Tiller First time using PTO Tiller

[nasonjo]

Hey guys just wanted a little advice. Bought a used 48” JD Tiller for my NH TZ25DA a few weeks back. This is my first attachment I have ever used on my tractor so I was a bit nervous. Hooked it up and the shaft was sized properly so I didn’t need to cut it. I hooked up and tilled very shallow and slowly for a bit. I got into some deeper clay for a second and got nervous an pulled up really quick on the 3PT hydraulics, lifting the tiller well off the ground. It made a weird grinding noise when I did that and I immediately dropped it back to the ground shut the PTO and tractor off and d/c everything. Looked at the tractor and PTO and the tiller and there appeared to be no issues. I reconnected it a couple days later and have had no issues at all.

I was just wondering, was this the slip clutch on the tiller or did I jam something by raising it too high? I can’t figure out why it would have made that noise and I am honestly not sure if it was the tractor or tiller making the noise...

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Can you get pictures, from the side, of it lowered and raised?

Do you know how to check and adjust (if necessary) the slip clutch?

 

[nasonjo]

I can tomorrow when I hook everything back up. I have had no issues raising and lowering it and the PTO shaft has had around 3” of play when it is at the shortest connection point. It has only done it one time but I don’t think I have ever brought it up that high while at 540 RPM

 

[lostcreekranch]

Make sure the PTO shaft isn't getting in a bind with the tiller frame when raised.

 

[nasonjo]

Make sure the PTO shaft isn't getting in a bind with the tiller frame when raised.

Would that engage the slip clutch if that happened or could that just potentially damage the shaft? Or potentially both?

 

[lostcreekranch]

Possibly could damage PTO Shaft .. if it's in a bind with tiller frame.

 

[TerryR]

I don't see how raising the tiller would engage the slip clutch.

I think it's more likely that you did one of two things with the PTO shaft: 1) raised it until it bound against the frame of the tiller or something, or 2) raised it so high that the angle of the u-joints was too great so the yokes were hitting one another.

I'd suggest raising it that high with the PTO off and looking at what the shaft does at that angle.

 

[farmeratheart]

I know that if I raise my tiller too high with the pto engaged that the u-joints on the shaft complain.

 

[Diggin It]

Mine did too the first couple of times. Then I greased the U joints. They were either dry or didn't have enough, but adding more quieted the whole thing down when raised. Mine is quite short behind the tractor though and I had to cut a few inches off the new shaft that came with the tiller, so raising it fully creates a pretty steep angle.

 

[bigtiller]

I'm sure ut was just the u-joints complaining. Your garden tractor puts the driveshaft at a pretty steep angle when it is raised up all the way.

Try to get into the habit of turning the pto of rather than lifting the tiller while running. The u-joints will last for years if the shaft is nearly straight vs extreme angle.

At the end of the row, I always slow the RPM to an idle and then turn off the pto. Raise the tiller, position to begin the next row. Lower the tiller to about an inch above the ground, turn on the pto and lower the tiller.

I always go to idle before starting/stopping the pto.

 

[arizona98tj]

Make sure the PTO shaft isn't getting in a bind with the tiller frame when raised.

I've not had the PTO shaft get into a bind with the nearby frame, but I have numerous attachments that have PTO plastic guards that will bind with the u-joints in the shaft. It would seem that a one-size-fits-all PTO shaft guard is used by most companies and in some cases they don't have proper clearance. If I remember correctly, I've got one with a big slip clutch and the tension bolts will carve into the guard when raised too high. PITA, in my opinion.

 

[ruffdog]

As other's have said, u-joints don't like to be on steep angles. If I am going to lift my tiller way up, I first turn the pto off. Also, when I am getting ready to till, I drop the tiller close to the ground, engage the pto, then drop it to tilling depth.

 

[3Ts]

As other's have said, u-joints don't like to be on steep angles. If I am going to lift my tiller way up, I first turn the pto off. Also, when I am getting ready to till, I drop the tiller close to the ground, engage the pto, then drop it to tilling depth.

I'll add one more confirmation that u-joints don't like steep angles and they will complain about it. ^ This is what i do as well.

 

[nasonjo]

Thanks guys. That’s what I am learning to do. Now I’m dealing with tractor losing RPM’s. Whole different topic but it seems common with the NH TZ series. Gonna replace the secondary fuel filter to see if that’s the issue. It acted fine second half of today after I bled the air and added Seafoam to the tank... we will see. Just sounds like it’s running different now. But 1 hour after running with Seafoam everything runs quieter for some reason...