What to do with a short PTO

1700E Dreamer · May 20, 2023

paulsharvey said:
Check out ASC, Agri Supply Company, they ship fast, the stuff is really well priced. Yeah it's about 1/3rd Chinese, 1/3rd indian, and 1/3rd Italian, but a PTO shaft isn't rocket science; even Italy can make one work.View attachment 799550

That’s funny

Tinhack · May 20, 2023

Even Amazon has them and will ship free if you have Amazon Prime. I ran across them the other day. I think they were under $100 except for the longest. It was about $110.

ismilelots · May 20, 2023

If it's only a few inches short, you can get a pto shaft extender at tractor supply or family farm and home. It just slides onto the tractor shaft and then you attach the equipment shaft

paulsharvey · May 20, 2023

So, it's funny, my first advice, bite the bullet and buy a new one; now my old shaft is about 3" too short on new tractor, and I don't want to drop $300 for the PTO shaft to run a $150 Flail mower. I'm pretty sure I'm going to order either the Vevor one, or just pick one up at Rural King.

dkmc · May 20, 2023

Yander said:
I agree TSC's prices are too high compared to our other farm supply store, Rural King. I like TSC but find myself buying less and less there due to price.

Remember the old Quality Farm & Fleet? Anyone remember those from your area?

Never any F&F or RC in upstate NY unfortunately

Mud2Money · May 20, 2023

I have a few of those series 6 shafts for my implements. Local dealer had a a few I purchased for $170. These ones are not welded. They have a huge pin to hold them into the yokes. The tube sections were like $23 a piece online. Punch pins, install new tubes , cut to proper length and save half your hard earned money !

OzarkChris · May 20, 2023

TsY7 said:
Thank you for the replies. So the best solution is to start with a new PTO attachment?

I've read about things like PTO link, ideally I would like to use what was left here and question why the owner left this PTO if it wasn't for the mower. If I get something like the PTO Link I guess there's no guarantee it will solve the problem?

Would a new PTO shaft be less expensive than finding some sort of way to extend it. I see that the PTO Link is a few hundred dollars.

A lot of co-ops, supply houses, tractor supply places have the pto drive tubes. If you find a local one (not tsc, etc), they will usually replace the old tube for you (for a nominal fee). If you don't have the right tools, the removal of the u-joint from the tube can be a real pain.

If I were in that situation without tubes & tools, I'd take in the tractor side tube - easier than removing from implement side - (connector, ujoint, etc) to a place like this and let them replace it for you - make sure to get good measurements so you get a good fit for your application!

tjandrews · May 20, 2023

Mud2Money said:
I have a few of those series 6 shafts for my implements. Local dealer had a a few I purchased for $170. These ones are not welded. They have a huge pin to hold them into the yokes. The tube sections were like $23 a piece online. Punch pins, install new tubes , cut to proper length and save half your hard earned money !

I once made the mistake of trying to set up a tiller to be used on two different tractors. One needed the PTO to be about 2 inches shorter than the other. It worked OK - for a while. But eventually, while using the tiller on the tractor that should have had the longer shaft, the tube split wide open where the pieces slide together. It never slid apart, which is what I was watching for, just split because there was too little of the two parts driving each other.

I fixed it using Mud2money's method. Bought the tube on Amazon as I recall, but it's been long enough that I'm not sure of that now. I can only use the tiller on one of my tractors, but that turns out to be a small price to pay.

hunt4570 · May 20, 2023

paulsharvey said:
So, it's funny, my first advice, bite the bullet and buy a new one; now my old shaft is about 3" too short on new tractor, and I don't want to drop $300 for the PTO shaft to run a $150 Flail mower. I'm pretty sure I'm going to order either the Vevor one, or just pick one up at Rural King.

Vevor is pretty good, I've just bought 2 pto shafts from them, the price direct from Vevor was cheaper than at amazon, AND free shipping

pcustoms · May 20, 2023

Mud2Money said:
The tube sections were like $23 a piece online. Punch pins, install new tubes , cut to proper length and save half your hard earned money !

Where did you find them so cheap? Best I could do was around $50, but shipping was almost the same.

tjandrews said:
I once made the mistake of trying to set up a tiller to be used on two different tractors. One needed the PTO to be about 2 inches shorter than the other. It worked OK - for a while. But eventually, while using the tiller on the tractor that should have had the longer shaft, the tube split wide open where the pieces slide together. It never slid apart, which is what I was watching for, just split because there was too little of the two parts driving each other.

I fixed it using Mud2money's method. Bought the tube on Amazon as I recall, but it's been long enough that I'm not sure of that now. I can only use the tiller on one of my tractors, but that turns out to be a small price to pay.

Used stump grinder, the overlap on the tubes was "enough" until I used it on a slope and almost slid them apart. Pushed everything together and then this happened about 5 minutes later

Best I could find was $84 for a series 5 replacement tube shipped, farmer bobs via Amazon. Today's project is to put it back together, not sure how the mangled guard is going to work out.

Roy Robinson · May 20, 2023

I had a similar issue with the shaft on my rototiller. I was able to resolve the issue by using a PTO Extender. So long as the length of the shaft does not need to be extended by more than 2 to 3 inches this provides a very economical solution. The Agristore sell them for $29.99 (SKU: 00070).

paulsharvey · May 20, 2023

Would you use a slip clutch on a belt driven 54" flail mower? I never did in the past, with a high HP tractor. I always figured the belt was free to slip, and the flail hammers could always swing up, out if the way, if I hit a stump. But, if I'm getting a new shaft, I can add one for nor much more $.

paulsharvey · May 20, 2023

Roy Robinson said:
I had a similar issue with the shaft on my rototiller. I was able to resolve the issue by using a PTO Extender. So long as the length of the shaft does not need to be extended by more than 2 to 3 inches this provides a very economical solution. The Agristore sell them for $29.99 (SKU: 00070).

Did you put the extender on the tractor end or tiller end? I read with some, there was a bit of slop, and caused more vibration. Would moving the vibration towards the impliment be better?

Beeenvenue · May 20, 2023

51A100 PTO Over Running Clutch Coupler Fits Massey Ferguson Fits John Deere Oliver https://a.co/d/3eZnhEX

Adds about 4” and allows you to make the connection further back from the tractor. (Not going to comment on safety aspects of having this unguarded rotating item, each need to evaluate that on their own)

JBF43 · May 20, 2023

pcustoms said:
Where did you find them so cheap? Best I could do was around $50, but shipping was almost the same.

Used stump grinder, the overlap on the tubes was "enough" until I used it on a slope and almost slid them apart. Pushed everything together and then this happened about 5 minutes later

View attachment 801378

Best I could find was $84 for a series 5 replacement tube shipped, farmer bobs via Amazon. Today's project is to put it back together, not sure how the mangled guard is going to work out.

WOW does that look familiar. The same thing happened to mine and my stump grinder is that exact same green color.

pcustoms · May 20, 2023

JBF43 said:
WOW does that look familiar. The same thing happened to mine and my stump grinder is that exact same green color.

Kind of makes you wonder....

I also noted that the manual recommends re-adjusting the slip clutch if the grinder has been unused, as the "tube" may be damaged and it will not be covered under warranty.

Seems like maybe too light of a PTO? Looking at what was left, seems like I had plenty of engagement.

Stuck trying to get the new tube into the yoke. How'd you fix yours?

JBF43 · May 20, 2023

pcustoms said:
Kind of makes you wonder....

I also noted that the manual recommends re-adjusting the slip clutch if the grinder has been unused, as the "tube" may be damaged and it will not be covered under warranty.

Seems like maybe too light of a PTO? Looking at what was left, seems like I had plenty of engagement.

Stuck trying to get the new tube into the yoke. How'd you fix yours?

If I remember right, (as it was some time ago now,) I bought a new half shaft at TSC for the split half and trimmed it to proper length. Then, as in any time I trim them, file the inside of the outer shaft to remove the burr that cutting leaves in there. Experience teaches you that the two halves won't go back together with that tiny little burr in the outer half. RTHen for more peace of mind, I used the 6" extension on the tractor end for added double shaft length. My shaft did come apart when it was extended and split. There's an experience you don't soon forget.

angustrees · May 20, 2023

I recently bought one for 15KW Winco generator unit I mounted on a reinforced pallet to be used on 3 pt. forks behind my Kubota L3400. Drive shaft needs to be adapted to Hp of drive engine and according to standards of overall length to allow safe flexibility. I purchased my forks & pto through Rural King.

Kasamoto · May 20, 2023

TsY7 said:
New property came with a Kubota LX and a few attachments that have the PTO shaft already connected.

Unfortunately the mower attachment did not. It's a Woods Heritage RD72. I found a PTO shaft elsewhere on the property that is too short. Any suggestions from people who know a lot more than I do?

If you can find one half that is longer you may end up with one that is long enough and much cheaper. You only need enough length to ensure it stays together when fully extended, but if that is the position in which power is applied make sure there are several inches of overlap. Put one half on the implement and measure from the pto to the end of that shaft, add several inches, and get the other half that length. Will work fine.