Frozen driveshaft

Anonymous Poster · Sep 9, 2001

Frozen driveshaft

Ran across a good deal (so I thought ) on a used Bush Hog Squealer rough cut mower, but the drive shaft was frozen solid, wouldn't slide in or out at all. Figured it shouldn't be too hard to fix, and I have a Bush Hog finish mower, thought I could swap shafts if need be, well the shafts are different so can't switch, and this thing is solid as a rock. I've got the shaft off the mower and soaking it in penetrating oil, still cant get it to slide, anybody have a great ideas of how to get this thing freed up ?? Thanks for the help !

Bird · Sep 10, 2001

Re: Frozen driveshaft

Gunner, I've never had that happen, but I think I'd chain one end to a tree (or other immovable object) and the other end to the drawbar on the tractor and see if I couldn't pull it apart very slowly and carefully. I'm just guessing it's rusted together inside, so if it comes apart, then you have a little job of cleaning the rust off and greasing it before sliding it together again. Unless, of course, it's bent or warped.

Bird

art · Sep 10, 2001

Re: Frozen driveshaft

I've got a thought that the shaft is twisted not rusted.

Anonymous Poster · Sep 10, 2001

Re: Frozen driveshaft

I had a drive shaft that was seriously stuck. I couldn't pull it apart with my B7200. I used my brothers 2 ton bucket truck and by simply rolling up against the end of the chain it pulled it apart and no damage. Greased up the tubes and works great.

Bird · Sep 10, 2001

Re: Frozen driveshaft

That certainly is a possibility, Art. Hard to diagnose some of these problems without seeing them, isn't it?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

RMulkey · Sep 11, 2001

Re: Frozen driveshaft

After soaking in penetrating oil for a few days, try heating the overlapping area of the tube with a tourch and give the whole thing a couple of firm wacks with a hammer. Second I would try a hydraulic press to see if you can break the thing loose by compressing is a inch or two. Be VERY carefull if you try pulling the assembly apart with anything other than hand force. A drive line that breaks loose under tension makes a nasty projectile. If the drive line has a twist in it, throw it away. Be safe... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · Sep 11, 2001

Re: Frozen driveshaft

Thanks all for the suggestions, guess I'll keep soaking it a little longer, then hook a come along to it and HOPE it pulls apart, if THAT doesn't do it I'll cut the rest of the shield off it and try the heat,and hope it's not twisted. I've got my fingers crossed !!

ronjhall · Sep 11, 2001

Re: Frozen driveshaft

Gunner
If that doesn’t work. You may need a new PTO Shaft. Check out Agri Supply. They have some of the best prices I've seen. Using a PTO shaft that is damaged can be very dangerous. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

art · Sep 11, 2001

Re: Frozen driveshaft

Bird, the second largest problem that I have is what I've seen, sometimes the more I think the more problems I can come up with. When a pto shaft gets left so long that it won't extend, and knowing that by operating without grease on the shaft it will destroy gear boxes on both ends makes me "think" there is more to be told. But only your mechanic knows for sure!

Anonymous Poster · Sep 14, 2001

Re: Frozen driveshaft

Well apparently there's more than rust holding this thing together, couldn't get it to budge at all, even hooked my big tractor to it and gave it a couple of yanks, thought maybe could pop it apart, no dice! The good news is, I found a shaft that'd fit for less money than I thought, works ok and cuts good.