PTO hookup- Is it just me?

[Eric_Phillips]

I took the shrowd off the tractor. I also hook up the PTO first. I back the tractor up and stop about a foot before the lower links would line up. This way I have some room to get in between the tractor and the mower.

 

[Runner]

I cussed it too, until I learned that, on my tractor (JD2520) when you shift the PTO lever to the mid PTO setting, it allows the rear PTO shaft to be turned easily either direction. So lining up the splines is a snap, and that was the only hard part to hooking up a driveshaft for me.

Now that I know this, I'm kicking myself for not figuring it out sooner. Not sure if it works this way on other tractors with 2 PTO's, but it's worth a try.

 

[jsboening]

I cussed it too, until I learned that, on my tractor (JD2520) when you shift the PTO lever to the mid PTO setting, it allows the rear PTO shaft to be turned easily either direction. So lining up the splines is a snap, and that was the only hard part to hooking up a driveshaft for me.

Now that I know this, I'm kicking myself for not figuring it out sooner. Not sure if it works this way on other tractors with 2 PTO's, but it's worth a try.

I do the exact same thing on my 3720. It's way to hard to turn the shaft on the 84" RMM by hand.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If I turn my kubota off, then you can turn the pto by hand.

 

[zzvyb6]

I don't recommend using grease on the pto splined shaft. Use a dry lube because the grease will pick up dirt, chaf, and threads from your gloves.

The biggest offender to me is the sliding force for extending the pto driveshaft. That needs to slide easily, too, for a good one-handed installation.

 

[GaryS]

Does anyone else have this problem?

My brush hog is a PITA to get hooked up but my RFM goes on smooth as silk. I do think that some shafts attach easily and others are more difficult.

gary

 

[Reg]

Maybe I don't "get it" - the problem.
Maybe I "GOT" the solution early on ?
As long as the end of the shaft is parallel to the tractor's stub it is simple enough to just rotate the tractor's stub with the other hand until the splines engage, then press the lock button and slide it the rest of the way on.

PARALLEL may be the key.

 

[JoeL4330]

Reg is absolutely right: the key is parallel (that is, the entire pto shaft--not just the end has to be "co-axial" with the tractor splined shaft ...said another way, the u-joint must be straight on and the whole thing end on to the tractor's spline shaft).

For me (and most everyone, I would assume) this means that the top link must be connected to raise the implement slifhtly to that level position, which unfortunately means that the top-link is in the way ...so be it. I should mention that after it is lifted parallel I shut off the tractor (no way would I attach to the tractor spline when the tractor was running and, anyway, I wouldn't be able to turn it to align the splines) and then am extra careful to avoid toes under the implement on the off chance that it will lower itself ...which mine doesn't.

Usually, lining up the shaft so it is coaxial mostly means lifting the implement slightly, in my case. It could also mean eliminating any side-to-side bias...in my case, centering and re-pinning the sway arms.

When it is all lined up just right--and, yeah, lubed with whatever--it slides on slick as snot ...incidentally, the tell-tale that it is lined up right is that I can push it on by grasping the pto shaft beyond the U-joint (with one hand while the other pushes in the detent pin or messes with the collar, or whatever, depending on the implement.

Once you have lined it up and it slips right on, be bold: slide it on and off a few times to get the feel of how it is supposed to work and to build up your confidence.

 

[RalphVa]

I do what many others have mentioned: put PTO in mid slot; can rotate by hand then; once you feel it go onto the splines, you pull the detent back or push the button (have both kinds) and push it on.

The top part of my PTO shield raises up. Didn't know about this at first. The dealer showed me.

Another thing that I do and not mentioned yet is I use either a tension cord or my chain I sometimes use as a top link to hold the PTO shaft up at about the right height. That way, I don't have to support its full weight while monkeying around rotating the shaft, etc.

Ralph

 

[sixdogs]

I put oil on the pto shaft frequently and wipe it off occasionally to keep it clean and lubed. But , I also oil the little detent balls that are in the yoke of the impliment I am trying to hookup. I really think this area is the problem in that the balls rust a little or dry out and are hard to push in while hooking up.
Once oiled, no or less problem for me.

In lining up the spline, I find there is usually a way to get the PTO shaft to turn. Some tractors are with it engaged, others not,. There usually is a way to turn the shaft on the tractor.