Can a drive shaft be too long?

[Big Bear]

I need help. I bought a John Deere 665 tiller to go with my JD 790 Tractor. I cannot get the bottom arm of the three point hitch to line up when the drive shaft and top link are attached. The shaft is compressed completely and won't allow the attachment of the 2nd lower arm to square and align. It appears to me that the shaft is too long.

Is there any case where the drive shaft should be cut?

Advice appreciated

 

[Soundguy]

disconnect the driveshaft from the tractor.. let it fall to the side. attach 3pt and adjust.. now lay the driveshaft along the tractor pto stub. you may see it too long by how far it wants to be along the tractor stub.

if it is the simple box in a box, triangle in a triangle, or lemon in a lemon design. you can take the distance it needs to be shortened, half it then cut that much off each side including shield covers.

if it is a square inner and a round outter with a square opening.. you can't do it that way.

not uncommon to have to trim shafts so that when the mower is lifted or dropped that they are not 100% compressed and boud up.

so therefore lift the implement thu it's ranges and measure so you can come up with a length to cut off that will not hav ethe shaft compressed and bound up.. perhaps leave it another inch of slack. hopefully there will still be 4-6" of overlap when cut..

 

[Gator6x4]

If not to late, please take time to view this you tube video on how to measure and cut a PTO Shaft. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0vBFJcvs5SE. Serious, expensive damage can occur by attempting to use a PTO shaft that is to long. Please view the video.

 

[Utopia Texas]

Manufacturers may produce a PTO driven implement to fit a range of tractors and they error on the side of the PTO set up being long. Measure twice, cut once!

 

[Big Bear]

Thank you both for the help. The video was very helpful as well.

You would think the dealer would tell you about this important info when you spend that kind of money for a tiller.It is not mentioned in the tiller manual either.

If you guys were closer, I'd buy you breakfast.

 

[SPYDERLK]

disconnect the driveshaft from the tractor.. let it fall to the side. attach 3pt and adjust.. now lay the driveshaft along the tractor pto stub. you may see it too long by how far it wants to be along the tractor stub.

if it is the simple box in a box, triangle in a triangle, or lemon in a lemon design. you can take the distance it needs to be shortened, half it then cut that much off each side including shield covers.
lift the implement thu it's ranges and measure so you can come up with a length to cut off that will not hav ethe shaft compressed and bound up.. perhaps leave it another inch of slack. hopefully there will still be 4-6" of overlap when cut..

You have to cut the length it needs to be shortened from each piece.
larry

 

[dirt ditch]

 

[Soundguy]

I like the measure twice and cut once reference. seen too many shafts ruined by peple not measuring or re measuring and cutting. I'd rather cut it long, test it and cut it again to fit. once you cut it short.. you can't cut it long again.