Rotary Cutter How do I remove yoke pin

[Joel888]

PTO is stuck on output shaft on tractor so i was thinking if i get the push pin out of the tractor end of the PTO yoke it would be one thing i can rule out as to why it wont come off.

 

[beenthere]

I think you are right.

Is there a question?

Maybe being a little more descriptive would help get a response. Not sure just what is happening from your statement. Are you asking for assurance, or ?

Edit:
Re-reading what you said, can you get the push button "in" on the tractor end?

If so, I'd rig up something to lightly tap it loose. Want to avoid breaking something in the tractor tranny.

What is the history of the sticky problem? Attachment? Any more info would be helpful. But I think I've had it happen and faced the same dilema.

 

[Joel888]

Ok....problem is pto yoke wont come off tractor output shaft....i can push the pin down and try to slide it off but it does not come off...it does move a little in both directions.....so i was asking how do i remove this pin with the spring so that i can take that variable out of the equation.

 

[Argosy]

If it moves a little bit in both directions the pin probably isn't the problem. Pull hard on the shaft or soak it with Breakaway or WD40 and start working it back and forth. It's probably full of crud and hung up.

 

[SixHoeBob]

Spray some penetrating oil on the output shaft. There might a be a small hole
on the spring side of the yoke pin. Put P-oil in the hole and in from the pin side as well. You could pry LIGHTLY between the tractor and the yoke.

You might be pushing the pin in too far? Instead of pushing the pin in flush, let it protrude 1/8th of an inch. Finding the groove in the pin is a little bit of trial and error. I would guess this is your problem.

Once you get it apart, do a through job of cleaning the output shaft and the internal splines of the yoke. Use a skinny screwdriver to scrape the grooves.
Put a light coat of grease on both parts.

 

[Baby Grand]

Spray some penetrating oil on the output shaft. There might a be a small hole
on the spring side of the yoke pin. Put P-oil in the hole and in from the pin side as well. You could pry LIGHTLY between the tractor and the yoke.

You might be pushing the pin in too far? Instead of pushing the pin in flush, let it protrude 1/8th of an inch. Finding the groove in the pin is a little bit of trial and error. I would guess this is your problem.

Once you get it apart, do a through job of cleaning the output shaft and the internal splines of the yoke. Use a skinny screwdriver to scrape the grooves.
Put a light coat of grease on both parts.

+1.
Over time, the lube on the splines collects dust and grime. In the cold weather it also loses viscosity. After awhile it gets to be the consistancy of tar and acts more like adhesive than lube. Cure is get it apart, then clean & re-lube.

 

[sixdogs]

If it moves a little bit in both directions the pin probably isn't the problem. Pull hard on the shaft or soak it with Breakaway or WD40 and start working it back and forth. It's probably full of crud and hung up.

Ditto. Had this happen many times. Easy fix but you have to work at it.
The good news is you won't let it happen again.
To dismantle the part won't help because of the crud mentioned and you'll also lose the little retaining clip and worsen the situation.
This happens to everyone.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Are you sure the problem isnt in the slide connection on the drive shaft. Maybe put a little solvent of light oil on it would help. Could there be some ice in the slip connection on the drive shaft. Unless it has been like years since you took off the PTO spline connection, I would think it is more likely the drive shaft itself and not the connection on the tractor.

 

[Joel888]

Thanks all for the suggestions i have been soaking it in CRC and a mixture of several other penetrating oils for nearly a week ...the shaft is not connected to the cutter any more...the coupler hasnt been off in a good while so maybe the p-oil will eventually work but so far no go...just trying anything before a saw gets involved...lol

 

[bullbreaker]

Don't sound like your trying to get it off like this but take off pto shield off or flip up if you haven"t already.Seen some folks before struggling with attachment pto shafts with covers down(less room to work with).

Boone

 

[kjung17]

I see you were running a cutter. It's possible that the output shaft is twisted. Cutter slip clutches are notorious for sticking and twisting the output shaft. If you have a twist you will have to remove the coupler with a cable come along or chain block.

 

[beenthere]

Now that you have soaked the coupler, I'd suggest rigging a lever to put some serious pull on it to get it to slide off. You say it will move a little bit each direction. I'd be sure this movement is the splines sliding and not the shaft sliding in the tractor.

The splines sliding a bit means you are on the winning side of the battle. A good lever arm with a chain attached to pull should get it off.

Wish you well. A pic of the situation would help a number of responders have a better understanding what you are faced with.

 

[pat32rf]

To answer your original question, Yes if you pull the pin it might simplify your job and eliminate one variable...

 

[zzvyb6]

Try to turn (rotate) the pin in the yoke. Many times the pin can become bent by use (misuse) from pushing or pulling on it while under a lot of pto load. If It won't rotate, it's bent. You might be able to rotate it 180 degrees to let the yoke slip off. Otherwise, pull the clip on the end and pound it out. A small pry bar is then all it should take to pull the yoke off the pto shaft.

 

[JoeL4330]

Heat? sawzall and gear puller?

 

[sixdogs]

OK...now that you guys are getting serious I will say I once had to hook a chain and come-a-long to the yoke
to get it to separate.
It was difficult but it came apart.

 

[jmc]

As a last resort, I'd take the u-joint apart and use a gear puller on the (now accessable) yoke. That way, no loads are transmitted to the tractor's drivetrain like when prying.

edit:

If you don't have a gear puller, you could put a shaft thru both yoke holes where the cross-bearing used to be. Drill and tap a cross hole thru the shaft for a bolt to tighten against the end of the tractor stub shaft. A lot of thase stub shafts have a center drilled hole so if your bolt had a point ground on it, it wouldn't walk when you tighten it.

 

[Gordon Gould]

As a last resort, I'd take the u-joint apart and use a gear puller on the (now accessable) yoke. That way, no loads are transmitted to the tractor's drivetrain like when prying.

edit:

If you don't have a gear puller, you could put a shaft thru both yoke holes where the cross-bearing used to be. Drill and tap a cross hole thru the shaft for a bolt to tighten against the end of the tractor stub shaft. A lot of thase stub shafts have a center drilled hole so if your bolt had a point ground on it, it wouldn't walk when you tighten it.

This is a very good idea. If you dont have a tap to make a threaded hole just put a nut and washer on the pointed bolt inside the bar you put thru the yoke holes. Hold the nut with a wrench and tighten the bolt to pull out the yoke.

 

[Joel888]

Thanks for all the ideas...i did get the yoke off with the help of a homemade puller last night...best guess is it has been 5-6 years since it has been unhooked. No twisted shafts or anything out of the ordinary other than a rough place on the output shaft nothing a stroke or 2 of a file didnt fix slides of and on like it is suppose to...thanks again

 

[Gordon Gould]

All is well that ends well :thumbsup:
Thanks for getting back to us.