Attaching front driveline question

[Ken P]

Folks - I've got a new-to-me B2410 with a front male quick hitch (B2733) and a "half" driveline to connect to the mid-PTO. The instructions for connecting the driveline said to do it after fully mounting the quick hitch/subframe gizmo. But, there wasn't quite enough forward-to-back play in the driveline to get the quick connect yoke onto the mid-PTO (I put on the front part of the driveline first, also as the instructions said). Is there some trick to doing this?

After fiddling with it for awhile, I ended up pulling out the "L"pin and dropping the tail of the hitch/subframe down a bit, then attaching the quick connect, then replacing the hitch tail end and the "L"pin. Getting the quick connect on was easy this way, but it required a fair bit of shoving to get the tail of the hitch/subframe back up into position, which worried me as I assume that the driveline could be bent and ruined.

When I finished, the driveline slides forward and back easily, and rotates easily with a nice smooth feeling, so I think it's ok. Still, I'm wondering how others do this?

Thanks -

Ken

 

[leonz]

Dont forget that it slides up and down with the front attachment Ken and thats why it refuses to play nice-it has a limited arc of movement.

Just be sure to grease everything every time you use it.

 

[Ductape]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say it slides 'back and forth'. On my front quick hitch, the end of the PTO shaft that goes on the mid PTO output shaft has a spring loaded locking collar to keep it from coming off. Maybe yours is different..... but you certainly wouldn't want the shaft coming off in use. Also, when you get to installing your snowblower (or whatever you put on the front) make sure your u-joints are in phase to eliminate vibration.

 

[dennisgw]

There was a post recently that may have a bearing on your situation. The driveline shaft slides on the splined shaft that is part of the PTO quick hitch. Is your spline shaft sticking out to far to the back so there is not enough room for "normal" attachment to the mid PTO output shaft? I believe the poster resolved the problem by loosening set screws and moving the splined shaft more forward. Is this your problem?

 

[Ken P]

Ducttape - what I mean by forward and back play is the way you can slide the front end of the driveline further or not as far onto the quickhitch. In order to be able to get the rear end of the driveline onto the PTO, I needed the driveline to be able to move just a little bit farther forward. As it was, the opening in the rear end of the driveline was able to sit on the PTO gear, but was at an angle rather than straight on so it couldn't slide on.

Once I got that rear end of the driveline straight on to the PTO, it slid on and then the locking collar did it's thing.

I'm guessing that you are able to get the driveline on without any such problem as I'd mentioned. I'll have to see what adjustments might be possible.

Could I get you to elaborate on what you mean by having U-joints in phase?

Thanks - Ken

 

[Ken P]

Dennisgw, that sounds like it might be the same problem. If the spline on the back of the quickhitch was a bit farther forward, I'd have been able to get the driveline on without problem. I'll have to see if I can figure out what holds it in place, see if I can adjust it. I need to be sure that I don't then cause a problem attaching the little driveline that goes from the front of the quickhitch to the snowblower.

If you could recall any further details about that post, let me know. I'll try searching under driveline, maybe that'll turn it up. Thanks,

Ken

 

[Ductape]

Gotcha. My mid PTO shaft slides right over the spline on my quick hitch shaft....... far enough forward to then slide the back end in place and lock in. No problem with angles on mine.

As far as the U-joints go..... when you put the frond end shaft on (the one that connects to the blower / sweeper), the yoke on either end of the shaft attached to the quick hitch must be in line with each other. Having the rear yoke at 90 degrees, and the front at 120 degrees will cause a vibration.

 

[leonz]

What Ductape is referring to is the "timing" of the universal joints.

If they are not at the same exact postition at each end when installed they will wear out very quickly on you.

 

[dennisgw]

Ken, this was the post I was trying to remember:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/187624-power-take-off-drive-shaft.html