Have a bush hog and for some reason now the end that attaches to the PTO on the tractor will not go on far enough to lock into place. It appears to be a standard push button type and that button goes in far enough to clear the ridges on the PTO but it just will not go on far enough to lock. I have tried grease, grease and more grease but that just gets me messy. I have a tiller that attaches fine so I do not feel it is the tractor end. Has anyone dealt with this before and or have any clues what could be wrong. The bush hog in only about a year old and worked fine last year.
Push button PTO lock
- Thread starter rainman1
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BTDT
Veteran Member
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- Tractor
- IH M Farmall-propane powered, H Farmall (father-in-laws), Ford 1300 diesel
Is suction holding the shaft? Swing it to side and seperate halves, clean with diesel, and reinstall. This might let it slide up farther. If it still is a problem, maybe take a wire brush to pto shaft on tractor. If all else fails, "gently"
tap with hammer to encourage it to co-operate
tap with hammer to encourage it to co-operate
N80
Super Member
I get the 'suction' thing all the time. As mentioned, cleaning and regreasing can help. Mine has the collar that has to be held back in order to get it on the tractor PTO shaft. It is very hard to hold it with one hand and push on the sliding PTO shaft at the same time, especially when its wanting to stick. That's were a 16 year old son comes in handy. I hold the collar open, he pushes the shaft on. Works like a charm.
The push button on the shaft of my King Kutter tiller would not allow it to slip on to the tiller. I must have struggled for twenty minutes trying to get it on. Finally took it off and looked at it while pushing it down and rotating it. There was no way to get it clear of the spline path. I had to take it apart and grind the pin down to get it to work. (shouldn't be your problem though since it was working before, unless it was damaged somehow.) And If I never meet the guy who decided it was a good idea to have to pull really hard with your fingers while pushing with your palms and arms in a contorted position.....................
JerryG
Super Member
rainman1,
I have seen more than one PTO coupler that had really close tolerance. If grease is used on those with close tolerance, it will keep it from going on. Clean the threads off on the tractor shaft and on the coupler. Then, spray both with WD-40, PB Blaster or some thin spray lubricate. Try to put it on.
I quit using tube grease on PTO splines years ago.
I have seen more than one PTO coupler that had really close tolerance. If grease is used on those with close tolerance, it will keep it from going on. Clean the threads off on the tractor shaft and on the coupler. Then, spray both with WD-40, PB Blaster or some thin spray lubricate. Try to put it on.
I quit using tube grease on PTO splines years ago.
The problem you are describing can be parts related, as there are at least 2 different lengths of these spring loaded pins. Go to a dealer, and ask for one of each, as they are commonly broken, aftermarket supplied items. If the short one doesn't work, use the long one.
RalphVa
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Are you sure it's going onto the shaft?
What I've found, after many times of not doing it right with both the collar type and push button type, is to disengage the rear PTO so you can rotate it by hand. Then place the PTO up to the shaft and rotate the shaft by hand until you feel the PTO go into the splines. THEN pull the collar back or push the push button, which will allow the PTO to slide forward. Release collar and/or push button and ALWAYS make sure that it's locked in place, e.g. it won't slide back off.
If you have a mid PTO, place the PTO selector in that position to free up the rear PTO.
In case you haven't discovered it yet, your PTO cover on the tractor can probably be raised up out of the way by hand. When the PTO is on and locked, lower it back down.
Ralph
What I've found, after many times of not doing it right with both the collar type and push button type, is to disengage the rear PTO so you can rotate it by hand. Then place the PTO up to the shaft and rotate the shaft by hand until you feel the PTO go into the splines. THEN pull the collar back or push the push button, which will allow the PTO to slide forward. Release collar and/or push button and ALWAYS make sure that it's locked in place, e.g. it won't slide back off.
If you have a mid PTO, place the PTO selector in that position to free up the rear PTO.
In case you haven't discovered it yet, your PTO cover on the tractor can probably be raised up out of the way by hand. When the PTO is on and locked, lower it back down.
Ralph
CATMAN
Gold Member
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I suspect you have old dried up dirt and grease in the splines of the PTO itself. Take a small straight blade screwdriver, some brake cleaner, a small handheld wire brush and REALLY clean the sides of those internal splines. Don't use any lubrication that attracts dirt and dust on those pto splines. After everything is clean and dry, you could try dry powdered graphite if you feel you need a lubricate. There is a lot of farm equipment that the pto splines are never lubed, just maybe some prenetrating oil or brake cleaner on the locking plunger whenever it gets too dirty to work reasonably freely. One of the first things farmers have to do a piece of new equipment is to clean the paint out of the inside of that PTO connector so they don't have to fight it during each hookup.
44trxfun
Gold Member
Before I get started with my question, I just want to say that even though I'm not on the board nearly as much as I used to be, I still really appreciate all the great advice to be found here! I've been a member since 2003 (I think) and I can't think of a better source of practical tractor & implement info--basic and advanced.
Now for my question (and it's pretty basic). I rarely use rear PTO implements. In fact, the only one I have is a Farm Force SC (4 ft) brush cutter. I used it once 2 to 3 years ago and don't recall having any issues with it. I cleaned it all up a few days ago, regreased everything and mounted it on the tractor. Cut a few swaths with it but kept losing the coupler off the tractor's PTO shaft (possibly running it at too many RPMs--no tach on my tractor).
So, I've read this thread and others very carefully, many times now. Here's my question. Is the coupler supposed to slide ALL THE WAY up the tractor PTO shaft and lock OR is the coupler supposed to lock in the groove near the outer end of the PTO shaft? It seems it would be designed to slide completely over the shaft where it has maximum 'engagement' with length of the PTO shaft.
I have no trouble getting this pin-button couple to lock onto the groove near the outer end of the PTO but even though it slides all the way up the PTO shaft, it will not click into place in that position.
Am I making this harder than it is? Is it only supposed to catch in the obvious groove cut into the shaft? Or is my couple maybe just a almost unmeasurable amount too long to properly seat over the length of the shaft?
While awaiting your replies, I'll go see if I can clean it any better (I've already done everything recommended above I think, but I'll just make sure I didn't miss anything).
Thanks!
Now for my question (and it's pretty basic). I rarely use rear PTO implements. In fact, the only one I have is a Farm Force SC (4 ft) brush cutter. I used it once 2 to 3 years ago and don't recall having any issues with it. I cleaned it all up a few days ago, regreased everything and mounted it on the tractor. Cut a few swaths with it but kept losing the coupler off the tractor's PTO shaft (possibly running it at too many RPMs--no tach on my tractor).
So, I've read this thread and others very carefully, many times now. Here's my question. Is the coupler supposed to slide ALL THE WAY up the tractor PTO shaft and lock OR is the coupler supposed to lock in the groove near the outer end of the PTO shaft? It seems it would be designed to slide completely over the shaft where it has maximum 'engagement' with length of the PTO shaft.
I have no trouble getting this pin-button couple to lock onto the groove near the outer end of the PTO but even though it slides all the way up the PTO shaft, it will not click into place in that position.
Am I making this harder than it is? Is it only supposed to catch in the obvious groove cut into the shaft? Or is my couple maybe just a almost unmeasurable amount too long to properly seat over the length of the shaft?
While awaiting your replies, I'll go see if I can clean it any better (I've already done everything recommended above I think, but I'll just make sure I didn't miss anything).
Thanks!