement. Has anyone used one or at least seen a live demo? Looks a little complex. I would have to replace the tractor and mower, but I have a prospective buyer for them. Thoughts, anyone. Thanks, Vic

 

[k0ua]

Vic one thing that can help a bit is to suspend the pto shaft in mid air with a bungee cord/cords so the weight is off of your arms. This allows you to try to get the coupler on without all that weight on you, which causes you to hurry. i take it that you cannot move either the PTO stub shaft or the flail side of the PTO coupler?

 

[ovrszd]

Hmmmmm. Don't quite understand. Both my tractors lock the PTO shaft when engine is running. Release it when engine is shutoff.

 

[vlcakc]

James: In the past I have used a ratchet strap to suspend the PTO shaft which helped. A bungee cord would probably have worked better because of the "give" in the cord. Yes, unfortunately the PTO stub shaft is locked in position when the PTO is disengaged. The flail mower has a 70 hp gear box and a lot of inertia to resist rotation of the PTO shaft. I used to be able to use a large screw driver or piece of rebar through the u-joint to turn the PTO shaft enough to align the splines, but no longer have the strength to do so. Thanks, Vic

 

[dickfoster]

James: In the past I have used a ratchet strap to suspend the PTO shaft which helped. A bungee cord would probably have worked better because of the "give" in the cord. Yes, unfortunately the PTO stub shaft is locked in position when the PTO is disengaged. The flail mower has a 70 hp gear box and a lot of inertia to resist rotation of the PTO shaft. I used to be able to use a large screw driver or piece of rebar through the u-joint to turn the PTO shaft enough to align the splines, but no longer have the strength to do so. Thanks, Vic

Maybe a longer lever in place of the screwdriver or rebar would work for ya, Vic. Same idea as getting a bigger hammer.

 

[k0ua]

James: In the past I have used a ratchet strap to suspend the PTO shaft which helped. A bungee cord would probably have worked better because of the "give" in the cord. Yes, unfortunately the PTO stub shaft is locked in position when the PTO is disengaged. The flail mower has a 70 hp gear box and a lot of inertia to resist rotation of the PTO shaft. I used to be able to use a large screw driver or piece of rebar through the u-joint to turn the PTO shaft enough to align the splines, but no longer have the strength to do so. Thanks, Vic

You can't turn the flail gearbox even with the aid of a lever and with the flail picked up a couple of inches so that there is no drag from the vegetation/ground?. Can you try a little longer piece of rebar?. I hate to see you give up.

 

[murphy1244]

Also try picking the attachment off the ground then play with the PTO. Might be able to turn it over some.

Damm James you are quick.:laughing:

 

[52wej]

James, one question, does your tractor have a pto that is engaged by an electric clutch or does it have a two stage clutch. I hate to admit it but I have been known to take a large pipe wrench to a PTO shaft on a tractor with an electric clutch when the tractor is turned off. I usually could move it sufficiently to find alignment. The suggestions about the straps and bungee cords are excellent ideas. Do you have access to the pto shaft at the gearbox? You may be able to turn your flail mower there once the 3 point hitch is connected and it is lifted off the ground. I have a roto-tiller that has to be connected that way. W. Jones

 

[Cam-Saskatoon Canada]

James, I don't know anything about NH tractors, but on my JD, there is a lever that changes the pto from the rear to the middle. If you put it in the middle setting, you can spin the rear pto shaft easily regardless of the tractor is running or not. If your tractor has that, it might be the same.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Instead of an auto-hitch, you could convert to hydraulic driven impluments. Would probably still require a bigger tractor.

Another option might be a ToolCat instead of/in addition to a tractor.

Last suggestion (my favorite) is to have a second tractor or three.