Posthole Digger Fixed length PTO Shaft?

[Yakman1975]

I purchased a used 3-point posthole digger, and it appears to have a fixed length PTO shaft. It looks like most of the common posthole diggers out on the market, and according to the seller, his dad used it quite often.
Does anyone have any experience using a posthole digger with a fixed-length PTO? I'm trying to wrap my head around the geometry; although I haven't actually mounted it to my tractor yet.

 

[Farmer495]

I purchased a used 3-point posthole digger, and it appears to have a fixed length PTO shaft. It looks like most of the common posthole diggers out on the market, and according to the seller, his dad used it quite often.
Does anyone have any experience using a posthole digger with a fixed-length PTO? I'm trying to wrap my head around the geometry; although I haven't actually mounted it to my tractor yet.

I'll guess it's fully compressed and "stuck"

Fixed length would not even allow you to put it on the tractor successfully.

 

[workinonit]

Post a pic of this unicorn of which you speak. I can personally say that I haven't seen one in the 60 or so years I've been around tractors. That said, I want to see it.

 

[LouNY]

It is just stuck as mentioned, either rusted or old dried up grease has bound the sliding shafts together.

 

[Yakman1975]

I'll post a picture in the next day or so.

 

[ruffdog]

Neighbor was going to buy a finish mower with a "fixed length" pto shaft. It took them a few hours and some serious persuasion to un-stuck it too.

 

[varmint]

Stuck! No way any 3-point auger could function with a fixed length shaft! Soak it with penetrant, pull on it while you hit it with a hammer.

 

[Yakman1975]

Here's the photos of each end and the joint. The joint is crimped tight and will not come apart. Also interesting is the only identifying mark on the post hole digger is a number on the gearbox, 202298. It also has a 1-1/8" input shaft which seems to be non-standard. All of the round input shafts I've seen for sale are either 1-1/4 or 1-3/8 inch input. I think I'll need to talk to a PTO shaft company like Weasler to see what my options are. I'd rather not dump $300+ into a gearbox for this thing which puts me at the price of a new one, $350 for the post hole digger + $300+ for a gearbox.

Thoughts, comments?

 

[ruffdog]

To me, the middle picture showing the "crimped" area sure looks like a larger (left) tube and smaller (right) tube of the guard. Why is it crimped there??? Who knows. Had the shaft been broke or bent???? It is an old shaft for sure with that style u-joints.

 

[Yakman1975]

To me, the middle picture showing the "crimped" area sure looks like a larger (left) tube and smaller (right) tube of the guard. Why is it crimped there??? Who knows. Had the shaft been broke or bent???? It is an old shaft for sure with that style u-joints.

yeah. So now I'm looking for a round bushing 1-1/4" to 1-1/8" so I can buy a PTO shaft assembly off the shelf vs put together from parts