PTO PITA

[budlite]

Is it just me, or is attaching the PTO a PITA? I am no engineer, but would figger there has to be a better way! Its difficult, IMHO, for one person to pull the collar back and still push the PTO shaft on. Not much leverage. Is there any trick for doing this?

 

[greg_g]

Patience, persistence, and a little lube on the sliding shaft halves. Make sure the collar (or push button) works freely as well, and push clean female splines on to clean male splines.

//greg//

 

[RWolf]

Practice, lube and a small wire brush and after awhile it will become second nature (this is from someone who still has problems ).

Good luck.

 

[xlr82v2]

Get some muscles, man!

I've been doing it since I was probably 10-11 years old... I don't have any problems with it... but I've had some practice

With 99% of the PTO shafts out there, you can get it started on the tractor shaft BEFORE you have to pull back a collar or press a pin or twist a ring... so:

Get the implement shaft started on the splines of the tractor shaft first... THEN pull, press or twist whatever you have to do with your specific yoke to allow it to slide on further... then move it just a bit more onto the tractor shaft. Then you can let go, and push the shaft fully home onto the tractor shaft. When the retention balls or pin gets to the groove on the tractor shaft, it should spring into position on it's own... you dont' have to hold it the entire time. When you get the yoke fully onto the tractor's PTO shaft, give it a tug and a push to make sure it's locked into place, and you're done. It really isn't that hard.

I'd venture to guess that most of you guys that have trouble with PTO shafts are actually fighting yourselves, and not the PTO shaft. Hooking up the PTO should be one of the easier parts of hooking up an implement... especially if you can turn your tractor's PTO shaft or the implement shaft by hand to help get the splines aligned.

Look at your yoke, learn and understand how it works, and then it will make more sense what you're actually doing when you are getting things hooked up.

 

[scuvnut]

Get a big screwdriver and a can of lubricant. It's not that hard.

Otherwise, check out the post by Nunyabinis at:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...1-3038e-power-take-off-brake.html#post1644181

 

[have_blue]

I know what you mean. Muscle don't help much when you have all sorts of stuff in the way.

I have a favorite shaft on my Chinese RFM that has the twist type, which I like a whole lot more than the sliding sleeve type. The one on my Squealer won't start on the splines until the sleeve is retracted.

 

[brandoro]

I put the RFM on the B3030HSDC for the first time today and had quite a fight. On my previous two tractors I could turn the tractor PTO shaft to line up the splines and never had problems hooking up. The PTO shaft on this tractor can not be turned by hand and neither can the shaft on the mower. I ended up sticking a short bar in the yoke of the U joint and turning the power shaft of the mower until it would line up with the PTO shaft on the tractor. I don't want to have to do that every time I put the mower on, does anyone know a way to turn the shaft on the tractor or a better/easier way to turn the power shaft on the mower??

 

[Lindy]

I put the RFM on the B3030HSDC for the first time today and had quite a fight. On my previous two tractors I could turn the tractor PTO shaft to line up the splines and never had problems hooking up. The PTO shaft on this tractor can not be turned by hand and neither can the shaft on the mower. I ended up sticking a short bar in the yoke of the U joint and turning the power shaft of the mower until it would line up with the PTO shaft on the tractor. I don't want to have to do that every time I put the mower on, does anyone know a way to turn the shaft on the tractor or a better/easier way to turn the power shaft on the mower??

Been there, done that with my B3030 ......

With the B3030, just put the PTO selector lever to the "MID ONLY" position (like you were going to drive a mid mount mower) when you're hooking up a rear implement. This disengages the rear PTO. When you do that, you should be able to spin the rear PTO on the tractor by hand.

When safely on level ground, I also like to put the tractor in NEUTRAL so I can roll it by hand by pushing on the tires a little bit if I have to. Sometimes this helps to line up the 3pt better.

 

[brandoro]

Been there, done that with my B3030 ......

With the B3030, just put the PTO selector lever to the "MID ONLY" position (like you were going to drive a mid mount mower) when you're hooking up a rear implement. This disengages the rear PTO. When you do that, you should be able to spin the rear PTO on the tractor by hand.

When safely on level ground, I also like to put the tractor in NEUTRAL so I can roll it by hand by pushing on the tires a little bit if I have to. Sometimes this helps to line up the 3pt better.

Thanks Lindy, I thought there must be an easier way to line up the splines.

 

[FrogLick]

Yes, thanks Lindy for the mid-PTO selection suggestion. It's always aligning the splines that's the trickest part for me so being able to turn the shaft on the tractor by hand will be a great help. Of course the "protective covers & collars" don't make things easier either, but I guess they do help protect operators and keep grass from getting tangled on the shaft.

 

[ren1pa]

Is it just me, or is attaching the PTO a PITA? I am no engineer, but would figger there has to be a better way! Its difficult, IMHO, for one person to pull the collar back and still push the PTO shaft on. Not much leverage. Is there any trick for doing this?

Try this link at AGRISUPPLY:

PTO ADAPTER 1-3/8X6SPL M. X 1-3/8X6SPL F - Agri Supply

I also have been looking for something like this for several years. After much searching, I found this site. I bought two at that price and can leave them on the tiller and rotary cutter.

You put this on the implement before attaching to the Tractor, then with your thumb, holding the pin down, you push on to the PTO Spline. It only adds about 3 1/2 inches to total length of the shaft.

Home > PTO ADAPTER 1-3/8X6SPL M. X 1-3/8X6SPL F > PTO ADAPTER 1-3/8X6SPL M. X 1-3/8X6SPL FPTO ADAPTER 1-3/8X6SPL M. X 1-3/8X6SPL F
6-3/8 overall inches
Has quick release button

 

[budlite]

Thanks to all! $20 for a PTO adapter sure seems alot more reasonable than the $30 for a magnetic cup holder I've seen advertised.

 

[suncoast]

I guess I am missing something in regards to the adapter from Agri-Supply. All of my shafts have a spring loaded pin already. Is the added length to clear the shroud the advantage? The splines and grooves still have to be in alignment. I have trouble at times also. the fabricated crescent wrench was a great idea. I just use a large straight screwdriver. Others are correct, visualize the alignment ahead of time and then make whatever small adjustments that are needed. Having the male and female portions parallel is never talked about but is half of the battle.

 

[Duffster]

I hooked and unhooked 35 PTO shafts today.

I have yet to find one that couldn't be turned by hand enough to line up the splines.

Not sure what an adaptor is going to gain other than a little room for your hands.

I prefer the pin style but have a lot of collar type also. The trick with the collar type is to start it on to the spline then pull the collar back and finish pushing it on.