PTO Problem with Allied/Farm King

[Scaper]

Well here's the bottom line. I spoke to the Company, three different reps plus the Dealer and it seems that the company is aware that the BX series and other subcompacts would need a cutable drive shaft to get the proper clearance when you hook up the PTO to a tractor. The rep told me that most if not all Canadian dealers know this but he wasn't sure if it's known here in the states by all dealers. They stated that they will have to do a better job of communicating this to their dealer network! Ok what do I do to get the proper PTO shaft? I have to pay more money to get a shaft that should come standard when you order a unit from the company for a tractor like the BX. The F512 shaft is the right one for a Compact(2320-2620-2920 etc.) but it's too long for those of us that use the subcompact units. "So here I sit broken hearted" not really just pissed!! that I have a new blower that I won't be using this next storm which we may get as much as 20" starting tomorrow night!! I plow for money not fun and this is a huge let down, not to mention a loss in the income department. So much for customer satisfaction!! Money already exchanged hands, see ya later!! They are going to get a proper unit out to me but at the additional cost around $110.00 out of pocket plus shipping time and no unit use when needed. I'm not sure but I think I know where that shaft is right about now!!! Scaper

 

[Happyman]

Are you saying the PTO shaft that came with the blower is too long? If that's the case, just cut it.
If it's too short, just buy a new shaft that's the correct length, or cut a longer one. Or am I not understanding your problem

 

[sweettractors]

I am a Farmking dealer for years. If the PTO shaft is too long, cut it to the desired length and blow snow. Most all implements PTO shaft needs to be cut for a specific tractor. If not there would be 1000 + configurations of Farmking 50 inch blower. Ken Sweet

 

[Scaper]

Well Ken then all I can say is that you better become one of the educated Farm King Dearlers in the US and find out what I was told is the truth. They know that the F512 shaft isn't right for a sub compact! You don't, but they do! I'm not a smart A#@ I'm just stating fact! I love the blower and I would have bought from you but I was given a much better price and low shipping which shipping is not your fault and I under stand that. This is a fact also! The company said that the F512 is not to be cut voids the warrenty. Point, set, match!! Why in the world would I cut the shaft when they tell me not to? I'm upset because they knew about the lenght problem but my dealer and yourself as a US dealer don't know about it. I called them and asked that they make their dealers aware so that no one else has to go through this crap. I was trying to be a good guy not a knuckle head. I also suggested that they provide some sort of parking stand (for lack of a better term) since the unit is front heavy with the lift arms at full extendable position. They thought that would be a good idea also. I'm not bashing the product just the fact that they should pick up the ball and replace the wrong shaft with the right one at no charge!! Respectfully submitted Scaper

 

[sweettractors]

Well Ken then all I can say is that you better become one of the educated Farm King Dearlers in the US and find out what I was told is the truth. They know that the F512 shaft isn't right for a sub compact! You don't, but they do! I'm not a smart A#@ I'm just stating fact! I love the blower and I would have bought from you but I was given a much better price and low shipping which shipping is not your fault and I under stand that. This is a fact also! The company said that the F512 is not to be cut voids the warrenty. Point, set, match!! Why in the world would I cut the shaft when they tell me not to? I'm upset because they knew about the lenght problem but my dealer and yourself as a US dealer don't know about it. I called them and asked that they make their dealers aware so that no one else has to go through this crap. I was trying to be a good guy not a knuckle head. I also suggested that they provide some sort of parking stand (for lack of a better term) since the unit is front heavy with the lift arms at full extendable position. They thought that would be a good idea also. I'm not bashing the product just the fact that they should pick up the ball and replace the wrong shaft with the right one at no charge!! Respectfully submitted Scaper

I think that Buhler/Farmking should publish a recall bulletin about the specific problem they are having with your situation. Tell them to email me a "service update" on this particular problem you describe. My email is sweet@scrtc.com. Thanks for getting to the bottom of this, Ken Sweet

 

[JJZ 109]

Not familiar with your exact unit but I have a Buhler Farm King 60 inch in use with my B3030. I don't recall the shaft being an issue because of the adjustable lower arms on the blower.
Also, I now have a TSC quick hitch that probably sets the blower out a tad further from the rear of the tractor. Could that possibly be a solution for you? I didn't have any issues on the current tractor or on the previous JD 790 even before the quick hitch.
I'm not trying to be a smart guy and I agree that Buhler/Allied should notify dealer and current customers about certain shafts not properly working with your application. But if they won't do anything to rectify the situation and you'd rather not mess with the warranty by cutting the PTO shaft, the quick hitch might set you back far enough to use the original shaft.
Just a thought.

 

[Happyman]

I've never heard of a warranty being void by cutting the pto shaft.

 

[Scaper]

Ken you are abosolutly right they should make the dealers aware and I think they already know that from what they told me. Happyman I agree with you but that doesn't change the fact that I was told not to since it would void the warrenty. They state that the F512 is not, I repeat NOT A CUTABLE SHAFT!!!! I'm the messenger here not the Devil. Look Guys unndestand that the F512 is the right shaft for COMPACT B and up series tractors, NOT SUBCOMPACTS!! Get it not subcompacts BX BX BX how else can I say this. Ken I hear very nice things about your business all the time but I want you to be aware of this not for my sake but yours and every other dealer. What happens if something goes bad and someone is hurt. You as a dealer if you install or present the F512 as the right shaft for a BX could be held liable!!! I don't like anyone being a scape goat not that the company would but sh@# does run down hill! I don't want your boots to have an odor. Ken we help each other here and we have a voice we need to use it to get this problem solved for everyone's sake. Scaper

 

[King Kutter Rep]

I've never heard of a warranty being void by cutting the pto shaft.

I wonder if they meant that the PTO shaft warranty is void? Not standard, but possible.

to the OP - I hope you get this resolved.

 

[Scaper]

King Kutter thats a great observation and I can honestly say I don't know. When I asked if the shaft could be cut and when they said no they also said it would void the warrenty and I didn't ask warrenty to the shaft or warrenty on the machine because of damage that might occur do to the shaft being tampered with. Good question!! Scaper

 

[King Kutter Rep]

King Kutter thats a great observation and I can honestly say I don't know. When I asked if the shaft could be cut and when they said no they also said it would void the warrenty and I didn't ask warrenty to the shaft or warrenty on the machine because of damage that might occur do to the shaft being tampered with. Good question!! Scaper

I only say that b/c most implement manufacturers just accept the fact that the customer might have to cut the PTO shaft to make it work on their tractor. However, after it is cut, the manufacturer generally won't give the customer a new one (ie warranty the shaft) just b/c you cut it to short. Like I said... I hope you get this worked out to your satisfaction. Good luck!

 

[evo803]

Just cut the shaft ! You are not going to damage the unit by shortening the shaft to work properly. There is a major storm coming and this is a business for you and your customers are counting on you. Anyway you have a new shaft coming so what is the problem , just make it happen.:thumbsup:

 

[Dutch445]

if you aren't going to cut the shaft and use it,
are you going to return it to them for credit
towards the new one?
if not, then cut it, or go to TSC and buy one and
get to work and earn some income from your
investment!
is the gearbox end of the pto shaft similar
to the pto on the tractor? (both 540 splined
shafts?)
if so, it should be an easy fix today if you can
get to TSC and tell the FK dealer to keep their new shaft,
or at least tell them where to put it!!

Replacement PTO Shaft, Finish Mower, 4 ft. Cut - 2701068 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[Scaper]

I wrote to three company exec. this morning and haven't heard a word back yet. The problem is that in order to use a TSC PTO I have to remove the female yoke from the Farm King shaft and pay $180.00 for the TSC shaft. I won't get a refund if I use their yoke . This has come down to principale for me. They know the shaft is wrong and they don't want to send the new one or right one for that matter without additional money. No I don't as of yet have a shaft on it's way. I'm going to make a call now I just got out of superior court and am home now. No the shaft to the blower is smooth with a 1/2" collar blot key way and set screw. Scaper

 

[evo803]

So you are not going to cut the shaft and use it based on "principle" ?

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Scaper....Have you ever needed to cut a pto shaft.??

 

[greg_g]

Scaper - I believe this is much ado about nothing. Ordinarily I wouldn't give a hoot about snowblowers, but your insistence caught my curiosity. So I looked up the manual ( http://www.farm-king.com/manuals/AbFK-SB/FK312-50_60_SB_2010.pdf ). I see absolutely NOTHING that would suggest that this PTO shaft cannot be cut to fit your BX. And I don't see that the manufacturer is going to be able to send you anything shorter than the F512.

Considering the hugely variable geometries involved with matching 3rd party implement with tractors around the world, cutting PTO shafts is almost second nature to experienced owners. Fitting that F512 shaft to your BX2200 should be no exception (except that is, if Buhler mistakenly put a F612 on your 50" machine). Perhaps you misunderstood - but if there's any voided warranties involved - it's certainly not with the snowblower itself. I'm sure what they were trying to tell you is that - if you screwed up and cut the F512 down to an unusable length - that it wasn't covered by warranty. Your mistake, not theirs. This is supported by "what is not covered" on pg24. Cutting a PTO shaft is considered "an alteration".

But then look at pg10, specifically where it says
"-- Check that the PTO shaft does not bottom or separate with the blower in the extreme high and low positions. Check to see which of the four different hitch positions will allow you to keep about a 4" minimum overlap on the PTO shields without bottoming out. This position varies between different tractor models because of the different lengths of the three-point arms. If the PTO shaft is still too long with the hitch fully extended, the PTO shaft will have to be cut shorter."
Do it right, and you'll be blowing snow in 45 minutes.

There are plenty of threads on this site with more than adequate guidance relative to cutting PTO shafts to fit. Assuming you have a measuring tape and a hacksaw, it won't cost you a nickel.

//greg//

 

[Scaper]

Some of you folks don't get do you. Yes I have cut shafts for years, yes I am standing on principle you should try it sometime, we as a country have become complacent we accept anything shoved down our throat or up our butt. I for one do honest business treat my customers properly, give an honest estimate and if I have an overrun due to my mess up I eat it like a man and don't complain or whine about it. But right is right and I expect to be treated right when I buy a new piece of equipment and am told that everything I need is in the box!! These machines are being sent out with the wrong driveshaft for sub compact tractors such as the BX series Kubota. The dealers are at risk for suit if someone gets hurt or a machine fails due to improper fitment. Yes I expect them to man up, nothing less and if others had a set between their legs they would do the same thing and not bend over and ask for more. I'm not a consumer that will lay down and take it thats the bottom line. I don't carry vasaline with me when I go to buy equipment I take knowledge and good ethics! By the way I spoke with the driveshaft manufacture this morning and they said (Weasler) that the shaft is a three part weldment shaft and it should not be cut!!! Scaper

 

[Scaper]

Look folks I'm going to list this in order'
1, Company says can't be cut.
2, Company says will void the warranty
3, Manufacture (Weasler says three part weldment type of shaft.) can't be cut! If it were to be done no warrenty and special equipment that I don't have would be needed.
4, Farm King says we do have a shaft that is cutable for this reason (Subcompact Tractor) this is what you need F621.
5, Farm King says We know there is a problem with fitment of the shaft our dealers may not be aware of this problem. We need to better communicate this to our dealers.
6, I'm not a fool I do know equipment and I have been cutting shafts as needed for 40 plus years.
7, I'm honest and straight forward and I don't take any crap.
8, I believe in what I was taught as a young man, Stand up for yourself, Do it right the first time, If you do something wrong have the balls to admit it, Learn from your mistakes, Be honest with yourself and your friends. Honor your parents and God and Defend those who can't defend themselves. Scaper

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Look folks I'm going to list this in order'
1, Company says can't be cut.
2, Company says will void the warranty
3, Manufacture (Weasler says three part weldment type of shaft.) can't be cut! If it were to be done no warrenty and special equipment that I don't have would be needed.
4, Farm King says we do have a shaft that is cutable for this reason (Subcompact Tractor) this is what you need F621.
5, Farm King says We know there is a problem with fitment of the shaft our dealers may not be aware of this problem. We need to better communicate this to our dealers.
6, I'm not a fool I do know equipment and I have been cutting shafts as needed for 40 plus years.
7, I'm honest and straight forward and I don't take any crap.
8, I believe in what I was taught as a young man, Stand up for yourself, Do it right the first time, If you do something wrong have the balls to admit it, Learn from your mistakes, Be honest with yourself and your friends. Honor your parents and God and Defend those who can't defend themselves. Scaper

Ok OK OK....I'll admit it....I screwed up when I asked if you had ever cut a shaft. Sorry.

I totally understand where you are coming from. I understand.

I wish Ken Sweet would re-appear so that we could hear from his experience. Sounds like he was left out of the loop as well.

Scaper...More power to you. I wouldn't want to pay for the right shaft either.

You are right. It is wrong.!!