Mowing bx 22 mower pto u joint

[logfarmer]

The pto shaft on my 60 inch nower came off and bent the hydraulic filter and damaged the sleeve on the pto shaft and the u joint.
I am having trouble getting the ujoint apart to put on the new ujoint and replace the end of the pto shaft which connects to the mid pto.
Its not like a pickup driveline that has ubolts on it so I'm not sure how to proceed.
Thanks Martin

 

[Junkman]

If the shaft itself is bent, then I suggest that you take it to a drive-line specialist than can install a new tube on it and properly balance the shaft. You can't tell just by looking, but using a straight edge, might help you to determine this. If it is bent, you will have vibration that you will not be able to live with. I haven't looked at the cross bearings on the drive-shaft on my mower, but usually they are held in by a retaining clip. The clip is usually on the outside of the bearing cap. I have seen a few that use a metal clip on the inside edge of the bearing cap also. I have also seen some that were factory installed using a nylon lock that self destroys when the bearing is disassembled. I checked the parts manual and it shows the clip or snap ring on the outside of the bearing cap, but this can differ in actuality. You should have a press or a vise with a very large jaw on it to press the old one out and the new one in. When you refer to the "sleeve", I assume that you are referring to the "yoke". This is the part that half the universal joint (bearing) goes to. This is also the part that has the locking collar attached to it. It would be helpful if you could post a picture of exactly what parts are damaged. I needed to replace the bearing on a drive-shaft this winter and took it to the local machine shop, since it was rusted in place. They charged $10 to press out the old and install the new. Cheap at twice the price and it took about 20 tons of pressure to break it loose. With the right tools, it is easy. Without, it is difficult and you are in danger of doing more damage than the original event.

 

[Henro]

There have been some reports of the same thing happening to others here in the past...check the archives...you may find something interesting.

I want to think I remember there might have been a reason for the shaft coming off the BX MMM in at least one case...not simply that the operator forgot to make sure the thing was locked on properly. Some kind of manufacturing defect?

Don't take my word for this, cause I could be wrong...but I do know yours is not the first to have the shaft come off and cause damage...

 

[chucko]

mine came off one time. but it was user error

 

[KRECKER]

Martin,
I had the same thing happen to me after about 20 hours of use. The locking yoke just came off and busted the filter and hyro oil was everywhere, just was able to get back to my shop before it stop. I have taken the MMM off and put back on several times and I just cut my two acre backyard and was working on the front when it happened. I call dealer and they came out the next day and put in oil, filter and check the pto yoke. Mechanic said that it looked like the bearings were stuck. I told him that it had been hard from the begining to get it to lock in place, but I just figured that was just the learning curve. Dealer ordered me another unit after a little while since he got tried of me fussing about it. Took about three months to get him to do it though. Before new one came in I had to use a hammer to make sure that it locked into place. Depending on how many hours you have on your MMM, you might want to check with the dealer, as there are have been several other post regarding this same thing happening and the bearings are usually the problem.

Hope this helps you.

Don

 

[DaveInColorado]

It happened once to me - BX1500. It only dented the oil filter - no big deal. Spray it with WD40 before installing to make sure things are loosened up a bit. That is the biggest pain in the whole tractor - installing that last shaft to the PTO.

 

[logfarmer]

There are internal snap rings holding the u joint to the quick yoke and the shaft, those come out with no problem. What I cant see is how to get the u joint out. Maybe the cap around the needle bearings needs to come off and the needle bearings removed to make enough room for the assembly to come apart?
I dont have a digital camera so no photos are available. I do have a hydraulic press though and will try to press the u joint apart.

Thanks, Martin

 

[Junkman]

Once you have the two snap rings removed, put the shaft into the press and support the lower part of the yoke using a socket that is large enough that the end bearing will fall inside of it, but small enough to support the opening of the yoke. Using a smaller socket on the top of the bearing cap, just put some pressure on it and it will push out the lower bearing cap. Then turn over and push out the other bearing cap. Reverse for reassembly, but be careful to start the bearing cap in the yoke squarely or you will damage the yoke. Also make sure that none of the needle bearings gets dislodged in the cap. I have seen this happen and it will fall sideways in the bearing cap, prohibiting you from completely seating the bearing. Hope that these instructions are clear. If not, let me know and I will try to give additional help.....

 

[JWE]

My yoke failed shortly after I started using the mower. The shaft came off while mowing and tore a hole in the hydro filter and damaged the brake linkage. Initially, the dealer refused to replace the yoke under warranty but later agreed to it (it's a long story). My yoke was deffinetly defective. If I pulled on it and wiggled it side to side it would come off. It looked like one of the balls that locks the yoke onto the shaft was not protruding far enough.

John

 

[logfarmer]

Junkman,
The instructions are clear but when I do what I understand you to say what happens is this. The ujoint just goes back and forth in the yoke and wont come out unless it is supposed to come out by removing the cap from around the needle bearings so that there is enough clearance to get the ujoint to tip sidways in the yoke. Since all that can be done is to press it from one side of the yoke to the other. When it is pressed all the way one way the top cup is allmost out of the yoke but the lower cup is only out of the yoke by about 1/4" stopped from going any more by the shoulder of the perpendicular set of caps. In other words the other arm of the ujoint keeps it from going far enough to come out and it cant fall out as you suggest.
What am I missing?
Martin