How much PTO shaft overlap is safe

[ToJo]

How much PTO shaft overlap is safe with any given implement? My PTO shaft has about 8 inches overlap in the middle. The only thing I use it for is to operate a rotary mower. I have been considering a Pat's quick change kit and I understand that the quick change kit will cause me to lose a few inches of overlap in the pto shaft. Is it possible to buy the tubes, either or both, instead os buying the whole thing. If so, how do they attach to the universals?

 

[texbaylea]

I recently bought a new PTO shaft and the instruction said that the minium overlap was 6". I do not know much Pat's devices will reduce your overlap.

Vernon

 

[RonR]

I've posted this elsewhere, but I added Pat's and in one situation, the shaft came apart. I was tilling with the 3PH in the down position when the rear tires rode over a mound. When the tiller went down, the PTO shaft came apart.

I continued to use it to finish that job, but I left the 3PH in neutral rather than full down in case it happened again.

I took the PTO apart. Mine had a roll pin driven through a hole in the yoke and tube. After removing that, I could use a punch / hammer to hammer the tube out.

A drive line supply place had the metric tube size I needed and sold me a drop piece for <$20. When I took the tube to the place, I found out they would press it in for just a little more, so I could have had the whole thing fixed and not gotten my hands dirty for <$50.

To fix it 100% correctly, I should have also lengthened the female shaft and bought new plastic shields. I figure that the shields might catch and break as they are not quite long enough now to overlap, but so far they are holding up.

Hope this helps.
Ron

 

[shoppintractors]

Technical article from Befco......

Click here

Don

 

[KiotiJohn]

Pat's EZ change may change your PTO shaft 3"-4", which would put you below the minimum needed.
In addition to replacing the tubing, you can have extensions welded onto each side for a balanced fit. Of course, as stated, the plastic guard will then not be the right size.
It's possible that your dealer will swap out a PTO shaft for you, only charging a little for the difference.
John

 

[normde2001]

The easy solution is to buy a pto adapter to extend the pto by about 3 1/2"+ or -, depending on brand and type, about $10. Usually carried by any place that carries pto shaft parts.

 

[chriswheeler]

The tubes and yokes and everything else for a pto shaft are available from C/R, the same people who make seals. You can get them and a catalog from most bearing houses or industral suppliers, or drive line shops. U joints, yokes, drive line stock, shields, etc. I got the catalog from my supplier when they gave me new seal catalogs and crossovers knowing we often make our own drivelines.
Chris

 

[ToJo]

Thanks to all who replied. I almost always learn something when I ask a question on TBN. It is so much easier and less expensive to find out how to do something before I cut something off too short. I don't know how many times I have done that in my life. THANKS!