3235 Deck Drive Shaft

[Bob_Bainbridge]

My back yard finally dried up enough that I could get my tractor out to mow and do an oil change and lube job. I have trouble getting my grease gun on the 2 U-joint fittings on the deck drive shaft. I bought a smaller adapter but couldn't find it. I removed the front U-joint from the splined shaft so I could angle the U-joints to get access to the grease fittings. Everytime I do this I have a h*** of a time getting the joint to slip back on the spline. The first time I thought maybe it only fit in one position but it appears to be symmetrical. I twist and turn, move it up and down, side to side and then after 20 minutes it suddenly just slips onto the shaft. Does anyone else have this problem or know what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks, Bob B.

 

[OhioGuy]

Hey Bob,
On my 5252, the collar has to be pulled back to allow the locking mechanism to clear. And of course you have next to no room to work.

I believe yours is set up the same way?

Maybe take a look at the diagram on the Cub website to see if it has the same detent mechanism to lock it in place.

Curt

 

[scoutcub]

Bob;

Don't worry, it's not just you. I've experienced the same thing on the mower deck as well as the front snowblower. Seems like it wants just the right combination of turning, pressing, and swearing. I think it's just a tight area that you can't really get the best angle of attack, and keep the collar fully compressed.

 

[Vernonator]

Bob;

Don't worry, it's not just you. I've experienced the same thing on the mower deck as well as the front snowblower. Seems like it wants just the right combination of turning, pressing, and swearing. I think it's just a tight area that you can't really get the best angle of attack, and keep the collar fully compressed.

Yup - my 3235 is the same way, its the WORST part of taking off the deck.

 

[Bob_Bainbridge]

Hey Bob,
On my 5252, the collar has to be pulled back to allow the locking mechanism to clear. And of course you have next to no room to work.

I believe yours is set up the same way?

Maybe take a look at the diagram on the Cub website to see if it has the same detent mechanism to lock it in place.

Curt

Curt, normally the shaft can be started on the spline and then the locking collar has to be pulled to slide it on untill it locks in place. The problem is getting it started that first 1/8 inch. I guess others have the same problem. I thought maybe I was just getting old!

Thanks, Bob B.

 

[jdkalb]

If you lube the balls in the coupler with WD40 then tilt the yoke upward while forcing the collar back, one of the balls will partially retract from it's hole.

This will keep the collar retracted enough that you can slip it on the spline.

Then turn the big pulley on top of the mower to get the out of place ball to a top position.

Then push the collar all the way back again. The ball should fall back into place.

John

 

[jdkalb]

Made a mistake on my last post. You cock the yoke down and shove the collar back instead of cocking it up to release the ball.

It is easier to do this before you slide the deck under the tractor.

John

 

[Dave01]

Bob, I've had the same problem on the 3204. I think the coupler has to be perfectly horizontal to mate with the splined shaft, and we tend to not quite get it up to horizontal. I've found that if I over-extend the drive shaft a bit so the coupler is actually angled down toward the splines, then rotate the coupler down (with collar pulled back) it seems to find that sweet spot and slide on. I hope that made sense!

 

[OhioGuy]

If you ever make the mistake of not getting the shaft locked in position, you will be so sorry! Mine came loose , then beat the snot out of the coupler as the mower spun down. It dinged it to the point it would't slide back on, even with the mower out of the equation. I was back and forth to the vise, filing, deburring for an hour. New driveshaft for the 5252 is about $350, so I was happy to return mine to working order.

Curt

 

[wojnaroski]

When I had my 3204, I replaces the fittings with longer angled ones. Worked fine after that.

Alan