Tiller having a heck of time getting the pto shaft hooked up on the tiller...any advice?

[leeinmemphis]

I spent a little bit of time getting the tiller hooked up to the tractor this evening because tomorrow I am planning on trying to get a few food plots ready for this fall. Last time we hooked the tiller up it took two of us to get it the pto shaft lined up and on because we had to drive it on by lightly tapping it with a hammer. Tonight I was able to get it lined up but just couldn't get it to go on. I tried putting some wd40 on it to help lube it up but that didn't help. Does it take most of you guys two people to hook up the pto on the tillers? I've hooked/unhooked bush hogs 100's of times and never had it be so tough. I guess the tolerances on the yoke are tight or something. btw its a ccm tiller if brand really makes a difference. I was wondering if it is so hard because the shaft is so short and there isn't much "wiggle room" to work the shaft? thanks.

 

[Farwell]

I am assuming that you know about the locking pin on the yoke? If not, the spring loaded pin needs to be pushed prior to sliding it on the tractor side of the hook up. PTO shafts should not be that difficult to hook up unless something is wrong with it.
Farwell

 

[leeinmemphis]

this yoke has two pins which makes it a little more tedius to hold both the pins while sliding it on. Is it possible just to buy that one end of the driveshaft and just replace that end with a single pinned driveshaft? That may be what I need to do......it is a little frustrating trying to hook this thing up in 102degree heat.

 

[PineRidge]

Are you saying that the two halves of the PTO won't slide easily? If so pull them apart, hit them with WD-40 reinstall and work the PTO shaft back and forth until it loosens up. After that give it a fresh shot of grease.

 

[dieselsmoke1]

I understand your issue. Having hooked up PTO equipment countless times over the years, I recently had the same problem with my relatively new tractor and a practically new tiller. I actually had to rotate spline by spline, trying each till I hit one that worked. No problem with any other devices on the same tractor.

The tiller was rented so I did not bother to put alignment markings it and the PTO, but definately would have if I owned the piece.

 

[AndyMA]

I've had a few over the years that went on hard. I've either used some medium grit sandpaper or a file to slightly "open" the female coupling. I also religiously use spray on lithium white grease on both the male and female splines.

Andy

 

[Hootie]

I have a couple of attachments that are difficult. I get a rag soaked in solvent and clean the pto and the implement coupling really good. This works better than anything for me.

 

[ratter]

Seems to be a very common theme. I was using a borrowed mower and the shaft went on nice and easy. It also had a twist-type locking mechanism, which I liked a lot. My new mower has a sliding collar and was a bear to get on the first time. I expect it'll loosen up, though.

 

[jbrumberg]

Leeinmemphis:

I hate to tell you this , but you probably have to cut the drive shafts one more time in order to hook up your CCM tiller to your tractor. I own a CCM M-160 tiller. I really like the tiller, but I actually had to cut my 2 PTO drivelines 10X's (5X's each) in order to get my tiller to connect easily (I have to do my tractor attachment hookups solo, but that's another story .). I choose to "under cut" the drivelines rather than "over cut" and have to order a new driveline and start cutting all over again . I have spoken to CCM's service people. They are really helpful with advise. I have not had any problems with the relatively short driveline lengths while tilling my heavy and rocky NE soil. Good luck . Jay

 

[MarlandS]

You might want to spend a few minutes determining exactly where the problem is. When the tiller is not attached, pull the PTO shaft free from the tiller and see if it slides on the tractor shaft easily. If so then the problem is in the slide part of the shaft. If it goes onto the tractor hard then you know to work on that area.