Stuck PTO shaft

[JC-jetro]

Hello friends,
Again, one of my so called simple projects.
The thing that should have taken only 30 minutes again testing my patience.

Quick excerpt…. On my woods rotary cutter the front seal started to leak. I think the situation was stable as when it stopped leaking the vertical gear was fully submersed in oil and horizontal shaft gear partially but I had to fix it you know … ordered front seal and attempted to remove the Hex nut A to withdraw the old seal and replace while front hub was still attached to the gear box assembly. I removed the shear pin to allow removing the PTO shaft with no success. The splined horizontal shaft was solidly rusted/glued to the inners of the PTO shaft although it rotated freely but would not come out. After 30 minutes of struggle I removed the horizontal shaft hub and took home for further treatment as the pictures show. I have hung it for over 2 days and put lots of wd-40 on it, heated it, cooled it and beat the heck out of it to separate them with no luck. I also gave it a good Spanish inquisition style torture by puling the ends in opposite direction in a forceful manner to no avail and ended up busting my 4 ton come along . Through ought this endeavor I continuously soaked the splined shaft with WD-40(it appears it is soaking it in) and put a propane torch to it to see if I can budge it. I know I have to earn everything that I do but this is ridiculous .
Of course my patience is plenty and…. He don’t know me very well… do he?

Any how, appreciate any tricks one might have in his sleeves and willing to share.

Thanks,
JC
Woods Gear Box:


New Seal:


PTO. Shaft:


Keyed horizontal shaft and PTO shaft socket rotating freely to allow shear pin installation.

 

[GreenWannabe]

Many posters on here have suggested using wax, either candle wax or parafin (sp) canning wax. Heat the joint enough to melt some wax and wait a while, it should come apart. One poster even said he keeps some candles in his toolbox. Good luck.

 

[em14]

I have had good results with PB Blaster which you can get at the Tractor Supply Store .... I don't have much with WD 40.
Leo

 

[bucmeister]

Couple of questions.

Is the input shaft splined or smooth? Reason I ask is because of the shear bolt looking appearance of the setup.

If it is smooth, which I think it must be since you mentioned it will spin on the shaft fine, just won't come off, then I must ask if you have removed the spring steel keeper ring?

I have a Woods RM990 cutter with the smooth shaft/shear bolt setup and there is a retainer ring at the very end of the shaft to retain the yoke after the bolt shears, otherwise it would potentially come flying off with when the bolt shears because there would nothing left to hold it together. I did not see in your post where you mentioned removing it. If there is one there just push the yoke toward the gear end until you can get the ring worked out.

On Edit: Just read where you did state it was splined.

 

[BTDT]

I think I would break apart the u-joint, and either press shaft out of coupling, or support it from the coupling end (let gear & housing end hang) and pound it out from the hole where crowbar is. Put something underneath to cushion the fall when it breaks loose.

 

[JerryG]

Take it to a shop with a hydraulic press. They may break it, but you could also. That is what I would do anyway.

 

[CATMAN]

bucmeister has it, I believe. I also noticed that internal snap-ring that would hold that PTO shaft into the gearbox pinion assembly in the event that a shear pin broke. I bet if you remove it(internal snap-ring), and then the yellow shaft comes off, you will probably find setscrews holding the "key" into the keyway, then that item should come off.

 

[JC-jetro]

Couple of questions.

Is the input shaft splined or smooth? Reason I ask is because of the shear bolt looking appearance of the setup.

If it is smooth, which I think it must be since you mentioned it will spin on the shaft fine, just won't come off, then I must ask if you have removed the spring steel keeper ring?

I have a Woods RM990 cutter with the smooth shaft/shear bolt setup and there is a retainer ring at the very end of the shaft to retain the yoke after the bolt shears, otherwise it would potentially come flying off with when the bolt shears because there would nothing left to hold it together. I did not see in your post where you mentioned removing it. If there is one there just push the yoke toward the gear end until you can get the ring worked out.

On Edit: Just read where you did state it was splined.

Bucmeister ... you're the man

I expected to see the a snap ring when I took the PTO off. I just could not see a break like a snap ring so then I though the lip is cast or welded in the hub. When you mentioned it I went outside and looked real close but still could not see an opening to get it out. Going back and forth I was able to get the ring out and it was concentric spring loaded ring..

Thanks a bunch it took me 15 minutes to get it loose, now the problem is I still have to completely remove the nut to install the new oil seal. upon further inspection I found that gear shaft is perfectly stuck to the round inner PTO shaft and have to use a hyd press to press the shaft out.

I have not had a chance to read every one's response but thanks everyone. This is what makes this forum great.

 

[JC-jetro]

I think I would break apart the u-joint, and either press shaft out of coupling, or support it from the coupling end (let gear & housing end hang) and pound it out from the hole where crowbar is. Put something underneath to cushion the fall when it breaks loose.

I took the snap ring on one side to take the U-joints but changed mind as I though it would be difficult to put in a hyd press the guys have at work. mounting would be hard. I still have to press the shaft out but this time it should be easier.

Thanks

JC

 

[JerryG]

The sleeve has a snap ring on the inside toward the gear box. I didn't think about it being a shear pin model.
Edit: looks like it took me to long to get a picture loaded.