Land Pride PTO Shaft - How to grease

[Atlanta Panther]

I have a LP RCR1860 rotary cutter to go with my L3200 and just realized in doing the 50 hour initial maintenance on the tractor I should have been greasing the cutter much more frequently...duh.

In any event I started lubing the grease fittings I saw as described in the manual which is frankly pretty lacking and had several questions.

1.How do you remove the plastic shrouds on each end to get to some fittings?
2.There is a plastic nub on each end that looks like a grease fitting but without the metal grease fitting, if that makes sense. Do I grease that?
3.How do you remove the sleeves so you can grease the shaft as they tell you to do.

The manual is pretty poor on maintenance instructions. It seems like there should be some easy tricks to get this properly lubed especially since it needs to be done so frequently.

I'd appreciate any help.

 

[k0ua]

I have a LP RCR1860 rotary cutter to go with my L3200 and just realized in doing the 50 hour initial maintenance on the tractor I should have been greasing the cutter much more frequently...duh.

In any event I started lubing the grease fittings I saw as described in the manual which is frankly pretty lacking and had several questions.

1.How do you remove the plastic shrouds on each end to get to some fittings?You should be able to grease the crosses without removing the shrouds, by rotating the shaft within the shroud.
2.There is a plastic nub on each end that looks like a grease fitting but without the metal grease fitting, if that makes sense. Do I grease that? Yes, this greases the shroud bearing
3.How do you remove the sleeves so you can grease the shaft as they tell you to do. You do not need to remove the shrouds to grease the shaft, just pull the shafts apart and put a wad of grease in the female side of the shaft and then insert the male side and slide them together, repeat if necessary.

If you want to learn how to remove the shrouds, go to the manufacture sites for the brand of PTO shaft you have, like Eurocardan or La Magdalena. etc. It is not too hard to do, but each has an intricate procedure to accomplish it.

The manual is pretty poor on maintenance instructions. It seems like there should be some easy tricks to get this properly lubed especially since it needs to be done so frequently.

I'd appreciate any help.

see above

 

[oosik]

OK This is what I do as far as greasing my pto shafts. In the fall when I put the shaft into storage - I pull it apart and liberally grease the outside of the smaller shaft and the inside of the larger shaft. During the season, if there is a grease zerk at the mid-point of each section of the shaft I and give each zerk 3-4 pumps of grease. If there is no zerks I will tear it down and grease as just stated. There is also a zerk within each universal joint, at each end of the shaft, and I grease them until I see grease coming out of the bearing cups. I use my pto chipper the most - about 25-30 hours/season so one initial greasing at the beginning is sufficient.

Now, your questions.
There should be NO REASON to remove the plastic shrouds unless they are being replaced due to damage or the shaft is damaged and needs repair. However, this is how it is done.
The only way to remove the plastic protective cover over the shaft is to have the shaft totally off the tractor & cutter. There is a retention slot in the plastic bell housing at each end of the shroud. You must insert a flat blade screw driver in the retention slot and this will allow the plastic cover to come off that end of the shaft. Do the same on the other end. Slide the plastic tube & bell housing back on the shaft, align the tab with the retention slot and it will click in and hold the plastic cover in place.


You DO NOT need to remove the plastic sleeves/plastic shrouds to lube the shaft proper. Lube it before you install it and it should be good for at least 50 hours of use. If you do need to lube the shaft during the summer - if there is a grease zerk on each shaft half - use the zerk. If there are no zerks then remove one end of the shaft from either the tractor or the cutter - pull the shaft completely apart - liberally grease the inside of the larger tube and the outside of the smaller tube - put them back together and install back on the tractor or cutter.

 

[k0ua]

But we need to know what brand of shaft he has.. The Eurocardan shields and the La Magdalena Shields are entirely different. And he may have something else entirely. But of course the general greasing instructions apply to all. The best thing to do is not take the shields off unless you really need to.

 

[Chilly807]

I have the same cutter, mine has Eurocardan drive shaft. The plastic nipples get a couple shots of grease every 8 hours, the u-joints get the same. I took a hole saw and added some holes to get access through the plastic collar at the gearbox to tighten or remove the bolt holding the shaft on, real pia otherwise.
The u-joints can be got at by angling the shaft and holding your mouth the right way. Don't forget the tail wheel bearings, there's one nipple on the vertical pivot, another on the wheel itself.

Sean

 

[Granite Tractor]

I just came across this article while trying to do the same thing on my RCR 1860.

I figured out how to remove the PTO shield, but even with that off, the angle of the grease fitting makes it impossible to get a regular grease gun on there.

Do I need a right angle for the grease gun? Any tips greatly appreciated.

 

[mcfarmall]

See if you can get a small open end wrench in there and turn the zerk a few degrees so that you can access it when the knuckle is open.

 

[oosik]

Somebody must have thought that was a real funny joke there - Granite Tractor. The way that zerk is angled. I would remove that angled zerk and replace with a simple straight zerk. Then it will be a straight shot with your grease gun.

 

[PILOON]

Somebody must have thought that was a real funny joke there - Granite Tractor. The way that zerk is angled. I would remove that angled zerk and replace with a simple straight zerk. Then it will be a straight shot with your grease gun.

Anyone that owns a tractor and related equipment should have an assortment of zerks in his tool kit.
The minimal cost of such will be paid back many times over if only on the frustration basis if not the costly savings of wear and tear.

I lucked out at a govt auction when I bid $10, and won a tray of some 250 assorted zerks in all sizes and angles. Best yet I separated into 2 lots and sold 1/2 to a buddy for $10.00.
That was a win/win for both of us!

 

[Beeenvenue]

I share the frustration. Pictures don’t do the situation justice. I have an ag Meir shredder and no way can it be greased with the guard on. Not with the slip clutch in the way as well, and don’t talk about angled or straight zerks - I tried 90, 45, and straight all turned at various directions. No joy. (I did find one angle that worked - with extreme difficulty - but it was so loosed by the time I had used it 6 hours the zerk was gone).

Manual says grease every 10 hours but it takes 2-3 hours to take apart to do so.

My solution - for me and my situation - was to take a razor knife to the cover and cut a big a$$ hole/slot in it so I can grease the thing. On each end. Now I have a ton of exposed rotating elements but at least they are greased.