X585 mid pto shaft problem

YMX585Jeff · Mar 21, 2014

Hi All,

I'm new here and hoping to find some help with a problem. When I last went to remove my mower deck, the quick connect coupling would not come off the shaft. I wound up having to leave it on and remove the set screw and slide out square shaft from the quick connect end. A couple ball bearings fell from the quick connect.

Any tips on getting this off?
If it comes off can it be repaired or will a replacement need to be purchased?

Yellowfever440 · Mar 21, 2014

I think they did used to make a repair kit for the quick couple on the small drive shaft. If you keep putting kroil penetrating oil, wd 40 or pb blaster on it or some sort of penetrating oil on it, it should come loose with a little bit of tapping with a hammer. There should be 3 ball bearing balls that come out of that coupler.

YMX585Jeff · Mar 21, 2014

I'm not sure if one or two fell out when trying to disconnect it.
Had it since 2004 and never had this problem. The collar does slide back, but it won't come free from the pto shaft. It's a good month and a 1/2 before I put the deck or tiller on. They can both be put on with the coupler the way it is, but it will be harder. Really don't want to take it into the local shop.

Dutch445 · Mar 21, 2014

Welcome to TBN!
Are you sure it isn't still frozen? seems like winter does not want to let go around these parts!

anyway here is the parts picture, it shows a repair kit for that coupler. you may just have to
cut that collar off to make sure you can get the drive shaft off the pto without harming
the mid pto shaft or the housing around it.. there have been a few threads about similar
problems, and they usually don't end up well for the parts involved!

this only shows 1 ball in the coupler, it's probably 3/8" or so. do you see anything
damaged in the coupler? the repair kit is about 65$.

YMX585Jeff · Mar 21, 2014

Seems like the bearing was smaller, I did save it. Will check later

I fear I may have to cut off the collar and not damage the pto shaft then purchase a new female quick connect. I almost bought one when the tiller was purchased, but decided to use just the one coupler.

Thanks, for the welcome!
Yeah, winter is slow letting go this year. Remember the hot spring of 2012? What a difference!

david76 · Mar 22, 2014

I had this happen with my tractor for several years before I gave up and bought the rebuild kit. There is a snap ring that holds the collar on. It is nbr 7 in the diagram supplied by Dutch445. We did what you did with the set screw to get the mower deck out of the way. Then we backed the tractor up on some car ramps to get better clearance. My brother was able to move the collar back enough using strength and some prying with a screwdriver. It wouldn't release the pto shaft to slide off, but he could get to the snap ring with a small flathead screw driver and pop it out. At that point, the end fell apart and easily came off. We reassembled everything and it appeared to work fine and was able to reinstall and use again next spring. The following fall I had the same problem. I then used bought the rebuild kit. Hope this helps.

Yellowfever440 · Mar 22, 2014

I am pretty positive there are 3 balls in there. Look at the parts quantity. It only shows one in parts but the parts probably shows 3. Until you get those other balls out of the groove it probably won't release. You could do the same as the other gentleman and pry the seal ring off or you may be able to rotate the shaft with the tractor off and get the balls to fall with gravity. The balls rattle are and they shrink with age from all the vibrations. All the steel builds rust and the balls can fall out into the collar and bind it up