Sigma Tiller PTO Stuck!!

[buffaloman]

After a long time, the wife wishes to till the garden space. We have a Sigma, Italian made tiller, purchased in 1993 auction. No manual came with the tiller. The PTO shaft sections will not slip. I tried to disconnect the universal joint to the slip clutch but it wont come loose. I can't get then opposite bearing cap to rise above the yoke to get pliers to remove the cap. I am thinking of cutting the safety sleeve to get to the two shafts joint to use penetrating oil or some type of puller to break the pieces apart. any suggestions are welcome. The shaft is about 24" compressed. anybody know where to get a new sleeve or PTO shaft?

 

[3gunr]

georgia equipment co. has what you need .

 

[Roadworthy]

You could try a slide hammer to encourage it to move. If you can keep the tiller from moving and find a way to secure the slide hammer to the other half of the driveline it may work.

 

[airbiscuit]

I had a flail mower with exactly the same problem. I sprayed and soaked the heck out of it with penetrating oil and waited a couple of days. Then I put strap through the PTO yoke and put tension on it with a come a long and tap, tap, tap. Spray/soak, repeat.

Straight tension and tap, tap, tap worked better than brute force.

 

[airbiscuit]

You may have to cut a longitudinal slot in the guard to get it temporarily off to get penetrating oil in the shaft (then put it back on and tape it up.

 

[pmsmechanic]

It looks like it's a European type shaft. Sometimes the slip tubes aren't welded to the yoke. They are just fastened with a roll pin. Have a look and see if that's a possibility in your case.

 

[kthompson]

I would soak it in oil and keep taping with hammer to loosen the rust and soaking it in oil.

 

[airbiscuit]

Maybe you can just drill a 1" hole in the guard (right where the 2 pieces of shaft meet) and spray generous amounts of penetrating oil through that. (Repeat)

 

[LouNY]

The guard is all busted up and non functional all ready,
cut the guard off use penetrating oil and gentle persuasion,
then you can install another guard.

 

[boomer1025]

If you want the pto shaft off the tiller. Remove the 6 or 8 bolts from the slip clutch and the front piece of the clutch should come off.