Male Half of the snowblower driveline stuck on PTO spline

[jayhawk238]

I have a front mount frame underneath my Kubota L5030 for my Kubota snowblower. This spring when I took the blower off and mounted the FEL the Male half of PTO driveline from the blower would not come off. I could pull the locking collar on the yoke back and see the ball bearings but it would not come off. I tried the hammer trick, WD-40 and nothing. Mechanic friend stopped over today and after trying different pry bars and such we put a chain through the u-joint and placed it over the trailer hitch on his jeep and he gently pulled ahead as I pulled the locking collar back. We did get it to move about an inch or so but no more. We were a little leery about pulling to hard. It came forward enough that it is past the "grove" where the ball bearings go when locked on. The Kubota number on the frame is L2180-1 and is for both the L2182 & L2183 Mid PTO Kits. Got a bad feeling I will have to replace the male half of the driveline and the output shaft at the tune of $670+ shipping.
What else can I try to remove the driveline?

 

[oosik]

I would try heat. I have a Milwaukee commercial heat gun. Used it successfully several times to remove stuck items. Heat the core of the collar - get it to move that inch forward/back. Keep working it. Sounds like you have to overcome a certain degree of rust/corrosion.

 

[Diggin It]

Is it stuck on the tractor or the blower?

Have you tried Kroil or something other than WD?

There's a recipe on here in a few dozen posts for a mix of acetone and transmission fluid that many people claim to be among the best penetrants.

 

[WM75Guy]

Try BP Blaster or some penetrating oil. Soak it several times over the day. I have a 4-ton hydraulic spreader that I have used to break stuff free, better control than a chain. Just be careful on pulling on the spline. Probably not much holding it in place, just a few snap rings and bearings.

 

[RoyJackson]

Try BP Blaster or some penetrating oil. Soak it several times over the day. I have a 4-ton hydraulic spreader that I have used to break stuff free, better control than a chain. Just be careful on pulling on the spline. Probably not much holding it in place, just a few snap rings and bearings.

Yep...WD-40 doesn't work well loosening up parts...

 

[nyone]

Post pictures of the stuck piece. Can you take appart the lock collar, remove the balls and spring? Then you should just be dealing with the friction of the splines shaft. You can really heat things then but be careful of seals.

 

[5030]

WD 40 is worthless as a penetrant, PBlaster is better but the best is acetone mixed with red atf. in a spray bottle.

Next time, lubricate the stub splines with grease and the collar with oil or PB, neither are meant to run dry.

 

[setxjeff]

Anti seize goes on everything for me. After working in a Paper Mill for 38 years watching the results of the Mill mechanics using copper anti-seize vs Construction mechanics using nothing was like night and day.

 

[setxjeff]

If it will move an inch you can get it off with patient applications of penetrants and moving it back and forth. Good Luck

 

[AWSubie]

U can also try a fifteen minute soak with Naval Jelly (phosphoric acid). This will tend to dissolve rust and increase clearance between the male/female spline.

 

[cedar21]

I had a driveline stuck on the PTO shaft before. I tied the driveline side to a tree with a chain and parked the tractor on the downhill side of the tree, putting some light tension on the chain by letting the tractor roll down the hill. I then heated the driveline where it connected to the PTO shaft with a blow torch, while a friend tapped on the connection with a hammer as I was heating it. I read about this method somewhere, and it worked twice for me.

 

[jayhawk238]

I would try heat. I have a Milwaukee commercial heat gun. Used it successfully several times to remove stuck items. Heat the core of the collar - get it to move that inch forward/back. Keep working it. Sounds like you have to overcome a certain degree of rust/corrosion.

Thanks for your help. Will give that a try.

 

[jayhawk238]

Is it stuck on the tractor or the blower?

Have you tried Kroil or something other than WD?

There's a recipe on here in a few dozen posts for a mix of acetone and transmission fluid that many people claim to be among the best penetrants.

I only had wd 40. Ran out of Seafoam but have some ordered. It's stuck on the tractor.

 

[jayhawk238]

Yep...WD-40 doesn't work well loosening up parts...

I agree, but thays all I have right now. Got some Seafoam ordered. Should be here Monday.

 

[jayhawk238]

Post pictures of the stuck piece. Can you take appart the lock collar, remove the balls and spring? Then you should just be dealing with the friction of the splines shaft. You can really heat things then but be careful of seals.

I'll see about removing the lock collar and bearings and pictures. Thanks for the reply.

 

[jayhawk238]

WD 40 is worthless as ang penetrant, PBlaster is better but the best is acetone mixed with red atf. in a spray bottle.

Next time, lubricate the stub splines with grease and the collar with oil or PB, neither are meant to run dry.

I agree. But WD was the only thing I have on hand. Got some better stuff on it's way.

 

[5030]

Need to make your own. Go buy a gallon of acetone at your local box store or hardware store and a quart of Dexron ATF (not the synthetic stuff) and a spritzer bottle and mix 1 part of ATF to 5 parts acetone That is even 10 times better than PBlaster or Liquid Wrench or any commercially available penetrant and the cost per unit will be 1/4 of the commercially available stuff. All I use anymore.

Only thing WD is good for is it's a moisture dispersant for wet electrical connections and I've heard it's good for arthritis too, not that I want to find out and smell like WD all the time. Stuff stinks.

 

[2manyrocks]

ATF plus a paint solvent worked for me to unstick a frozen PTO shaft where commercial penetrating oil didn't. Plus it's so inexpensive in comparison that I didn't feel bad about using a lot of it.

 

[jayhawk238]

Just wanted to let everyone I I sprayed some Deep Creep on it Tuesday and some more this morning. About 10 minutes ago I garbed the yoke and pulled and it came off!!!!!! Love this Deep Creep!! Want to THANK everyone who replied to my post. This is a great forum.

 

[Cycledude]

Glad to hear the Deep Creep stuff worked to get it loose.
Sounds like rust on the shaft is probably what caused it to get stuck, occasional light coat of grease or oil on the shaft would most likely prevent that from ever happening again.