PTO shaft stuck on tractor

/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #1  

hr3

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Joined
Oct 18, 2008
Messages
1,185
Location
Mid. Coast Maine
Tractor
7610 hst
I have a b7610 Kubota ,, When I hooked up my Woods tiller this spring I forgot to spray the PTO coupler that has 3 balls in it.. Now the coupler is stuck on the tractor.. To remove you push a color forward while pulling on the u joint and shaft..
It won't move,, tried wiggling and spraying wd 40 all over it but it won't pull off.. Any Idea's ?????
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #2  
Are you sure you push the collar forward? On one I had I thought I rotated it a bit and pulled it back.

Search is your friend
Same yoke as my Rhino SE5 has. Turn the big ring clockwise, hold it, and pull the PTO shaft off the tractor.

To reinstall, slip the shaft onto the tractor shaft splines, it will go on about an inch, then twist the ring clockwise and push it further onto the shaft. You can now let go of the ring, and push it all the way onto the shaft. When the lock balls get to the retention notch in the tractor's PTO shaft, the ring will snap back to its normal position. Give the shaft a good push and pull forward and back to make sure it's secure, and you're good to go.

Easy as pie ;)
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #3  
Are you sure you push the collar forward? On one I had I thought I rotated it a bit and pulled it back.

Search is your friend

Every Woods implement I own (4 of them) requires the collar to be pulled back (no rotation required). I suggest hr3 try that.
If it's still stuck, use Fluid Film or a good penetrating oil.


BTW, never force a PTO drive shaft on the tractor's stub shaft. It should slip on fairly easily.
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Every Woods implement I own (4 of them) requires the collar to be pulled back (no rotation required). I suggest hr3 try that.
If it's still stuck, use Fluid Film or a good penetrating oil.


BTW, never force a PTO drive shaft on the tractor's stub shaft. It should slip on fairly easily.

I'll try pulling back on it and see what that does..
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #5  
I did the same thing with my bushhog once. The coupler will move both forward and back and I was pulling back on it, but on this one, you have to push forward. This makes it easy to hook up, but a be-atch to unhook. PUSHING forward while pulling back is a bit hard to do.

I do suspect that you are moving the coupling the wrong way.
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #6  
Yes like others have said , soak it let it sit. On mine the collar springs back with tension and slides back. You all just reminded me I have mine out back under cover in field and will go spray and grease it. :thumbsup:
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #7  
I've sometimes run into a situation where the splines are worn and the telescoping shaft needs to be rotated in the opposite direction to remove. The splines don't wear in the area of the groove where the balls seat on the pto shaft. That causes the telescoping shafts yoke to "hook" onto the pto shaft.

For those of you that have spring loaded yokes that are a pain to attach and remove I took mine apart and put a lighter spring inside. It made a huge difference in how hard the pto yoke was to attach and remove.
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor
  • Thread Starter
#8  
No worn splines.. and the color ring pushes forward to release the balls that hold it on.. I tried a lever to pry it off as I push the ring forward but it's a sob to do..

Any other suggestions ???
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #9  
I agree with several above. Most collar type releases need to be pulled back to release.

Spray it down with Fluid Film or similar and be patient.

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/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #10  
After you spray with a penetrant, let the mower run awhile. The vibration will help the penetrant do its work.
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #11  
Well by now I wouldn't be patient anymore as my thought's would be along the line of once this thing is off it's not going back on. I would take a zip cut wheel on an angle grinder and cut the collar off and what ever else is necessary to remove the yoke. New yokes for compact utility sized equipment are not that expensive.
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #12  
Well by now I wouldn't be patient anymore as my thought's would be along the line of once this thing is off it's not going back on. I would take a zip cut wheel on an angle grinder and cut the collar off and what ever else is necessary to remove the yoke. New yokes for compact utility sized equipment are not that expensive.

This seems to be an overly severe solution. If the OP could take some pictures of the tractor end of the PTO we might be able to identify the brand and give more information. Just a guessing game this far.

Agree with above suggestion to lube up the quick connect, engage the PTO for a minute or two. With PTO still engaged, shut off tractor, which will hold the tractor PTO shaft from rotating. Then, with both hands, pull back on the collar, and hopefully the coupling will come off.

With some good pictures, we could evaluate if the cover over the tractor end u-joint could be disconnected and slid back, exposing the u-joint. Separate the u-joint and the OP will have good access to surmise the problem.

Really early to start chopping on the PTO with a grinder?

I used to get really impatient dealing with issues on used equipment but, learned to step back, take a deep breath, and re-evaluate the situation. Not everything can be fixed with a 10# sledge hammer.

Still betting that the collar has to be pulled toward the implement to release.

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/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #13  
Another thing to try is heat.
Take a PROPANE torch (not MAPP) with a wide flame and heat it up a bit, not red hot but just so you can get stuff moving.
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #14  
I'm thinking as a mechanic that bills his time out. If I spend more than an hour working on this yoke to take it off it's cheaper for my customer to have me install a new one. Granted it might be something simple but once the yoke is off do you really want to take the chance of it sticking again. If you use heat be careful of the seal on the pto shaft going into the tractor.
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #15  
I'm thinking as a mechanic that bills his time out. If I spend more than an hour working on this yoke to take it off it's cheaper for my customer to have me install a new one. <snip>
The guy that "fixed" my u-joint on my dually thought the same way. Instead of soaking it overnight and trying to pound it off he just cut it off, said it would be cheaper than an hour's labor. Then found out that he couldn't get a replacement and it took 2 weeks for the dip to get in a new driveshaft and cost over a $1,000.

Make sure you have a replacement part in hand before you destroy the original part.











'
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #16  
Ok Newbury fair enough and a good point.

Just remember though there is a huge difference between a proprietary driveshaft yoke and a common 540 pto one in terms of price and availability. Unless I've missed something we're talking about a tractor pto not a truck driveshaft.

Don't forget that the original part is already being rather uncooperative and in my mind it's garbage or very close to it. I can understand your frustration with your "dip" but lets say I can get it off for a customer and I manage to salvage the yoke. Two weeks later the same issue comes up again and I'm supposed to "fix" it again only this time under warranty. I've been there and believe me by that time nobody is happy.

It'll be interesting to find out what the actual reason is for the yoke being stuck. I think it'll be one of three reasons. The splines are worn and have a "hook" in them and I've run into this quite often. The balls are rusty or full of junk. Or the slip part of the pto shaft isn't slipping.
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #17  
Just a suggestion.

Unhook the tiller, and pull forward to seperate the shaft.

That way you have more room to wiggle, and swing a dead blow hammer.

It will come off.

I'm in the camp with the pull BACK on the collar. I have several Woods impliments and they have always been pull collars.
Yes, they can be a PITA now and then. Use the dead blow on the shaft to tap it forward, and break loose any rust.
Just get all pittbull on the thing, and cuss more.
Dirt gets to flying and sticks to grease in the wrong places and binds things up. Usually about the time the Skeeters show up to take advantage of your distraction.

Good luck!!
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor
  • Thread Starter
#18  
Thanks all I got it finely Dingeryote convinced me when he said he had several Woods implements in his stable,, It was a pull back,, I was pushing on the plastic ring that hold the return spring..

Again thanks too all,, :)
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #19  
Glad to see you finally decided to go a different direction with the collar. Maybe you should take a paint marker and write PULL BACK TO RELEASE on the drive shaft.
 
/ PTO shaft stuck on tractor #20  
I think with this episode behind him, he'll remember without printing a sign on the shaft.
 
 
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