vibration problem with snowblower

[PHS79]

We finally got the Loftness snowblower back from the painters, so hooked it up to the L3600 and found out that there is a vibration. It only happens with the blower lowered to the ground, no matter the rpms it vibrates. But once the blower is raised up off the ground about 6-8" the vibration goes away. All the U-joints seem to be good.

I am kinda wondering if the PTO "slip shaft" is too short and causing the vibration. When the blower is on the ground there is only 4" of the PTO shaft inside the other, once raised up to 6-8" off the ground there is 6" of the shaft inside. Does this sound like it could be the problem?? Also how much of the shaft should be slid inside the other?

 

[oldnslo]

We finally got the Loftness snowblower back from the painters, so hooked it up to the L3600 and found out that there is a vibration. It only happens with the blower lowered to the ground, no matter the rpms it vibrates. But once the blower is raised up off the ground about 6-8" the vibration goes away. All the U-joints seem to be good.

I am kinda wondering if the PTO "slip shaft" is too short and causing the vibration. When the blower is on the ground there is only 4" of the PTO shaft inside the other, once raised up to 6-8" off the ground there is 6" of the shaft inside. Does this sound like it could be the problem?? Also how much of the shaft should be slid inside the other?

With the blower lowered and not running can the PTO shaft be moved side to side or up and down. Compare this movement to when the blower is raised 6-8" off of the ground. If there is an excessive change in the amount of movement it could definitely cause this problem.

Roy

 

[leonz]

We finally got the Loftness snowblower back from the painters, so hooked it up to the L3600 and found out that there is a vibration. It only happens with the blower lowered to the ground, no matter the rpms it vibrates. But once the blower is raised up off the ground about 6-8" the vibration goes away. All the U-joints seem to be good.

I am kinda wondering if the PTO "slip shaft" is too short and causing the vibration. When the blower is on the ground there is only 4" of the PTO shaft inside the other, once raised up to 6-8" off the ground there is 6" of the shaft inside. Does this sound like it could be the problem?? Also how much of the shaft should be slid inside the other?

Yucky POO!!!!!!!!

Couple of things which jump and slap me right away.

The P.T.O. shaft yokes and bearings are out of time most likely.

This was my first diagnosis in which the wrong position of the yokes and bearings amplifies the rotation of the shaft OUT OF CENTER creating an ellipital orbit of the P.T.O. shaft halves and yokes

The P.T.O. Yokes may not be fully engaged and locked allowing too much swing.

 

[PHS79]

Yucky POO!!!!!!!!

Couple of things which jump and slap me right away.

The P.T.O. shaft yokes and bearings are out of time most likely.

This was my first diagnosis in which the wrong position of the yokes and bearings amplifies the rotation of the shaft OUT OF CENTER creating an ellipital orbit of the P.T.O. shaft halves and yokes

The P.T.O. Yokes may not be fully engaged and locked allowing too much swing.

OK, I don't know if this is a stupid question or not but here it is. How do I get them back in time? Also other than slipping the PTO shaft onto the tractor until it locks, how I do I make sure that the yokes are fully engaged?

I have never had a problem like this before with any attachment, its find of frustrating...

 

[leonz]

If and I hope you have a splined male and splined female P.T.O. shaft halves they may be off just enough by one groove and screw it up.

The yoke ends have to be IN LINE to work and be properly timed.

If you have the locking yokes the female splines slide all the way in and you have either the pin lock or the sleeve that presses down on a set of ball bearings that compress and hold it in place.

If you have the triangle male and female halves *&^&*(*&^&*(*&^@#$%
I am doomed, and you either have bad u joints or bent shaft halves.


The other little issue may be that you have an adjustable lower link on the right lower arm and it is fully extended and it has to be cranked in.

 

[leonz]

Adding ot what I mentioned yesterday and which I totally had fogotten
as a cause of the problem-

It is entirely possible that the housing that contains the cross auge which delivers the snow tot he impeller is out of square and need to to be braced at the 4 corners with 4 pieces of angle iron or better yet brace the corners and the bolt some narrow flat stock-1/4 by 1 or 2 inch to the 4 edges flush with the edges of the auger housing as the steel may be weakening at the welds enough that the rotation of the PTO shaft is enough to exert force against the auger housing-it happens on the little walk behinds as their steel is much thinner now.

The angle iron and the strap iron will help reinforce the auger housing and reduce the shake if the P.T.O. shaft is not the culprit.


leon

 

[PHS79]

Well I am not sure what the actual cause of the vibration was, but it is gone now. I took the PTO shaft off and took it to the welding shop, I had 4" added to the shaft and when we put it all back together I made sure that the yokes were inline. Once everything was together, I started the tractor, engaged the PTO, and the vibration was gone. Like I said, I have know idea what was the case, be it the yokes being out of time or the slip shaft being too short, but I don't care since it runs out very smooth!

Thanks all for the help!