3-Point Hitch How Sharp An Angle Is Too Sharp?

[Kamik]

I'm giving my Sigma rototiller to my brother. It's been a great tiller, well worth the cost (everythingattachments.com), but now I'm done with it.
I used it on my 2520 with a Land Pride quick hitch and this weekend we'll mount it on his 2305.

He purchased an i-Match and sent a couple of pics that make me think there may be an issue with the PTO shaft. With the 3-point hitch in the fully raised position it seems like the PTO will have quite a bend in it.

So my question, how much is too much. What is the sharpest allowable angle?

 

[AKfish]

I'd try it! The two shafts should slide apart and lessen possible u-joint impingment or binding. If you have concerns that the u-joints might be damaged - don't raise the 3pt all the way up...

AKfish

 

[kennyd]

Why would you need the raise the 3PH that high while running the tiller? The iMatch does nothing to change the angle of the PTO shaft-but you do need to watch the it's length since is moves the implement about 4" back.

 

[Kamik]

I appreciate your feedback. I'm probably over thinking it so we'll just try it and see what happens.

I'll have my sawz-all and camera at the ready!

 

[Kamik]

I can report that the Sigma T5-60GE rotary tiller transplant was successful. Since I'd been using the tiller on my 2520 with a Land Pride Cat-1 Quick Hitch and my brother had mounted a John Deere I-Match to his 2305, no adjustments were needed. We just unloaded the tiller from the truck, backed his tractor up to the tiller, raised the 3-pont hitch and latched onto the tiller, attached the PTO, and were off!

The 2305 had absolutely no problem powering the 60" tiller and it churned through his old compacted garden plot like a knife through warm butter. The first pass cut up the sod, second pass cut down to about 5 inches, and the last pass, after adjusting the shoes all the way down and closing the back door completely, left a fine seed bed of about 7 inches depth. Quite a difference from the rocky soil of Maine.

With the tiller in the raised position I can lift the front-end of his tractor off the ground with one hand. So when he said the dealer had suggested weights I opined that a front-end loader could do useful work and keep the front on the ground, and I suspect that will be his next purchase.

The Sigma rotary tiller is a solid unit that stood up to all the rocks I hit with it and will provide years of useful service not only to my brother, but to his sons and grand daughters, too. It was well worth the money and he's very happy.

The best part of the day for me was sitting in the shade watching the action. He had a lot of fun! Now that a few days have past I wonder how much of the lawn is still left? :laughing:

 

[DaveOmak]

Kamik, Mornin'. I had the same angle question. I found a driveline site and learned something I think?
Tom Woods drivelines 101 recommends the pinion shaft on each end of the driveline be parallel. He then goes on to explain how the u-joint tries to change speed depending on angle and distance it is trying to travel.
Personally, I sometimes can't fathom that theoretical physics. Sometimes? Anytime!!! I don't know how 1 side of a piece of steel can speed up while the other side slows down?? I must have slept thru that class in school.
Any who? I tend to take what the experts say as gospel and do the best I can. Hope that helps. I disengage the pto before I lift my tiller now. Should solve any probs. Dave

 

[oldnslo]

Kamik, Mornin'. I had the same angle question. I found a driveline site and learned something I think?
Tom Woods drivelines 101 recommends the pinion shaft on each end of the driveline be parallel. He then goes on to explain how the u-joint tries to change speed depending on angle and distance it is trying to travel.
Personally, I sometimes can't fathom that theoretical physics. Sometimes? Anytime!!! I don't know how 1 side of a piece of steel can speed up while the other side slows down?? I must have slept thru that class in school.
Any who? I tend to take what the experts say as gospel and do the best I can. Hope that helps. I disengage the pto before I lift my tiller now. Should solve any probs. Dave

What Tom is trying to explain, and it is a difficult concept to explain, is that as the U-joint rotates with all parts in-line or parallel all of the components move at the same speed.

Change the angle of alignment to 20 degrees. Now as the u-joint rotates it is also pivoting around the center of the rigid shaft members. This pivoting action is what is speeding up and slowing down the u-joint ends. The shaft speed does not change.


Does this make any sense??

Roy