My Stupidity kicked in at full throttle.

[confederatemule]

I bought a new 2024 Mahindra 1126 tractor. I have put around 70 hours on it. Until this past Saturday it had never had it's PTO stub uncovered. When I took the cover off the stub looked very smooth and black. I intended to connect a new 48" rotary cutter to the tractor. Every thing looked good and clean in the PTO shaft yoke.

Well the shaft went on to the stub about 1/2". From there I used a block of wood and drove it on, as far as it would go. About 1/4" from the lock pin groove.

My thought when driving it on was that it would free up while I was using it. But I ain't gonna use it for fear that the shaft will free up and sling off.

Now to my question. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I am gonna git the shaft off. I am disconnected from the rotary cutter with the cutter end of the drive line separated from the tractor end of the drive line.

My thought is to tie the shaft to a tree and drive off with the tractor.

I am open to any other ideas.

When I git this apart I will be cleaning the powder coat paint off of the stub.

Mule

 

[garry1p]

There are a lot of smart people on here so you will get some good advice.

My thoughts are heat and some way to impact hit it like you drove it on, only to drive it off.
A steady pull like tying to a tree may cause more damage.

 

[newbury]

I'd first try some penetrating oil like Kroil and give it some quick short engagement jerks on powering up to see if that would loosen it.

 

[airbiscuit]

I wouldn't try brute force. I had a PTO shaft on a tiller that was locked up. I tried pulling on it with the loader (brute force). Didn't work. I sprayed the heck out of it with PB Blaster, put strap through the PTO yoke, and hooked it to a come a long on a tree and applied tension. I let it sit overnight and kept spraying it with PB Blaster. Then, I took a hammer and did a tap, tap, tap. It came right apart.

If spraying oil on it doesn't work, try brake cleaner, carb cleaner or solvent. A soft touch is better than brute force.

 

[bcp]

Hitch a ratchet strap to the shaft and to a solid object. Tighten it enough to stretch the strap a couple of inches, then tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.

Bruce

 

[Mike1955]

You got it separated just keep steady pilling pressure on it and tap on it at the same time. You may nvilve someone else to help. Slow and easy and you won’t tear up anything. You will get it

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I bought a new 2024 Mahindra 1126 tractor. I have put around 70 hours on it. Until this past Saturday it had never had it's PTO stub uncovered. When I took the cover off the stub looked very smooth and black. I intended to connect a new 48" rotary cutter to the tractor. Every thing looked good and clean in the PTO shaft yoke.

Well the shaft went on to the stub about 1/2". From there I used a block of wood and drove it on, as far as it would go. About 1/4" from the lock pin groove.

My thought when driving it on was that it would free up while I was using it. But I ain't gonna use it for fear that the shaft will free up and sling off.

Now to my question. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I am gonna git the shaft off. I am disconnected from the rotary cutter with the cutter end of the drive line separated from the tractor end of the drive line.

My thought is to tie the shaft to a tree and drive off with the tractor.

I am open to any other ideas.

When I git this apart I will be cleaning the powder coat paint off of the stub.

Mule

Leash a chain around what should be the detent of the diveshare where it meets your tractor's PTO. The chain may not be able to collapse the spring-loaded driveshaft detent to release the driveshaft from your PTO, so pay attention. Attention is named "the hammer of your choice," should the chain not be able to compress the detent enough to release the driveshaft on its own.

Then take the other end of the chain and leach it around a tree.

Confirm everything looks right.

Then drive the tractor forward in the hope that the drive shaft pops off of the tractor's PTO.


Things to note:

Make certain everything looks right. For example, the chain should be on the PTO trying to collapse the spring-loaded thingy on the driveshaft so the driveshaft CAN disconnect. Have a friend or family member help but explain what is supposed to happen so they own the task for themselves and can callout problems.

 

[rScotty]

Hitch a ratchet strap to the shaft and to a solid object. Tighten it enough to stretch the strap a couple of inches, then tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.

Bruce

It's fascinating how many ways there are to do something.... just how much work people will gamble against how much risk they are willing to take.

Chaining it to a tree and driving forward will probably accomplish something, but you don't have any control over what that might be. It might even be the PTO Housing or even the rear end casting that comes loose..

I would try that idea with the ratchet strap first. It's pretty safe. It appeals to my own bias towards solving problems with more work and less risk to expensive parts.

If that didn't work, my next move would be even more conservative. I'd take the PTO shaft apart until it was possible to put a standard gear puller onto the coupllng. That might involve some hacksawing and a new PTO shaft, but it insures that pulling the coupling off won't do any farther damage to the PTO. And there is zero chance of damaging the PTO housing

rScotty

 

[redman135]

I would suggest using 2 pry bars(90 degree head) to work the pto shaft off. This has worked for me.

Querry: where is the zerk? Is it in the side of the yoke, or is it in the cross? If it is in the cross you may damage the load strap.
I would not tie the shaft to a tree and drive either.

 

[mllud]

Could you take the u-joint apart and then possibly use a puller.

 

[Jstpssng]

It's fascinating how many ways there are to do something.... just how much work people will gamble against how much risk they are willing to take.

Chaining it to a tree and driving forward will probably accomplish something, but you don't have any control over what that might be. It might even be the PTO Housing or even the rear end casting that comes loose..

I would try that idea with the ratchet strap first. It's pretty safe. It appeals to my own bias towards solving problems with more work and less risk to expensive parts.

If that didn't work, my next move would be even more conservative. I'd take the PTO shaft apart until it was possible to put a standard gear puller onto the coupllng. That might involve some hacksawing and a new PTO shaft, but it insures that pulling the coupling off won't do any farther damage to the PTO. And there is zero chance of damaging the PTO housing

rScotty

This makes sense.
The chain and drive forward method sounds like something I would do, after getting frustrated and when I should be walking away from it for a while.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

This is not a problem it went on and it will come off, I wouldn't hesitate at idle to engage the PTO and let it turn for a few minutes and I would start with a large screwdriver slid in the middle of the yolk so I could apply pressure by pulling with both hands, as others have said apply penetrating oil first and don't hook a chain and start snatching or pulling just take your time and it's going to slide back off.

 

[workinonit]

I think I read that he beat it on. That was the first mistake. I've never owned a tractor that had the PTO spline powdercoated.

 

[Rustyiron]

I've had regular paint on a brand new Deere pto shaft have to be removed before it's first use.
Apply tension to the shaft and apply hammer to alternating sides of the yolk. A little spray juice will make you feel better and might help slightly.
Patience and persistence my friend, once off sand, scrape or remove what paint you can and grease the ever living he!! out of both parts and try again.... without hammering.

 

[tradosaurus]

I bought a new 2024 Mahindra 1126 tractor. I have put around 70 hours on it. Until this past Saturday it had never had it's PTO stub uncovered. When I took the cover off the stub looked very smooth and black. I intended to connect a new 48" rotary cutter to the tractor. Every thing looked good and clean in the PTO shaft yoke.

Well the shaft went on to the stub about 1/2". From there I used a block of wood and drove it on, as far as it would go. About 1/4" from the lock pin groove.

My thought when driving it on was that it would free up while I was using it. But I ain't gonna use it for fear that the shaft will free up and sling off.

Now to my question. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I am gonna git the shaft off. I am disconnected from the rotary cutter with the cutter end of the drive line separated from the tractor end of the drive line.

My thought is to tie the shaft to a tree and drive off with the tractor.

I am open to any other ideas.

When I git this apart I will be cleaning the powder coat paint off of the stub.

Mule

So there was no grease on the PTO stub when you attached a rotary cutter?

 

[bdhsfz6]

A few of my PTO driveshafts have grease zerks on the spline coupler. If yours has one, remove the zerk and rotate the PTO shaft until the hole is pointing upward. Fill the hole with penetrating oil, I prefer Kroil, and let it sit. refill as needed. Then, as others have suggested, apply tension with a ratchet strap and tap the fitting.

If that doesn't work, remove the U joint and use a 3 point puller.

I would NOT use the tractor / tree method. Too much risk of catastrophic damage.

Good luck!

 

[Seven Gables]

The safest and by far most effective way to remove it is with a makeshift slide hammer.
First remove the plastic shield, then drill a small hole maybe 5/16 or 3/8” near the end of the shaft.
Get a 10 or 25 lb cast iron dumbbell and slide on the shaft, put a rod or bolt with head removed through the drilled hole , this will be your slide stop.
Grab the dumbbell with both hands and rap it against the stop. I’ll guarantee it will come off with out much of a fight.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Something like this could work:

Amazon.com: OTC 1177 2 or 3-Jaw Slide Hammer Puller with 5 lb. Hammer and Reversible Jaws : Automotive

Buy OTC 1177 2 or 3-Jaw Slide Hammer Puller with 5 lb. Hammer and Reversible Jaws: Jaw Pullers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

A bit pricey but it might be a good one to have in the toolbox.

 

[2manyrocks]

50/50 mixture of acetone and mercon ATF fluid makes a good penetrating fluid. An air hammer can deliver many more light taps than a person can with a hammer.

 

[scootr]

I vote for a slide hammer. We made one years ago. It puts impact where it is needed.