Posthole Digger PTO Shaft Question......

[gltrap54]

I've decided to replace rather than repair my PD's PTO shaft....... I'm finding TSC wants $300 for one while Amazon has one for around $100..... Could there be that much difference in quality? :confused3:

 

[oosik]

I would be VERY careful picking the cheaper PTO shaft. As a simple matter of fact - I WOULD NOT PURCHASE OR USE the $100 PTO shaft. Its a matter of simple safety. Most all sites selling reputable farm implements and equipment will have their PTO shafts in the $300 range. There has to be a difference in the quality of the two different shafts and this could very easily be a concern for your safety.

TSC will stand behind their PTO shafts because they come from a known manufacturer with known quality - - I wonder, will Amazon?

 

[LouNY]

There are a multitude of PTO shafts available, different shaft styles, different overload protection and most importantly different HP ratings.
Most post hole diggers are using low HP rated PTO shafts, which can be purchased relatively inexpensively.
When comparing prices compare power ratings.

 

[mikester]

I would be VERY careful picking the cheaper PTO shaft. As a simple matter of fact - I WOULD NOT PURCHASE OR USE the $100 PTO shaft. Its a matter of simple safety. Most all sites selling reputable farm implements and equipment will have their PTO shafts in the $300 range. There has to be a difference in the quality of the two different shafts and this could very easily be a concern for your safety.

TSC will stand behind their PTO shafts because they come from a known manufacturer with known quality - - I wonder, will Amazon?

100% agree

Stick to name brands that are either North American or European made. It's cheaper to spend an extra $200 for quality than $2,000 in tractor repairs.

 

[HayDR]

Here are some choices:
- PTO Shaft-PTO Shafts | Agri Supply 12265 AGMATE which is Walterscheid China
- Tx1 88/152 Pto Shaft 8618 - 1 1/4 Round Implement End Eurocardan

Both come OEM on many of the post Hole diggers that are shear pin.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

There are a multitude of PTO shafts available, different shaft styles, different overload protection and most importantly different HP ratings.
Most post hole diggers are using low HP rated PTO shafts, which can be purchased relatively inexpensively.
When comparing prices compare power ratings.

That ^^^ is the RIGHT answer right there...

SR

BTW, when I needed my last pto shaft, I went to a guy that sells "used farm equipment" and he sold me a HIGH QUALITY pto shaft in excellent shape for $45.00...

 

[Z-Michigan]

Here are some choices:
- PTO Shaft-PTO Shafts | Agri Supply 12265 AGMATE which is Walterscheid China
- Tx1 88/152 Pto Shaft 8618 - 1 1/4 Round Implement End Eurocardan

Both come OEM on many of the post Hole diggers that are shear pin.

Great post. I was going to suggest looking at ASC, he has done all the work for you.

I wouldn't trust Amazon for something like this (and 10,000 other things). But TSC prices are sometimes laugh-out-loud. When you can buy a decent new PHD for $800 I have a hard time believing that the PTO shaft has to cost $300.

 

[Peter 315]

Surplus center has some pto shafts under $200 bucks

 

[Dave M7040]

COMER is the Italian based world wide company that many quality pieces of farm equipment use. They manufacture pto shafts, gearboxes, etc.

On youtube there are COMER videos on the correct way to adjust the length of the pto shaft plus other informative topics
How to grease the guard ring bearing and the universal joint on pto drive shaft - Comer industries - YouTube

Remember, if the pto shaft on a post hole digger breaks you are likely close by.
Sometimes when they break at the implement end they flail around like a Knight's war weapon.

There is an important relationship between the angle you ask the pto joints to work and their life expectancy.

The life expectancy range is from 20 hours at a high angle to 450 hours on a minimum angle.

Replacing the joints before they break will avoid the more costly problem of bent yokes

Buying COMER parts is easy and you can just change the actual shaft if you need to increase the length

Dave M7040

 

[gltrap54]

Great post. I was going to suggest looking at ASC, he has done all the work for you.

I wouldn't trust Amazon for something like this (and 10,000 other things). But TSC prices are sometimes laugh-out-loud. When you can buy a decent new PHD for $800 I have a hard time believing that the PTO shaft has to cost $300.

I was shocked when I checked the price at TSC! It looks like ASC has one for $100 that might work......... I didn't see a HP rating on it.....

 

[LouNY]

It should have a category number on it and then you can look that up and cross to a hp rating.
Wait till you price out an Italian category 6 unit.

Some helpful info

Determining Your PTO Series - PaulB Parts - Ag, Industrial, and Mechanical Supply

 

[BrokenTrack]

$300 is about right, where as a $100 PTO is just downright scary.

 

[Texasmark]

I bought a heavy duty with slip clutch from ASC, forget the categories but this one was for a 5x6 baler which required a goodly amount of HP (like 100) to get the job done, for a song. Other shafts were listed in their catalog for significantly more money. Shaft was as good as any I have ever put in my hand. Would do it again in a heartbeat!

 

[TMGT]

$300 is about right, where as a $100 PTO is just downright scary.

I replaced my tiller shaft with one from ASC that was just over $100 WITH slip clutch, quality is good and I would buy another shaft from them in a heartbeat.

Quality and price sometimes go hand and hand, but not always.

The TSC shafts I've seen aren't worth 3times what the ASC cost, I've been in the ASC store and looked at the different PTO shafts, everything I saw was comparable to most of the higher priced units.

 

[Texasmark]

I was shocked when I checked the price at TSC! It looks like ASC has one for $100 that might work......... I didn't see a HP rating on it.....

They go by category number/letter. Get that, probably on a sticker somewhere on it and www the cross reference of that to what it means. You'll get your answer.

Edit: I just looked in their Feb. 2018 catalog and the economy shafts are on page 23. List the usage to help you to select the correct series....higher the number more hp. I must have bought the 5 or 6 series, their largest for my baler since they didn't list such as a usage.

 

[BigBearDBIII]

Fellas,
The pto shaft knuckle end of the u-joint for my auger (post hole digger) that connects to my 2017 Kubota L3301 takes three men an hour to get on and several chains, WD-40, & a tree stump to get off! The shaft is fine so, I'm looking to only replace the pto knuckle end of the u-joint. I have lightly filed in it but does not remedy it going on or coming off. However, I want to make sure that I order the right size connector end and from a reputable company without breaking the bank. Can anyone steer me in the right direction with either the size of it or even better, a good place to purchase one?

 

[bigdeano]

I've purchased yokes from paulbparts.com. You should be able to figure out what you have from measurements on their site.

 

[Dave M7040]

Fellas,
The pto shaft knuckle end of the u-joint for my auger (post hole digger) that connects to my 2017 Kubota L3301 takes three men an hour to get on and several chains, WD-40, & a tree stump to get off! The shaft is fine so, I'm looking to only replace the pto knuckle end of the u-joint. I have lightly filed in it but does not remedy it going on or coming off. However, I want to make sure that I order the right size connector end and from a reputable company without breaking the bank. Can anyone steer me in the right direction with either the size of it or even better, a good place to purchase one?

Buying one half of an end of the pto shaft now creates a chance that the U joint does not fit both halves. The original still on the shaft and the ne yoke you buy.

Post a photo of it.

Usually the problem lies in the method used to lock the yoke to the pto shaft. Sometimes balls. sometimes a pin. Hardly ever the splines causing removal difficulties

A tiny overlap from where either pin of balls should be and a gorilla might get it off.

Dave M7040

 

[DieselBound]

I got a Bare Co. PTO shaft for my bush hog. Really nice shaft. Shaft guards can be slid back for easy hook-up. Local Deere dealer was a distributor.

 

[BigBearDBIII]

Buying one half of an end of the pto shaft now creates a chance that the U joint does not fit both halves. The original still on the shaft and the ne yoke you buy.

Post a photo of it.

Usually the problem lies in the method used to lock the yoke to the pto shaft. Sometimes balls. sometimes a pin. Hardly ever the splines causing removal difficulties

A tiny overlap from where either pin of balls should be and a gorilla might get it off.

Dave M7040

Dave,
We had to remove the spring pin so, someone didn't have to push it in while it was chained to a stump to pull it off. But I can tell you that way before the ball bearings get to where they seat, it is extremely hard to get on within the first 1/2" after inserting it, it becomes to hard to do with only your hands.