JD driveshaft aftermarket?OR, can i use another PTO shaft?

[canucklehead]

Howdy all, first time poster!

I bent the mid PTO driveshaft on my JD790, using my snowblower. also tore off the front PTO mount (which will need to be welded back on and maybe reinforced). According to JDs parts catalog page, a new shaft will cost about $310. this appears to be a telescopic shaft (not sure why... the shaft goes from the gear box at the rear, directly into the front PTO). only reason i can guess is so that you have a bit of room to use those quick connect couplings to pull it off/on the PTO stub. (interesting, the "front PTO" is more like a coupler to connect the mid shaft and front shafts together).

so I went to a couple of driveline shops and they can't straighten this shaft. COULD I use another telescopic shaft like the one I use for my brush cutter? (I'm guessing it's not strong enough to withstand that torque).

Some of the JD parts sure seem expensive, especially from our local dealer. Is there ANYONE who's known as a volume/discount JD dealer? I don't mind mail order. I know for Honda products (for example), there's a great place to mail order from; Service Honda Home of the CR500AF - Honda Motorcycle Parts .

LAST.. Anyone sell aftermarket driveshafts, or other aftermarket parts for reasonable/cheap prices? I could barely afford the tractor, I sure can't afford the retail price of JD parts!: eek:

Thanks for any help!

 

[canucklehead]

so every one of you support your dealer 100% and don't look elsewhere for better pricing?? AND no dealers have stepped out of the queue to try and get the volume bizness? no wonder JD is so successful!

 

[Soundguy]

Just find out what torque is involved, and get a driveline to match.. i don't think the implement will know that it isn't 'green'.

Soundguy

 

[bx23barry]

I can't belive a driveline shop can't/won't fix yours. Retubing it shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[Dusty]

Did you ask the drive line shops if they can cut off the ends and make a replacement tube? I know that the local drive line shop that I go to seems to be able to make anything that I bring in. Sometimes they have to order the steel tube, since it is an odd ball size, but it is still less expensive than buying new. They reuse the old ends and weld them on.
Dusty

 

[canucklehead]

Did you ask the drive line shops if they can cut off the ends and make a replacement tube? I know that the local drive line shop that I go to seems to be able to make anything that I bring in. Sometimes they have to order the steel tube, since it is an odd ball size, but it is still less expensive than buying new. They reuse the old ends and weld them on.
Dusty

maybe my driveline guys are lazy, stoopid or both! I suggested exactly what yer sayin: cut out the old yokes and put a new tube in. they don't carry that size yoke or tube (if it was bigger, not a problem, but these are a bit small). they apparently can't get the size yolks I'd need either.

as for straightening, this shaft is a 2 piece and kind of triangular shaped. the driveline shops I went to said they could only straighten round stock, not square or my oddball triangle shape.

ALL IS NOT LOST!! My friend is a HD equipment welder/fabricator. He's going to weld my front PTO mounting bracket back on (and fix the broken off chunk). he also thinks he can get close with straighteneing my old shaft. WHAT a DUMMY I am. I had my buddy come over to help me transport the tractor to steel-fab man's house. After we unloaded it, it became apparent to me I could have removed 4 large nuts and just taken the lower piece off the tractor to be repaired and have the bracket welded onto it, instead of moving the whole tractor. DOH!!

so do you guys know any good driveline specialists in NW Washington state??AND thanks for the replies!!

 

[Soundguy]

I'd go for a new tube.. vs straightening the old one.. as you will probably never ballance it.

Soundguy

 

[whitetiger]

Are you sure the tube is welded the the yoke? Most of the 3 sided shafts are held together in the yoke with a roll pin. Tubes are supplyed by Ticso among many other places. They are almost always metric also.

 

[canucklehead]

there appears to be welds and no pin (If there were a pin, I bet it would have sheared instead of bending the axle).

thanks for the heads up on the mfr. maybe I'll take a trip across the border and see if anyone in NW Washington fixes these things.