Sad day in our neighborhood

[MossRoad]

I had my first experience with 3pt hitch and PTO shaft around 1990 when we bought our first tractor, a mid 70's IH2500b tractor loader. I had a friend that was a farmer and loaned me his sickle bar mower so I could clear a field for tree planting. He very methodically and very slowly (for us city kids) went over the dangers of the rotating PTO shaft and insisted I buy a new PTO shaft with cover and explained why very well.... "serious injury or death". Those are four pretty telling words. He's long gone now, but I remember his lesson. We ended up getting a box blade and a bush hog for it after the trees were planted (can't very well mow rows of plantation trees with a sickle bar!). After many years we sold the tractor and bought our current machine. No more PTO shafts! Everything is hydraulically driven and up front where we can see it. While there is loss of power in hydraulic VS direct driven implements, its well worth it to me to never have to try to line up that stupid shaft or muscle around a 3pt implement by hand, or worry about getting caught by that spinning shaft. :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

This is the post that got me thinking about tractors, implements, operations, safety, functionality, etc.... back in 2001 and ultimately steered me towards Power Trac, quick hitches, and front mounted implements. While its not for everyone, especially someone that has to plow dirt, like grain farming, it sure suits our needs to a T, easily out performs a much larger machine for our tasks, and I've never regretted losing the 3pt hitch.

Anyhow, its a great reading thread and has some vintage TBN original members posting some fine opinion (not me, I was a young punk from the city).

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...t=tractors+are+designed+wrong+power#post51412

 

[MF283]

and if they wouldn't make the plastic tabs such a pita to deal with we would not break them and maybe might get our universal joints greased more often.
Now you have to take the whole thing apart. Nice way to get covered in grease from head to toe.
They should have inspection doors, or something.
If they make them so difficult to deal with, no wonder folks take them off...

I took a utility knife, sliced the plastic 1" deep by 1" wide, i can flip the plastic back, line up to the zerk & grease the joint's. Flap falls back in place & all is good.
Now, like the rest of you, i've never greased the shield itself.

Ronnie

 

[daugen]

I took a utility knife, sliced the plastic 1" deep by 1" wide, i can flip the plastic back, line up to the zerk & grease the joint's. Flap falls back in place & all is good.
Now, like the rest of you, i've never greased the shield itself.

Ronnie

that's a great idea, going to look at mine and see what could be done. If the "inspection hatch" has to be a permanent hole, so be it.

 

[k0ua]

I took a utility knife, sliced the plastic 1" deep by 1" wide, i can flip the plastic back, line up to the zerk & grease the joint's. Flap falls back in place & all is good.
Now, like the rest of you, i've never greased the shield itself.

Ronnie

I have been greasing those plastic shield bearings ever since I discovered those plastic grease nipples by accident. No one ever told me about them, I just wondered why they were there, and it dawned on me that a little grease in there once in a while might be a good thing.

 

[tractorshopper]

I have never greased the plastic shields either. Never thought about it, but after looking last night, yes, they are on every one of my attachments with PTO shaft.

I have always tried to chain the shaft up and around the pin on the top of the attachment to keep the PTO shaft off the ground when not in use. That is generally how I have broken my plastic chain attach points to the shaft covers. I wish they were more durable, but oh well, I never get off the tractor with PTO running anyway. After reading very good stuff here for years, I wouldn't even think about it. Besides, I think my tractor would cut off if I raised my behind out of the seat with PTO engaged anyway. Good feature.

 

[rd_macgregor]

There are a lot of PTO shaft maintenance videos on YouTube. This site lists a bunch of training vids, but there are lots more available. How to.. PTO drive shaft maintenance -- English version
- YouTube

 

[check]

There are a lot of PTO shaft maintenance videos on YouTube. This site lists a bunch of training vids, but there are lots more available. How to.. PTO drive shaft maintenance -- English version - YouTube

Wow, nice PTO shaft cover. Very safe!

 

[oosik]

A Ha - I wondered what those plastic zerks were for. I alway pulled the shaft apart and liberally applied grease. After my chain pulled the tab off my previous pto shaft - I now use a short rope to hold it up. After seven years I still have all the tabs, windows & plastic zerks on the new one.

 

[k0ua]

A Ha - I wondered what those plastic zerks were for. I alway pulled the shaft apart and liberally applied grease. After my chain pulled the tab off my previous pto shaft - I now use a short rope to hold it up. After seven years I still have all the tabs, windows & plastic zerks on the new one.

I built a hanger for my PTO shaft on my rotary cutter. So I would not have to hang it by the chain any more. If you want to see the build pictures, click on the link.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...pto-shaft-hanger-my-rotary.html?highlight=PTO