PTO Drive Shaft won't adjust lengthwise?

[Gary Fowler]

Well you say it is well greased so I am going to eliminate a rusted stuck shaft and say that it is the darned safety guard that is the problem. I had to take a sharp knife and slit the outer part nearly all the way in order to move mine when it was new. It doesnt hang up now and slide easily. Put a couple of ty-raps on it after the split if needed (mine stayed tight so not needed) Start at the overlapped end and split it about half way to 2/3 of the way to the end and see if that helps.

 

[94BULLITT]

Depending on how you had the shaft stored water may have ran up in it and rusted it.

 

[boggen]

Well you say it is well greased so I am going to eliminate a rusted stuck shaft and say that it is the darned safety guard that is the problem. I had to take a sharp knife and slit the outer part nearly all the way in order to move mine when it was new. It doesnt hang up now and slide easily. Put a couple of ty-raps on it after the split if needed (mine stayed tight so not needed) Start at the overlapped end and split it about half way to 2/3 of the way to the end and see if that helps.

*looks confused* was there a rail or some sort of guide for the 2 portions of the PTO shaft shields, so the shields would not spin when chain hook for shields was placed on tractor? and the PTO shaft shields were binding up on the rail / guide built into them?

or was the outer shield just plain to tight like manufacture defect, and just not allowing shield to slide easily?

 

[k0ua]

I would want to know how you know the PTO shaft is well greased when you cannot get it apart.? A well greased and non damaged PTO shaft will fall apart if you turn it vertical. If it does not, it is because it is rusted together, or bent. If it is rusted, (and you should hope this is the problem) hook it between two immovable objects (not your tractors pto shaft, unless you want to damage it) and take a come-a-long and pull it apart. If it is bent, well the easiest thing to do is buy a new one, or take it to a drive-line shop and let them either press out the old bent tubes, or weld on new ones if it is the kind that is welded. Or you can struggle with it your self if you are handy. If you have the press in kind, you can cut on the inside of the tubes to relieve the stress and punch it out, otherwise you are going to need a press. Also you will find the replacement tubes are expensive. Good luck with it.

James K0UA

 

[StanR]

Update?

 

[Baby Grand]

I had a chipper PTO shaft that got twisted, due to the clutch not slipping properly when the chipper got overloaded. For a long time I was baffled as to why the shaft wouldn't retract past a certain point, and once it reached that point it would get stuck. When I got it apart I could see about a 45 degree twist in the chipper side of the shaft. Just one more thing for you to check!

 

[Localmotion]

hook it between two immovable objects (not your tractors pto shaft, unless you want to damage it)

Given that the OP says the shaft was free when he last used it, and it is unlikely that he has bent it, the friction would not cause any damage using the tractors pto to pull it apart - especially if the other end is anchored using rope as I originally stated. If it did damage to the tractor pto rather than the rope, then I would definately be looking for a better make of tractor :laughing:

I have seen people use chains and winches, passing the chain through the centre of the UJ at either end of the shaft - you can guess what happend. I always use nylon rope, anchored around the shaft below each UJ (not through it). This way the rope will always break before causing damage. I once even used this method to split a very VERY rusty one which was in a hedge for many years and slight bent - the hardest part was getting it off the topper it was attached to :laughing:

 

[LD1]

I second the come-a-long notion.

If it has shields on it, you cannot see wether it is rusted or well greased. We are talking about the tubes and NOT the u-joints being greased.

 

[MHarryE]

Takes a lot to bend a shaft but it is possible. I ruined the shield on my rotary cutter when I hadn't noticed the top link unscrewed itself and raised the 3 point. The angle was such that the shielding hit the front edge of the cutter destroying the shield. Once I cut away the shielding I could see light polishing on the shaft. It extends and retracts easily and a straight edge on all 3 corners of the shaft shows it is as straight as I can possibly measure. Stuck when completely collapsed and left for a long period (over winter) is something I have experienced so I always leave mine extended a bit, well lubed, and supported mid air. I've never had a shaft that had a limit on extension. Over the years I must admit to multiple times when I unhooked the 3 point but failed to disconnect the pto and drove away with the shaft still connected to the tractor. I rationalize it as my method to make sure the shaft extends and retracts easily and is well lubed. Works.

 

[woodchuckie]

The PTO shaft shield had a hooking place to connect a small chain to prevent the shield from turning with the shaft. This hook broke so the shield has turned ever since. Something started rubbing the shield in that spot and started melting the plastic causing it to swell in one spot so that I couldn't slide the shaft. I pulled the shaft apart with a chain and found the swelling causing the problem. I was able to cut the shield off before the swelling to solve my problem. The shield still overlaps enough to use my implements.