Rotary Cutter How do I remove yoke pin

kjung17 · Feb 20, 2011

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 · Feb 20, 2011

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 · Feb 20, 2011

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

zzvyb6 · Feb 20, 2011

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 · Feb 20, 2011

Heat? sawzall and gear puller?

sixdogs · Feb 20, 2011

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 · Feb 21, 2011

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 · Feb 21, 2011

jmc said:
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 · Feb 21, 2011

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