How do you remove the PTO shaft off a Bradco 612 trencher?

[Fallon]

The PTO shaft on the Bradco 612 trencher I picked up is WAY to short. Trying to remove it so I can go find a replacement or what not & for the life of me I can't figure out how to remove the shaft from the trencher. There is no room & no apparent fasteners. The only thing I can see is a couple holes where the clutch housing presumably covers the input shaft on the gearbox. Are there Allen screws in those holes or something? I poked a bit but couldn't see anything in the holes. I removed the nuts holding the clutch together to see if I could pull it apart & get a better view (need to do the clutch maintenance anyway), but was unsuccessful. Looking at the manual it's not likely I can pull the clutch apart without pulling the shaft off first.

It's not attached like any of the other PTO shafts I've seen with a bolt through the shaft or some bolt clamping the PTO coupler to the input shaft. The manual tells me how to do the clutch maintenance, replace U joints & what not. But not how to remove the dam shaft from the gearbox input.

 

[RickB]

Did you notice that the nuts on the clutch were almost at the ends of the studs before you started? Clutch disassembly is accomplished by tightening the nuts to compress the clutch, then bend the outer clutch housing back to a round shape so the plates, discs and springs can be pulled from the housing. The clutch is fastened to the input shaft with either set screws or a cross bolt. And in either case, a key.

If the crossbolt or set screws are out, the clutch is simply seized to the shaft.

 

[Fallon]

Did you notice that the nuts on the clutch were almost at the ends of the studs before you started? Clutch disassembly is accomplished by tightening the nuts to compress the clutch, then bend the outer clutch housing back to a round shape so the plates, discs and springs can be pulled from the housing. The clutch is fastened to the input shaft with either set screws or a cross bolt. And in either case, a key.

If the crossbolt or set screws are out, the clutch is simply seized to the shaft.

Kind of figured out that it's the opposite of the clutch on my King Kutter. Bolts & springs squeeze & hold that one together. Wasn't to worried about tearing it apart as it needed to come apart anyway. Will do it the right way once it's off if I don't replace as part of getting the longer PTO shaft.

Will hit those holes with some degreaser tomorrow to see if it's empty. Or if there is just corrosion holding it on.

 

[boggen]

just googled "bradco 612"
http://paladinattachments.com/uploads/manuals/om521.pdf it is not your exact model. but i would imagine close enough. starting around page 60 gets into dealing with PTO and slip clutch.

if you add in manual to search it might come up with a better pdf manual or parts manual. to show the part listings.

the PTO shaft could be third party manufacture, if you can pull info off of PTO shaft, it may give you a lead.

see about getting the "plastic shields off" it might reveal your issue.

 

[Fallon]

Shields were mostly toast already. I unhitched it & poked around a bit more. There are 2 threaded holes 90 degrees apart. Can't get a good angle but I cant see any set screws down & can see down about a quarter inch. None of my allan wrenches got a bite trying all anywhere near possible sizes. Pretty sure its just rusted on there at this point.

Have it soaking in some PB Blaster for now. Some light pursusasion with a hammer & crowbar had no effect. Might hook a chain up to the shaft & see if that will pull it off or just pull the whole unit.

Might be why I got a good deal on the unit. Not sure what kind of tractor would have fit the PTO shaft so short. Each half shaft is maybe 8" long & there is at least that much gap between them if both were hooked up on my machine with the quick hitch.

 

[Catman8]

Fallon, I gave up trying to unstick the PTO from the gearbox on my Bushhog flail mower, PB blaster, heat, vibration from running it, hammers, pry bars, I'm done trying, it is permantly rusted.

 

[Fallon]

Fallon, I gave up trying to unstick the PTO from the gearbox on my Bushhog flail mower, PB blaster, heat, vibration from running it, hammers, pry bars, I'm done trying, it is permantly rusted.

I'm hoping not, but its possible thats one of the reasons I got the deal i did on it was because they already tried & failed. Gonna try hitching a chain up to the shaft & pulling. Soaked it a few times with PB Blaster already. Heat is likely to nuke the seal on the gearbox & possibly clutch parts.

If I cant pull it off I can probably remove the U-joint & replace just the shaft component. Definately my last option as adjusting that clutch while mounted is a HUGE pain due to the recesed bolts & extended rim on the clutch. No room to get a socket on there. Barely room to get a box end wrench on there for a 1/8th of a turn.

 

[aczlan]

Sounds like a place for a ratchet wrench

Aaron Z