Shaft Seized

[mikeinstafford]

I just purchased a 6" old King Kutter rotary cutter yesterday. Got it greased up and was ready to hook to tractor and realized the shaft would not slide forward. I have tried penetrating oil and pulling it out with the tractor and chain but no luck. Is it now time to go buy a new shaft? Since this is my first PTO implement do all shafts come in the same size with the "pull out part" don't know what that's called, and where can I order one? Tractor supply has one that I saw yesterday that was almost $200. Is that a good price for it and will it be the same size or do I have to go measure them. I'm curious if they all come the same size and are universal or do they go by implement model or some other factor.

Thanks

 

[JasG]

PTO shafts are rated by HP which are listed as a category. You need the correct length and strength, although most of the time I have replaced one, I end up cutting one to length. Our local tractor supply has a guy who seems to know a lot about PTO's and how to size one.

Each shaft is basically custom to that attachment, even similar attachments from the same brand many times have different shafts. It might be a slight difference un length or size. Many rotary cutters depending on duty have different shafts.

 

[mikeinstafford]

Ok then I will just take the shaft off and take it to tractor supply and hopefully theirs match.

 

[GManBart]

Measure the length of the shaft when collapsed, then look at where it connects to the gearbox on the cutter to see if the gearbox shaft is smooth, or splined. Match up the length (within reason...doesn't need to be exact), with the gearbox input, and you're set. A 6' cutter shouldn't need a heavy duty/special shaft. You can even check places like Amazon.com for good deals. Northern Tool also lists quite a few at reasonable prices (seems to be cheaper than TSC). R,

 

[Bird]

You say you tried to pull it apart, but did you have it off the cutter? If you take it off the cutter, chain one end to a big tree and the other end to your tractor, there's good chance you can pull it apart. I'd probably pull enough to just put good tension on it, then tap it lightly with a hammer (not enough to damage it, but just jar it a bit) and you should be able to pull it apart. Then you can clean it up with a wire wheel (or sandblaster), grease it, and put it back together.

 

[GManBart]

You say you tried to pull it apart, but did you have it off the cutter? If you take it off the cutter, chain one end to a big tree and the other end to your tractor, there's good chance you can pull it apart. I'd probably pull enough to just put good tension on it, then tap it lightly with a hammer (not enough to damage it, but just jar it a bit) and you should be able to pull it apart. Then you can clean it up with a wire wheel (or sandblaster), grease it, and put it back together.

I had one stuck, and that's how we got it apart (used a dump truck rather than a tree, as I recall)....worked great.

 

[mikeinstafford]

How do I get the shaft off the cutter? I see a sheer pin holding it on but I also see that the shaft coming thru it off the gear box has threads. I hope the shaft isn't threaded on. If its threaded onto the gearbox shaft what is the method for getting it off since turning the shaft will turn the gearbox.

 

[murphy1244]

should be a collar you pull back or a pin to push down and pull.

 

[mikeinstafford]

You say you tried to pull it apart, but did you have it off the cutter? If you take it off the cutter, chain one end to a big tree and the other end to your tractor, there's good chance you can pull it apart. I'd probably pull enough to just put good tension on it, then tap it lightly with a hammer (not enough to damage it, but just jar it a bit) and you should be able to pull it apart. Then you can clean it up with a wire wheel (or sandblaster), grease it, and put it back together.

Bird, your information was spot on. I knocked the sheer pin out then hooked to tractor and a hard pull popped the shaft off the cutter. I connected one end of the shaft to a tree and the other end to the tractor and pulled in 4WD low gear to just about the point where the tires spin and held it there for a few seconds. I went back and tapped on it and applied some more wd 40 and went and pulled on it and it popped all the way off. There was no rust inside there so I don't know what was holding it on maybe the rust and the point on the end where they meet. Anyway thanks, I appreciate that you just saved me a trip to tractor supply.

 

[tomf]

How do I get the shaft off the cutter? I see a sheer pin holding it on but I also see that the shaft coming thru it off the gear box has threads. I hope the shaft isn't threaded on. If its threaded onto the gearbox shaft what is the method for getting it off since turning the shaft will turn the gearbox.

On mine there is a shear pin and a "C" ring holding the shaft to the mower. In the lower right of this picture, you can see the point where the shaft connects to the mower gearbox. If you look closely you can also see the groove where the "C" ring goes. Looks like I got this posted too late. Between the time I started writing this and when I got this posted the problem was solved.