Noobie PTO question - what's the little chain for?

[StrangeRanger]

Please excuse my ignorance, but yesterday was the first time I used an implement that ran off the PTO and I got a question.
The PTO shaft on my Meteor blower looks like a lot of other PTO shafts I've seen, but I've never really looked at one until yesterday. Anyway, attached to one end of the shaft is a skimpy little chain that is hooked to the yellow "cover" of the PTO shaft. Is that supposed to be hooked somewhere? I didn't know what to do w/ it so I took it off. Didn't want it flapping around. About the only thing I can think of is maybe it's used to hold up the shaft when it's not connected to an implement. It was hooked to the end of the PTO shaft on the snowblower end of it.
Thanks,
j

 

[beersngars]

If I'm thinking about the same chain you are talking about, it's to keep the PTO shaft guard from spinning.

 

[Renob]

Please excuse my ignorance, but yesterday was the first time I used an implement that ran off the PTO and I got a question.
The PTO shaft on my Meteor blower looks like a lot of other PTO shafts I've seen, but I've never really looked at one until yesterday. Anyway, attached to one end of the shaft is a skimpy little chain that is hooked to the yellow "cover" of the PTO shaft. Is that supposed to be hooked somewhere? I didn't know what to do w/ it so I took it off. Didn't want it flapping around. About the only thing I can think of is maybe it's used to hold up the shaft when it's not connected to an implement. It was hooked to the end of the PTO shaft on the snowblower end of it.
Thanks,
j

That chain is to keep the PTO guard from spinning with the PTO. Attach the chain to a convenient spot on the blower. There should also be grease fittings on the guard. Hit these on a regular basis to keep lubed.

 

[StrangeRanger]

That was my first thought, keep the yellow guard from spinning. But who does it matter if it spins? Is that a bad thing? Have I damaged anything by letting it spin? Thanks,
j

 

[Adam23]

You have not damaged anything by letting it spin. That is for safety. If the cover spins then something like your hand/arm/clothing/hair could get caught and you could get sucked in. If the cover is not spinning and the shaft on the inside is spinning it is much harder to get something caught up and kill you. It is purely for your protection/safety.

 

[unit40]

You gotta love those little plastic grease fittings.

 

[btolle]

Don't worry, the little chain will break the little plastic ear that it hooks to on the PTO cover soon enough!

Personally, once mine broke off the plastic ears I found that the chain is handy for hanging the PTO shaft when the implement is stored to keep the PTO joint up out of the dirt.

I have never figured out how you were supposed to hook/unhook the PTO shaft with the big plastic "bell" on the end of the shaft cover anyway. And how are you supposed to get to the grease fittings with the "bells" on?

Bill Tolle

 

[StrangeRanger]

Hang the PTO up outta the dirt is what I was thinking too. Plus, at least on mine it looks like the little chain could almost get caught up in the "knuckle" itself near the blower.

Next question: to lube the shafts, do they literally just slide all the way apart? And recommendations for the type of lube to use? At least until spring and/or the wife ok's a tiller purchase, the PTO is strictly used in the cold/wet snow removal business.

Thanks,
j

 

[tydp]

The plactic safety cover junk get torn up/off soon enough. I just take 'em off to get them out of the way. There is no substitue for common sense.

 

[Lockport]

I was always under the impression they are in case the PTO shaft uncouples by itself from the PTO drive while an implement like a brush cutter is spinning at 13,000 RPM so the PTO shaft does not flail uncontrollably (and dangerously) all over the place.