Rotary Cutter driveline?? Diff. in Cat. 4 & 5

rutwad · Jul 9, 2010

What is the difference in Cat 4 and Cat. 5 drivelines? Not hp rating, but can I pick up a used driveline and somehow tell the difference?

sweettractors · Jul 9, 2010

rutwad said:
What is the difference in Cat 4 and Cat. 5 drivelines? Not hp rating, but can I pick up a used driveline and somehow tell the difference?

Yes, You can visually see the difference in Series 4 and Series 5. The triangular tubing is bigger and the yoke and u-joints are bigger on the 5. Ken Sweet

Willl · Jul 9, 2010

Slightly off topic,,,,Cat 4 goes to 400 HP, never heard of Cat 5 ?

Good god, how big are these things getting ?

rutwad · Jul 9, 2010

I ask because the driveline shaft just broke on a 15' cutter. Originally it had a 5 or 6 lobe shaft, suppose to be Cat 5. It was replaced with a 4 lobe shaft, but not sure of the Cat. I'll take a better look and see what I can find.

sweettractors · Jul 9, 2010

Usually the metric yokes have casting numbers in the U part of the yokes and the series is usually the first # of that set of numbers. Ken Sweet

rutwad · Jul 14, 2010

The driveshaft was replaced earlier this year on a 2615L Bush Hog cutter. Then with only a few months use, the new driveshaft twisted into. In order to keep cutting, the driveshaft was taken off a 2610L Bush Hog to use. Well, I thought the 2610L & 2615L were the same (except for the obvious). Comparing the shafts of the 2, the one of the 2610L measured wider across the yolks, the overall diameter of the shaft was larger, and the driveshaft wall was noticably thicker. Plus the shaft was either 5 or 6 lobe, where the busted shaft was only 4. So all these differences, plus the fact that it had such a short life makes me think the parts store gave me a shaft that was underrated for the cutter.

And these things are not cheap!!!