Posthole Digger PTO Shaft

[RoyJackson]

Although I'm sorry you guys are having trouble with the drive shafts, I'm glad this thread was opened. It's a reminder for me to check my drive shafts on the cutter and snow blower.
It was suggested by a dealer to separate the tractor end and the implement end shafts for the seasons the implements aren't used (winter for the cutter, Spring and Summer for the blower) and store them in a dry environment.
BTW, this is probably a good time to loosen slip clutch bolts too...

 

[Bluetick1955]

It's a bear. If you need I found one on inet at agrisupply out of a ncn for about $70

 

[BHD]

soak them in diesel fuel or similar for a few days, and I have found if there not totally closed one can press them together a little to get some movement started, and then work on pulling them apart,

when ever I am done with a unit I take it apart and lay it on the machine, have yet to the problem again.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Got mine apart this morning. chained to a tree, and this time pulled with the tractor in 4WD . The 1/2 can of spray I used had never reached the rusted area. I had left the shaft mostly closed, now I will keep them almost fully apart. Cleaned it up and greased it up good, and good to go. Now I need to get my auger fixed. One of the cutter edges is bent down, from catching on a rock once, and pulling it out instead of turning it backwards. I checked by rotary cutter shaft, it's ok. i keep it outside but under an old truck cap, so it keeps it out of most of the weather.

 

[Soundguy]

i like the diesel soak. 5g bucket of old diesel, mineral spirits, paint thinners and reducers, old gas i don't want to run, strained drainings from the parts cleaner... etc. makes for good soak for rusted parts.

 

[kebo]

Got mine apart this morning. chained to a tree, and this time pulled with the tractor in 4WD . The 1/2 can of spray I used had never reached the rusted area. I had left the shaft mostly closed, now I will keep them almost fully apart. Cleaned it up and greased it up good, and good to go. Now I need to get my auger fixed. One of the cutter edges is bent down, from catching on a rock once, and pulling it out instead of turning it backwards. I checked by rotary cutter shaft, it's ok. i keep it outside but under an old truck cap, so it keeps it out of most of the weather.

Coming in here late on this thread, but that's the same method I use to free up PTO shafts that are stuck together. I figure if I break the cast yoke trying it, the shaft wasn't worth having anyway!! :laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

Got mine apart this morning. chained to a tree, and this time pulled with the tractor in 4WD...

Just out of curiosity, did you hook the drive shaft to your tractor's PTO stub shaft, or rig it to the draw bar?

 

[orangeandgreen]

I had a similar situation, except my shaft was bent slightly. I chained the shaft between the front bucket and brush guard and lifted the bucket. Took a few tries but got it apart. That neighbor doesn't get to borrow the post hole digger any more.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Just out of curiosity, did you hook the drive shaft to your tractor's PTO stub shaft, or rig it to the draw bar?

drawbar. I think hooking to PTO could do some serious damage.

 

[hunter townsen]

I have had good luck with a mix of 25% atf, 25 % marvel mystery oil and the rest with a thinner , acetone, laq thin, enamel reducer etc, although laquer thinner and acetone will destroy paint , enamel reducer insnt near as bad , but all are flammable, I always wire wheel all the rust off I can first, let it soak tapping it as often as possible, I sometimes use a air chisel with a rounded head on low pressure when im lazy lol. then come along at one end, and fastened to something heavy on other end and put light pressure , let it sit over night and give it a shot, if possible I suspend it from a beam on my shop attached to something heavy like a tractor etc. I have only done this once on a pto , but have done it on driveshafts for autos , and many other items that are stuck , works well for me, but be carefull if u use heat the penetrant likes to catch fire. good luck
rob