Tiller Cannot get drive shaft off tiller end

[benhasajeep]

I have a new County Line 5' tiller and I installed the drive shaft to check length but cannot remove it to cut it down (tiller end is what is locked on). It has no release for a locking pin. But acts like it has some kind of locking pin like the tractor end. It's never been used / powered by the tractor. I thought maybe I heard a click when it went on but don't remember for sure. None of the parts diagrams shows any kind of locking pin (but does not show close detail).

 

[Industrial Toys]

A picture would probably help.

Is the shaft keyed? Splined?

It's not simply the different style with the collar?

 

[TractorGuy]

Not sure how the county line shaft works but my tiller shaft has two bolts that pass through the groove around the splines and tightens down to pinch.

Does your shaft have a slip clutch?

 

[benhasajeep]

A picture would probably help.

Is the shaft keyed? Splined?

It's not simply the different style with the collar?

It is a splined shaft with a single bolt hole with a single slit on one side of the mount yoke. It is a slip clutch type shaft. After I got frustrated and went back in the house I was wondering if it's just stuck on hydraulically. So went back out and completely took the slip clutch apart exposing the end of the tiller gearbox shaft. So it's not being held on by suction from grease. I did notice that it is on too far. Where the bolt would go through to lock it on the spline from the gearbox shaft is solid there. So the grooved portion of the gearbox shaft is too deep inside the drive shaft piece. I am no longer home traveling, so can't take pictures.

 

[benhasajeep]

Not sure how the county line shaft works but my tiller shaft has two bolts that pass through the groove around the splines and tightens down to pinch.

Does your shaft have a slip clutch?

My new drive shaft is the same type as you are mentioning. 2 bolts. The original shaft that came with the tiller is a single bolt version with a slit on just one side, and yes it's a slip clutch shaft. The other end of the shaft that connects to the tractor does have the push button release.

 

[savageactor7]

Back a few years ago I had a similar situation with our roto-tiller.

That is I couldn't remove the drive shaft from the tractor PTO. I ended up tying down the tiller to a tree and slowly pulled the tractor away...easily separating the 2-part drive shaft. Further investigation revealed the inside slide in/out part of the shaft was severely rusted. Well I poured oil down the shaft and worked the 2 sliding halves together and since then no problem.

Good luck with your solution.