B3030 PTO-to-bush-hog-driveshaft problem

[jstreet]

Is there a way to simplify (make easier) the job of attaching a Bush Hog driveshaft to the rear PTO on a B3030?
It seems to be a real wrestling match to slide the driveshaft coupler onto the splined PTO shaft, because the PTO guard and the plastic driveshaft safety tube are very much in the way of getting my hands in there.
I have managed to do this job by using an adjustable wrench to compress the driveshaft coupler so it will slide onto the driveshaft, but it is a no-fun job.
Any suggestions?

 

[leonz]

Bush Hog arguments( AKA I don't want to go in there and your not going to make me !!!!!)

Is there a way to simplify (make easier) the job of attaching a Bush Hog driveshaft to the rear PTO on a B3030?
It seems to be a real wrestling match to slide the driveshaft coupler onto the splined PTO shaft, because the PTO guard and the plastic driveshaft safety tube are very much in the way of getting my hands in there.
I have managed to do this job by using an adjustable wrench to compress the driveshaft coupler so it will slide onto the driveshaft, but it is a no-fun job.
Any suggestions?

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It sounds as if you have a lot of dirt in the lock ring and splines which is normal.

You need to pour some alcohol in and around the lock ring to dissolve and flush the dirt and then use more of it to flush out the dirt.

If you have some "Fluid Film"-prefered or "PB Blaster" it will penetrate and lubricate the lock ring- I have found the Fluid Film to be a better product from personal use and it is non toxic as it is a sheeps wool derivitive.

I would clean The male and female with a lot of DL hand cleaner and then some isopropyl alcohol to bring it to bare metal and then some red grease on the stub shaft and then on the female splines.


leonz

 

[Lindy]

Any suggestions?

Couple of small things in addition to the above that might help. You've probably done both of these already, but they're worth mentioning just in case...

1. Be sure to flip up the PTO guard on the tractor. They can be a little stubborn, but they will flip up to give you at least a little more room for your hands. I've had to tap mine with a rubber mallet to get it to pop up.

2. Put the PTO selector on the tractor to MID-pto ONLY. This will allow the rear PTO on the tractor to spin some. I've found that when I'm trying to hook stuff up, it's generally easier to spin the PTO stub on the tractor than the PTO shaft attached to the bush hog.


BTW, jstreet, I'm just down the road from you in Bloomfield.....

 

[jstreet]

Couple of small things in addition to the above that might help. You've probably done both of these already, but they're worth mentioning just in case...

1. Be sure to flip up the PTO guard on the tractor. They can be a little stubborn, but they will flip up to give you at least a little more room for your hands. I've had to tap mine with a rubber mallet to get it to pop up.

2. Put the PTO selector on the tractor to MID-pto ONLY. This will allow the rear PTO on the tractor to spin some. I've found that when I'm trying to hook stuff up, it's generally easier to spin the PTO stub on the tractor than the PTO shaft attached to the bush hog.


BTW, jstreet, I'm just down the road from you in Bloomfield.....

Thanks, Lindy. The mid-PTO idea sounds like a good one. I finally got the thing on, but it was a bit of a struggle. Cleaning the splines helped, I think.