Oh Boy:
Been there done that.
Pulled the same dumb stunt and messed up even worse correcting it.
Like you I didn't want them flopping around.
So I took them off and tossed them in the utility trailer parked in the pole building.
And used the tiller several times after that.
A few weeks later I was cleaning up the building and happened to see 2 nice shiny little chains there in that trailer.
For the life of me I could not figure out where they came from.
When I got the tiller I didn't get an owners manual with it.
Got the owners manual a week or so ago.
I was reading through it and got to the page where it was telling what to do with the 2 little chains that came with the tiller and PTO shaft.
Bong Ring Ring Ring; so that's where them 2 little chains in the trailer came form
The chains are to keep the 2 plastic covers on the PTO shaft from rotating with the shaft.
OK I'll buy/that simple fix just put the chains back on right!
Think again LB59.
Got the chains out of the trailer and one of the clips is missing.
No problem just go over to the kubota dealer and get another one.
Little did I know I was about to learn another lesson in don't count your chickens before they're hatched or is it Murphy's law.
The dealer tells me he can no longer get the chains or clips alone.
The only ones he gets are those that come with a PTO attachment.
Bad news but all is not lost yet as he says he thought he might have an old used clip in his desk drawer opens it up looks around in there a few moments and sure enough hands me a replacement clip
I say what do I owe you an he says nothing.
Boy ain't this my lucky day or is it?
Get home put the clip on the chain and hook it on the plastic cover on the tiller end and the other end on the tiller.
OK so far so good now lets try it out and see how it works.
Fire up the tractor raise the tiller and hear this ripping metal sound ;Oops Chain was to short.
Look down and see the clip has been bent till it's almost a straight piece of metal.
Finally after 2 pair of pliers 1 vice a couple of screw drivers and about 20 minutes the clip is back into a somewhat recognizable but workable shape.
Reinstalled the Chain making sure it was long enough to reach in any position but short enough that any slack chain wouldn't get caught on the PTO shaft or anything else.
Started the tractor raised and lowered the tiller and all worked well.