pto shaft connect question

[newrockfarmer]

It seems like a dumb question but here goes:

I am attempting to reattach a Frontier RT1160 tiller for the first time. It was new and connected to the tractor when the dealer delivered it in Jan 2010.

It simply will not slide on far enough to engage the mechanism to keep it on. If I try to use the it the pto shaft will fall off the tractor spindle in 1-3 minutes. Here is what I have tried in order to connect it:

1. Leveling the tiller up,down,and side to side to enable pto shaft hub connection.

2. WD-40 sprayed on splined hub of the pto shaft and the tractor spindle.

3. Placing the tractor(JD4105 e-hydro) in neutral, engine off, to enable slight rotation of the tractor pto spindle to help engage pto shaft hub.

4. Removing tiller and separating the front(tractor end) of the pto shaft from the tiller end and attempting to reattach the pto shaft splined hub in order to see if I can tell what is holding it back from sliding on. Helper held the weight of the shaft to help me focus on sliding on the pto shaft hub on the tractor. Finally tapped lightly with a hammer, still no go.

5. Checked the tractor spindle and pto shaft splined hub for defects, but I can see nothing that should keep the hub from sliding on the tractor pto spindle. The hub has three ball bearing looking balls that float when the spring cap is pulled back toward me. This takes the place of the thumb pushbutton device on many pto shaft hubs. In fact the Frontier owners manual shows a thumb pushbutton device on the shaft, but there is none.

6. Cursing with emphasis and wishing I could curse in Chinese since this tiller was made in China, something I was unaware of prior to delivery since it was a substitute for another model I wanted instead.

7. Another implement I have has a pto shaft on it that slides on easily and clicks in. It has a thumb button device to engage the tractor spindle.

At this point I am thinking it is time to buy a new hub with a thumb button device and switch it out for the one on the tiller pto shaft if possible.

Has anyone had this issue or does anyone have any other ideas?

Thanks fellas,

newrockfarmer

 

[foreman Etexas]

No some just a pain to get on,but usually when it gets started it will go ahead and slide on. If your pulling it back all the way around back as far as it can go, should go on,it being new probaly why its being a pain. Steal you wifes finger nail file :laughing:and lightly file the inside, or some sand paper(dont go over board)just wonna clean-up the inside of it alittle......

Were you located at in central texas?

 

[Tx Jim]

Probably the 3 balls that hold the yoke on the tractor pto shaft are stuck. Lube the balls very well and keep trying.

 

[beenthere]

newrock
:welcome:

Take the end off the PTO shaft into your dealer and ask them to try it on a tractor to show you how it works (or for them to discover something is wrong).

A picture of what you have will help us possibly answer (if the above suggestions do not work).

 

[Mechanos]

This happened to one of my shafts. The balls were stuck and wouldn't recess even with the collar pulled back. Dirt and gunk can get in the area under the collar. I had to remove the snap ring and the slide the collar off, clean a bunch of crud out of the void, free up the balls with penetrating oil and put it all back together. Worked fine after that. It's a drawback to that type of PTO hub.

 

[Tx Jim]

I had to remove the snap ring and the slide the collar off, clean a bunch of crud out of the void, free up the balls with penetrating oil and put it all back together. Worked fine after that. It's a drawback to that type of PTO hub.

I personally prefer the old style push pin type yoke but OSHA doesn't.

 

[Rad1956]

Newrockfarmer: I've had the same problem with my frontier rotary mower since it was new -- let me know how you pan out.

 

[newrockfarmer]

I had checked the little balls and they were floating free so that seemed not to be the issue, but....

I went out yesterday pm and gave it one more try. I took the tractor part of the pto shaft off and sat right behind the tractor. I noticed that the pto shaft hub was stopping right at the little balls. So I Grabbed the spring ring with the left hand and tapped lightly with a hand sledge with the right hand and it went on. Now if I can just do it with the implement on! Let's hope it will come off as I cannot tap it off! Evidently it is just made a little too snug or the little balls are a bit stubborn.

I may just get the hub changed on the tractor side to the old button type anyway as it seems much easier to maneuver.

Thanks for your suggestions. This is probably going to be an ongoing struggle if I keep the current hub.

I'm located in the boondocks out northwest of Georgetown where there are more rocks and junipers than anything else. So far the tiller has done great with the rocks although I had to stop and remove a rock on occasion.

 

[ccride]

Isn't this Chinese hardware great? The thing they are best at is making it look as good as what we used to make in this country. I had a recent project where I drilled some 5/8" holes, went to TSC and bought some 5/8" pins for it, and guess what? Those 5/8" pins will not go into a 5/8" hole!

 

[Mechanos]

I would go ahead and take the collar off the hub as described above. Since this is on a tiller, some dirt could have gotten in there and may be keeping the balls from fully recessing when the collar is slid back.