To Cut or Not To Cut (PTO Shaft)

[LFEngineering]

Background:
I have a Kubota B1700 with no PTO attachments.
I'm currently building a rear PTO snowblower.
I got a sweet deal ($60.00) on a new Series 4 PTO shaft with slip clutch. (See picture)
Because I'm building the snowblower I can choose the distance between tractor output shaft & snowblower input shaft. If I leave the shaft at it's stock length, the auger will be 5ft from tractor PTO which seems a bit far.
At first thought I don't really want to cut the shaft because I feel like it might be useful for future implements; brush hog, chipper, etc.
While I'm very mechanically included I don't have much experience with PTO driven items so educate me.


A.) Is a PTO shaft with a Collapsed length: 34.5" and Extended length: 44" even going to be useful for other implements?
B.) It was $60.00, do I just cut it to fit and make the blower as close as possible giving me more maneuverability and storage options
C.) Is there a happy medium, some kind of xx.xx length fits most implements? I just don't want to cut 4 inches off only to find out it's an inch short.

Thoughts?

 

[Texasmark]

Sometimes a new PTO will have available information on minimum engagement length. Obviously a lot has to do with something like say a "drag" type vs "3pt" rotary mower....if the drag type large angles are encountered that could be detrimental to a short engaged shaft causing unnecessary vibrations. If on a 3 pt where the angle is small and only amounts to vertical differences rather than large vertical and horizontal it wouldn't make much difference.

On being too long, your first clue is that you can't hook up the shaft with the power off and implement sitting on the ground....you have to disengage the implement, install the shaft then reconnect the implement. Second, is allowing space for motion of the implement plus some cushion.

I have no problem with 50% engagement regardless of the application. Less than that and it needs some thought as to just what you are attempting to drive and how. My 2c BTDT

 

[LFEngineering]

The min engagement is 6" That will be maintained regardless of whether I cut it or not.

 

[Shaneard]

I vote cut it and keep the blower close. Be sure and take the same amount off both ends :thumbsup:

 

[CobyRupert]

IMHO :2cents:
I agree with above. Put the blower at a distance that works best for the blower (based on lift, or maneuverability, etc...). I wouldn't determine this distance based on the length of PTO shaft you happen to have. Cut the PTO shaft as required. If it ends up devoted to the blower...so be it.
Would a 44" (with slip clutch) even be long enough for a mower?

FYI: Most modern PTO shafts can only be put back together (one tube inside the other) that insures correct "PTO shaft phasing". If the tubes don't have this "interlock", then attention has to be paid when putting it back together.

 

[skipmarcy]

All of my PTO driven implements have their own shafts that stay with the implement at all times - have never interchanged them. Have replaced a couple of them over the years and always had to custom cut them for the implement to work on MY tractor - may or may not work on someone else's but would probably fit many others. As in carpentry - measure twice (or more !!), cut once.

 

[Cougsfan]

i agree with Skip, it is usually more trouble to change shafts between implements than it is worth, and they are usually the wrong length anyhow. Set the snow blower where it belongs and move on.

 

[Dave M7040]

The aspect to never overlook are the angles the pto joints will be working at under load.

The life expectancy based upon joint angle varies from 450 hours at 5 degrees to only 20 hours at 25 degrees.

When buying or making a blower, consider the height of the tractor's pto above the ground and the middle of the fan where the pto will connect to the blower.

The further a blower is from the rear of the tractor the better will be the pto joint angle.

Dave M7040

 

[WranglerX]

The further out snow blower is from tractor makes whole rig longer and more awkward to try to maneuver .... Personally I would close couple (cut the shaft) to have blower positioned correctly...

Usually each implement (at least the many I have seen) that uses a PTO shaft comes with its own shaft so if you cut it just becomes dedicated to that implement...

Dale

 

[LFEngineering]

Just mocked it up last night. Looks like cutting will be the way to go.