Cannot remove the yoke off the output shaft

[Snccoulter]

I recently got an old tiller to attach to my baby massy and now i cannot get the yoke off the output shaft. It slid on with no issues and now she is stuck. Usually there is a button on the yoke that will move the detent allowing the yoke to slide off but the button is missing. When i go fishing around the where the button should be there is nothing to move that i can find. Please point me in the right direction, or what do i use to cut the yoke off with. I imagine
that a torch would be a bad idea.

Thanks.

 

[metalbender]

Is it a sliding collar type? Torch would indeed be a bad idea. How did it slide on without actuating something?

 

[i7win7]

It may have a collar that has to be pulled back to release the lock, sorta like hydraulic couplers.

 

[rademamj1]

No button are on these PTO shafts, almost all have a sliding collar, and usually pulled in a direction away from the tractor, to open the detent lock. You can also Spray WD40 or penetrating oil onto the collar to insure it is not locked closed due to rust. Old PTO shafts, not used for years, do need a short refurbishment to allow them to work properly again.

 

[MossRoad]

Watch this to the end.

 

[Snccoulter]

This is what i am talking about. This is the button that is missing.

 

[fidowanttobe]

I am thinking that if the hole is there, and the button is missing, it has been snapped off. You said you were "fishing around", have you tried pushing a long pin punch or something into the hole to see if you can push what remains of the button further in so that it releases from the PTO shaft? You may need to smack the pin punch also to get it to move. Try to use a smaller diameter punch so that it also has room to slide past the groove in the PTO shaft. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[RobS]

This is what i am talking about. This is the button that is missing.

I had a similar issue with that type of yoke. It was on a very old mower and the button/shaft had gotten bent. It then got jammed on my PTO output shaft. I ended up using a grinder to cut away a good chunk of the yoke to free it. Then went with a whole new PTO shaft, which I probably should have done earlier!

 

[MoKelly]

I am thinking that if the hole is there, and the button is missing, it has been snapped off. You said you were "fishing around", have you tried pushing a long pin punch or something into the hole to see if you can push what remains of the button further in so that it releases from the PTO shaft? You may need to smack the pin punch also to get it to move. Try to use a smaller diameter punch so that it also has room to slide past the groove in the PTO shaft. Good luck and keep us posted.

This is your answer.

MoKelly

 

[Tinhack]

The buttons on two of my mowers were held in by nothing but a worn step of a few thousandths of a inch. I was working on freeing mine up with oil and movement and they popped out.

They were worn enough to not stay in after I freed them up. They should have had an E-Clip or some retainer on end opposite the button. Mine was rusted away. Off to the lathe and a fitting trial and error then Bingo! I had my new buttons. I make it a point to keep them oiled as part of the tractor/equipment maintenance.

Mine were like this:

You can see the hourglass form that has to match up to the groove in the PTO shaft and clear the spline. If your button is completely gone, perhaps the yoke is being held on by the spring and/or rust.

Clean the hole out and get a good look.