PTO Connectors

dooleysm · Mar 9, 2006

I'll try to explain this as best as I can and see if anyone can figure out my problem and offer some advice.

I've got an old post hole digger my dad sold me from the cemetery where he works. He's worked there for 30 years and says they've never used it since he's been there. We went to use it last fall to dig some fence post holes and ran into this problem. The PTO shaft coming out of my L3000 Kubota was too big to fit into the female side of the PHD's PTO connector.

After driving all over town we found an adapter that has a 1 3/8" female side and a 1 1/8" male side. This allowed me to hook the PHD to my tractor and dig the few holes I needed to complete my dog pen.

The problem is, the female side of the adapter that I bought has a hole drilled through that expects to mate up with a similar hole drilled through the male PTO shaft. You can then put a bolt through there to keep both sides held together. My Kubota PTO shaft doesn't have a hole drilled through it (I'm guessing this is an older method) and all my other attachments have the collar release or a push button release that keeps the attachment's PTO engaged to the tractor's PTO.

So, every time I drill a hole, the PTO stays engaged while I'm going down, but then when I lift the PHD out of the hole, the PTO slides off the tractor. Big hassle.

So, does anyone know of an adapter that I could get to keep things happy, or will I have to replace the 1 1/8" female connector on the PHD's PTO shaft? If I do have to replace, is that something I can do myself easily?

Thanks guys!

EdKing · Mar 9, 2006

The easiest would probably be replace the end on the PHD PTO shaft. Basically the same as replacing the universal joints on an automobiles drive shaft.

rambler · Mar 9, 2006

Shame on Kubota for not including the pto standard hole. That is terrible of them, normally I think a lot of the Orange company.

You could have a machinest drill the pto shaft on your tractor.

I'm sure there are adaptors that are spring-locked, & not pinned on. Can't list one off the top of my head, but I'm sure you will find one.

--->Paul

Soundguy · Mar 10, 2006

I agree with rambler.. I think it is pretty chincy of a tractor comapny not provideing that standarized hole that has been around since the po came out practically.

Here's what I would do.. that that 1 3/8 female to 1 1/8 male adapter.. it has the hole on the female sleave side... tap some threads into that hole, and then use a bolt.. or preferably, a recess allan head set screw.. screw it in till flush on the inside... now.. slide it on.. tighten it down and away you go. I have a seeder with a smooth coupling that relies solely on 2recessed allan headed set screws to hold it to the pto shaft... have never had an issue with it. I simply carry that allan wrench in my tractor tool box...

This way you are not drilling your tractor pto, and you are only modifying a ? 15$ part.. and not that vintage ? mid 50's auger with the neat 1 1/8 yoke on it that a collector may want .. intact, one day...

You will only be out the cost of the set screw(s) and the time it takes you to tap some threads into it.. 5$ and 15 minutes?.. way better than tring to drill the shaft on the tractor and hope you get it true and straight.. or vs pulling the shaft and then replacing seals and oil and gaskets, and paying a machine shop to do it.. etc..

Soundguy

rswyan · Mar 10, 2006

( So, does anyone know of an adapter that I could get to keep things happy, or will I have to replace the 1 1/8" female connector on the PHD's PTO shaft? )

Check Agri-Supply - I believe they have quick release PTO adapters that don't use the bolt.

scott_vt · Mar 10, 2006

To take Soundguys idea one step further. Slide your adapter on your PTO shaft, and spot drill your PTO shaft to create a slight recess, then as Soundguy said, tap that hole and use a nylock setscrew. That way it wont come off and the nylock shouldnt loosen up /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

dooleysm · Mar 13, 2006

Thanks for the advice guys. I checked agri-supply and it appears the quick release adapters they have are for 6 spline to 21 spline and vice versa. No 6 spline to 6 spline adapters.

I guess I'll try tapping the adapter I have like Soundguy said. It was a $15 part at Rural King. I really didn't like the idea of drilling through the tractor's PTO shaft.

I guess most other tractors must have that hole in the PTO shaft or else everybody else is using attachments with the quick release PTO coupler. It seems to me this should be a more common problem that someone would have come up with a widely available adapter. I've looked all over the internet and talked to several dealers and none have had any.

scott_vt · Mar 13, 2006

Yes, all the PTO shafts now have the groove in the OD for the quick release. Sounds like you got it under control /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

Newblue · Mar 13, 2006

My New Hollands (TC45DA) pto shaft is just like your Kubotas, it has no hole for a pin type of coupling. I thought this was kind of weird because growing up I was used to old Fords that had the hole. I wonder if all newer tractors are going to this type of shaft?

Mike

Soundguy · Mar 13, 2006

My 2002 7610s has the hole....??

Soundguy

Newblue · Mar 13, 2006

Maybe it's only on newer compacts that have no hole. The 7610 is a mid size ag tractor isn't it?

dsb5610 · Mar 13, 2006

I'm most familiar with JD tractors but I haven't seen a PTO shaft with the hole for many years. Don't recall seeing attachments with the pin thru the coupler recently either.

Years ago I tried tapping the hole, first one side, then both sides. It was on a rotary mower. Would run for a few minutes then work loose. Scare the snot out of ya (not to mention dangerous) when that shaft comes off and starts flopping around.

I recommend you replace the end. Easy to do and relatively inexpensive. That is what I did and problem was solved.

dsb

rambler · Mar 13, 2006

Never saw a tractor without the hole in the pto shaft. Poor design on the tractor manufacurers part, IMHO.

--->Paul

Soundguy · Mar 13, 2006

( The 7610 is a mid size ag tractor isn't it? )

Yep.. mid 90's hp..

Soundguy

PILOON · Mar 14, 2006

Easier and safer would be to drill your adaptor completely through at about 1/2" from rear offset to simulate the location of the 'quick connect push pin' and simply install a 5/16 graded bolt.

If you have a regular adaptor simply clone the hole location and add a bolt with a safety pin clip thing.
That will never shake loose!

Soundguy · Mar 15, 2006

Gonna have to be good with a drill to drill offset like that...

Either way.. set screw or pin.. should work fine.

I have a 3pt cone spreader that has a flex shaft.. and it couples with a set screw.. has never ever backed out onme..

Soundguy

PILOON · Mar 16, 2006

( Gonna have to be good with a drill to drill offset like that...

Either way.. set screw or pin.. should work fine.

I have a 3pt cone spreader that has a flex shaft.. and it couples with a set screw.. has never ever backed out onme..

Soundguy )

Should work with a drill press and vice--also center punch to start and smaller pilot hole...

I would guess that the set screw would be fine with implements that are used in a fixed position such as spreaders and PTO generators....
However items like snowblowers, tillers and the like that are raised/lowered a lot as well as use lots of torque would probably be a totally different story.
Also the working angle of the shaft would come into play.

A tiller and bush hog would always slope downwards encouraging slide off while a spreader or broadcaster would be working sloped upwards.

In my opinion I would use a short bolt and a lock nut (or jamnut) over a simple set screw if I had that type of adaptor.

Soundguy · Mar 16, 2006

( over a simple set screw )

I'm not knocking your idea of a bolt.. but.. I think you have 'too' low of an opinion vs set screws... do keep in mind that set screws hold very important things like tranny shifter forks .. etc... Those aren't things yoy want to come loose.. ( and you rarely do see these loose.. ).

If I went the set screw route.. i'd use taper threads, and I may even dimple the pto shaft with a second or two of drill bit contact thru the hole using it as a pilot.. etc.. this would make a great detent for a pointy headed set screw.

If you use an offset bolt , starting the hole on the curved exterior will be the issue.. and end mill might work.. or a second with a die grinder to flatten the spot, and then a center punch... etc.

use a hard bolt... like gr8 to go along witht hat hardened adapter... wouldn't want a soft bolt inthere and have it deform slightly and then not come out.. thus locking it to the pto shaft till it is drilled out or punched out.. etc..

A hose clamp slid over the set screw area and then tightened down would prevent the set screw from backing out.. and that woul preclude any drilling.. just use the hole already there, and tap for the set screw.. ( guess you could just drop a ball bearing in there too! )... all kind of ways to secure it...

Soundguy

PILOON · Mar 17, 2006

Tend to agree now that I think of how hard it is to get some set screws out of a veebelt pulley.
Many a time I have bent an allen key beyond usefull.

I think that my main objection is that set screws should probably not be considered as a 'frequant use' device as in PTO fixation due to thread wear and basic hassle of allen keys.
The spring pin is just sooo much nicer to use.

firemanpat2910 · Mar 17, 2006

on the subject of set screws, They make set screws with a
brass tip on them so if you are locking down on a shaft you
dont burr it up. And the dimple in the shaft is another good way to go. I have seen some printing presses that have 2 set screws one on top of the other to lock it in. They also make set screws with spring loaded ball bearing already in it. Also
you could use a long set screw with a jam nut, depending on clearance issues.