Help a PTO newbie -

dcgrosvold · Jun 17, 2010

Hey all -

I'm fairly new to tractors (got about 200 hours of seat time now.) I have a stuck PTO coupler on a Rhino rotary cutter that won't go on the PTO shaft. I've cleaned the grease off the shaft, and shot the coupler full of PB Blaster numerous times, and the "ball bearing" retainers that lock the coupler on the shaft just don't seem to move very well. I pull the sleeve back and try to push the coupler on the shaft, but it only goes up to the "bearings" ( I don't know what else to call them - see the photo.)

Can the coupler be changed out? It looks like I could disassemble the U-Joint with a pair of snap-ring pliers, but is there an easier way? None of the couplers I've found on line look like the one on my PTO shaft.

Thanks!

Craig Clayton · Jun 17, 2010

To dcgrosvold
I do not own a coupler like yours but the BALL BEARING is the item that will not retract.
I would suggest you soak the entire coupler end in varsol because there could be fine dirt built up in the sliding collar. I have similiar problems with hammer drills that have quick change drill bits in that they get micro dirted up. Failing that take it apart.
Craig Clayton

dcgrosvold · Jun 17, 2010

Thanks Craig -

I will give that a try. Talked to a Rhino dealer and he said something may also be broken in the sleeve that won't allow the retainers to release. But I'll try soaking it first.

Treemonkey1000 · Jun 17, 2010

There maybe a broken retainer clip. You make try blowing it out with compressed air. Then soak it again and blast it with air. Just where some good safety glasses if you do that.

jinman · Jun 17, 2010

I think you just may not be pulling the ring far enough back. Can you pull the ring back and maybe use a c-clamp to hold the ring in the released position and then see if the balls will retract with finger pressure. I have a couple of those type couplers and they seem to work fine if you can pull the locking ring back far enough. Perhaps your ring is not moving back far enough to release the balls.

ModMech · Jun 17, 2010

We have a coupler that looks like the one in your photo and the retaining ball will only retract when the coupler sleeve is ROTATED about 60*. Most of our PTO shafts have the couplers that you pull back on, but this one, that looks like yours, we have to rotate instead.

mlauk · Jun 17, 2010

Make sure you are pulling the metal sleeve back and not just the plastic cover. Try pulling it back without attaching it to the pto with the ball bearing towards the bottom and pull back on the sleeve and see if the ball drops. When I first got my Bush Hog with the same type coupler, it was a little difficult pulling back, but after I pulled it back all the way the first time, it's never been a problem.

RalphVa · Jun 17, 2010

Does your PTO have a forward only PTO position or an "off" position? What I do when putting my PTO shafts on is to put the PTO position in the "forward" location. This allows me to easily turn the shaft by hand. I can then MUCH more easily turn the shaft until the splines are lined up and gently push the implement shaft onto it. THEN, I pull back the ring that releases the lock balls (or push the button on the one implement) to allow it to be pushed on all the way. THEN, I give the thing a tug to and fro, as I failed to lock it in place once and had the implement shaft come flying off and underneath the tractor. PULLING back that ring and trying to PUSH the thing onto a shaft that often isn't lined up is a losing proposition.

Of course, clean the tractor shaft and apply some white grease to it before doing this.

Ralph

dcgrosvold · Jun 21, 2010

Guys - thanks for all of the suggestions. I had my ferrier (he's probably the most expert tractor person I know) try to put it on the other day and he couldn't get it any farther than I could.

RalphVa -
The PTO shaft on the tractor turns very easily when the PTO is in neutral. So that's not the problem in my case.

ModMech -

I'll try rotating the coupler. Haven't done that yet.

mlauk -

When you push the sleeve back, with the ball bearing (I hate calling them that - they're not bearing on anything) at the bottom, it doesn't drop, but it can be pushed down. However, it takes some effort.

I think Craig Clayton is right. It seems to be full of dirt. Got some mineral spirits today (can't find Varsol around here,) and I plan to soak it for a couple days. We'll see if that works, and then I'll let ya'll know how it goes. If that doesn't work, then it goes to the Rhino dealer. I only fool with something so long and then I'll hand it over to someone who's time is cheaper than mine.

Thanks Guys!