I hate my PTO

shooterdon · Sep 8, 2020

Today I hooked up my FarmKing 74 inverted blower. Winter is still a number of weeks away but I like being prepared. Today was cool so it seemed like a good day to get弾r done.

After struggling with the PTO for over 20 minutes I finally got it connected. I was drenched in sweat. I store the blower indoors and keep the connection well lubed. It is so difficult to pull back on the ring while trying to align the splines and push forward. Getting old (70 this week) and having a slightly sprained thumb do not help.

I came close to detaching the PTO guard to give me better access but hate removing a safety device.

Not sure I can do this as I get older. Is there a better device out there?

MossRoad · Sep 8, 2020

Honest to goodness, PTO's and 3pt hitches are one of the main factors that drove me to PowerTrac. Quick attach from the driver's seat, then hook up some hydraulic hoses and off you go.

Industrial Toys · Sep 8, 2020

I don't think I own a pto with the guard on it. I just don't go near one operating . . . EVER!

PTO shields on Tractors, get removed first day.

AND, I still have a hard time pushing on the shafts half the time.

Roadworthy · Sep 8, 2020

My old PTO had a button to push when trying to slip things together. With my newer one I have turn a rubber outer ring to retract the latch on the PTO. I've not seen one with a ring to pull. By the way, I'm 74 but I don't have the disadvantage of a sprained thumb.

shooterdon · Sep 8, 2020

Roadworthy said:
My old PTO had a button to push when trying to slip things together. With my newer one I have turn a rubber outer ring to retract the latch on the PTO. I've not seen one with a ring to pull. By the way, I'm 74 but I don't have the disadvantage of a sprained thumb.

The old bush hog I sold had the push button connector and it seemed easier to use. Might be what I need to convert to.

Industrial Toys · Sep 8, 2020

My jury is out on what is easier. The single button is more prone to jamming. The collar is easier but requires a better two handed grip and body position.

Sportsman762 · Sep 8, 2020

The push button driveline yokes are much better. Those **** slide collar yokes suck. If you take your driveline to a good dealer they can order a push button yoke and replace the slide collar yoke. Cost should not be too bad either. I have never met anyone who preferred the collar style yokes. The third option would to find a safety lock style yoke, its collar slides back and locks back. When you slide it on the pto the collar automatically releases and locks. However those are normally only found on the big drivelines.

Hooking up the round baler drivelines with a slide collar yoke is the worst, they weigh about 70 lbs and your trying to pull the #$%^ collar back while wrestling it into place. This weekend I did silage. Was using two wagons, one with a pin style yoke and one with a slide collar yoke. The pin style yoke was much nicer to use, only had to hook and unhook wagons 17 times that day. Was glad the drivelines were small.

grsthegreat · Sep 8, 2020

Personally i like the overrunning clutch on my tractor, because the pto spindle is free turning by hand. Easy to line up.

mikester · Sep 9, 2020

There was a messicks video posted recently showing the new front mount QA system for Kubotas. In the video he swaps a powered blade for the snowblower - including hydraulic lines and PTO - without the operator needing to get out of the seat.

Kubota Grand L6

Auto-hitch and attachments (walk around and demo) - YouTube

Maxify55 · Sep 9, 2020

I, too, remove the PTO shields the day I get them home.
It might OK if you're a midget but for an adult male you can't manipulate around that thing.

TractorGuy · Sep 9, 2020

My shield has a hinge on it. It was stiff and the first time I lifted it up it stayed so I never pushed it back down.

All of my driveshafts have push buttons. The one on my brush mower is the size of the pin and rounded in top so it's not uncomfortable to push. The pin on my finish mower was more troublesome so I tack welded a 1/4" flat washer on top.

I have an extension adapter I use with the brush mower that has the slip collar. I have to put it on before backing up to the mower and I hate it. The balls never want to go in so it will slide on easily.

The last two times I connected either I sprayed it all down with some Walmart brand spray lube and everything but the slip collar slid on with ease. Even the slip collar put up a limited fight. A couple of wiggles and it gave in.

I can't imagine fighting one of those slip collars on the end of a driveshaft.

PILOON · Sep 9, 2020

I always spray WD40 on my PTO shaft and the coupler B4 hooking up.
That rinses off any crap and makes coupling real easy.

While any solvent would do the job, WD is handy and being under pressure helps clean/blow away crap.
I also use it to pre clean hydraulic couplers.

I learned this trick when I had to connect my plow truck on cold winters with frozen dirty couplers.
That and a handy plumber's torch.

John0829 · Sep 9, 2020

I have them all, push button, twist collar and the ring. Well had them all i got rid of the *&^% ring as soon as possible. Never have a problem with the twist style, the push button if it happens to be stuck a simple light tap with the heel bar I keep behind the seat is enough to free it but tha ring would hang up almost every time I went to connect or disconnect no matter how well lubed. It went away and I use fewer bad words now.

ericm979 · Sep 9, 2020

Someone here posted that they use a bungie cord to suspend the PTO shaft so you don't have to hold it up and try to line up the splines. It helps quite a bit. I keep a bungie the right length wrapped around the work light on the back so it's there if I need it.

My Branson's PTO has two speeds and a neutral. If it's in neutral the PTO stub on the tractor can turn easily by hand. That makes lining up the splines easy.

shooterdon · Sep 9, 2020

I used PB blaster and a spray lube when I was fighting it. The unit was clean and not rusted up but, it is so **** awkward and cramped getting in there.

Lining up the splines was not too difficult as the blower is easy to rotate...and I did use a bungee cord to help hold the shaft up after about 10 minutes of wrestling with it. Seemed I got one thing right! LOL,

I am going to remove the PTO cover and see how it goes next time. IT thanks for posting that originally. The only PTO driven attachment I have is the blower but I use a tiller at deer camp. I can stay away from the PTO when it is running. Once the blower goes on, it stays on until the spring. One reason I did not go with a front mounted blower was not wanting to deal with a PTO connection laying on my back in the cold if I needed the pallet forks or loader.

I found this:

Easy PTO quick connect for tractor attachments - Tractor PTO Link

But at $400 not cheap. So if taking off the PTO guard does not help much, I will get a push pin type coupler installed.

One other thing I will try is to extend the PTO shaft and hook it up first so I have more room between the blower and the tractor. Then do the 3ph hook up.

Sawyer Rob · Sep 9, 2020

PILOON said:
I always spray WD40 on my PTO shaft and the coupler B4 hooking up.
That rinses off any crap and makes coupling real easy.

While any solvent would do the job, WD is handy and being under pressure helps clean/blow away crap.
I also use it to pre clean hydraulic couplers.

I learned this trick when I had to connect my plow truck on cold winters with frozen dirty couplers.
That and a handy plumber's torch.

This is the way I've been doing it for many years, it makes everything go much easier!

SR

pmsmechanic · Sep 9, 2020

On my John Deere rototiller there is a pull back collar on the pto. I removed a snap ring to be able to remove the collar. Behind the collar is a spring. I replaced it with a much lighter spring. Hooking up is a lot easier now.

ruffdog · Sep 9, 2020

It helps if you learn the right words when you talk to the PTO. Sometimes I even use French.

Ford850 · Sep 9, 2020

PILOON said:
I always spray WD40 on my PTO shaft and the coupler B4 hooking up.
That rinses off any crap and makes coupling real easy.

While any solvent would do the job, WD is handy and being under pressure helps clean/blow away crap.
I also use it to pre clean hydraulic couplers.

I learned this trick when I had to connect my plow truck on cold winters with frozen dirty couplers.
That and a handy plumber's torch.

Sawyer Rob said:
This is the way I've been doing it for many years, it makes everything go much easier!

SR

Same for me, but I just started a few years ago. I used to hate WD40, but I've come around to liking it more as a cleaner. Now I buy it by the gallon and use it on PTO and 3PH pins and balls to clean off grime. Spray it on and if I have time I wipe it clean with a rag. Easier and cleaner hook-ups.