PTO connect battle

[TractorGuy]

I have just been through the worst battle trying to connect a PTO shaft ever. Part of the problem is my little JD855 locks the output PTO shaft when the the PTO is turned off. That shaft cannot be turned by hand under any circumstances. Connecting my finish mower is usually somewhere between a cinch to very limited frustration getting the shaft connected. Hooking up the mower with the quick hitch is a breeze. I am usually hooking up the finish mower and everything is still where it got turned off at the last use. The other day I used my brush mower and when I tried to reconnect the finish mower it wasn't having it.

I took a hint from the dime in the glove tip I saw in another thread but I decided to weld a flat washer to the button on my yoke instead. This made the button MUCH easier to push and may have weakened the spring a little.

It still would not hint at engaging the splines so I used a saw chain sharpening stone on my dremel and went over all the male spline edges and beveled them slightly. I had previously cleaned, filed and felt everything and didn't see any burrs or anything but after cleaning it all up with the stone the shaft slid on like it was supposed to.

 

[npalen]

Good thinking!

 

[Fuddy1952]

Lube it also.

 

[claitner]

Lube it also.

Yes! I spray WD40 on both male and female to lube AND to wash off the dust. Today I still could not get it to slip forward - GRRR - so t pulled it back, lubed it again and made sure the locking balls moved freely with the collar pulled back and then was successful.

Is there a clever way to push the drive shaft coupling forward besides just holding ackwardly in my two hands and weakly pushing?

 

[bcp]

Not sure how you are doing it, but I ignore the lock until the yoke slides on the 1/2 inch or so until the lock hits. Then operate the lock and push the yoke all the way on. Holding the lock "open" while trying to align the splines is too awkward.

Bruce

 

[rustyshakelford]

If you turn the tractor off can you spin the shaft? That’s what I have to do with mine.

Brett

 

[npalen]

Something that helps me when hooking to my rototiller is to connect the PTO before the 3PH. Leaving the tractor just a few inches ahead leaves more room to access the PTO and makes connection easier. This is assuming there is enough extra length on the PTO shaft
Having said that, there may be a safety issue of which I'm unaware.

 

[TractorGuy]

If you turn the tractor off can you spin the shaft? That’s what I have to do with mine.

Brett

Not so on the 855.

 

[TractorGuy]

Something that helps me when hooking to my rototiller is to connect the PTO before the 3PH. Leaving the tractor just a few inches ahead leaves more room to access the PTO and makes connection easier. This is assuming there is enough extra length on the PTO shaft
Having said that, there may be a safety issue of which I'm unaware.

That is how I connected the shaft this time after working on the splines. Quick hitch makes connecting the 3 pt a breeze but gets in the way of connecting the shaft.

I usually try to engage the splines before pressing the lock. Hard to rotate the shaft from the mower end. It would help a great deal if you could get the PTO shaft to free wheel on this tractor.

 

[TractorGuy]

Lube it also.

All my shafts and splines are sprayed with dry moly lube. Keeps them lubed while not collecting dirt.

 

[Dwellonroof]

I’m thinking when I had my 755 you could put the lever in the mow pto position and then the rear pto could spin freely???

 

[jeff9366]

Make sure friction between the two sections of plastic tubing comprising shaft guard is not a source of difficulty. I spray tubing with Dry Lube where they (should) slip easily, one over the other.

 

[oosik]

I can count on one hand the times hooking up my big 'ol Wally chipper was a pleasure. The PTO shaft is heavy - the location is cramped and awkward - you get one end on and snapped in and, for sure, something somewhere is going to have to rotate to align the splines on the other end. And the entire U-joint operation on both ends is covered in sticky black grease. And about that time - I'm nearing the end of my rope - on patience.

I will say - not worrying about the "button lock" until the U-joint assembly bottoms on it does help get the shaft on. Once it bottoms on the button - push the button and slide her on the remainder of the way. Easy to say - - at times, a REAL pita.

At times a single blade of green grass has prevented one or the other of the U-joint assemblies from sliding home.

 

[npalen]

A true farmer just slips the PTO on and goes to work. That was just said with tongue in cheek but it is how some will disparage remarks about difficulty in hooking up the PTO.
They can be a pain in the butt, literally. (Talking about the PTO not the "disparagers")

 

[k0ua]

Not really a disparager, BUT. did you park the mower up on wood so that you could spin Shaft without the blades hitting the dirt? If the stub shaft on the tractor wont spin then the shaft on the mower MUST be able to spin. Take a long screwdriver thru the cross if you need to to be able to turn the shaft. Also suspend the heavy shaft with a bungie cord to the A frame so that the weight is not constantly wearing on you as you fiddle with getting the splines lined up.

Like you did the splines must be clean, burr free and lubed and should have a bevel on then to facilitate alignment. I used to struggle with PTO hookup, but after taking some of my own advice and doing it several times, I don't struggle any more.

What you should do after getting it hooked up is take it off and spin the shaft with that screwdriver and hook it up again. Practice makes hard difficult grueling jobs easier, to the point that they no longer are hard, difficult grueling jobs.

The difference between a disparager and a complainer is the disparager has gotten good at an onerous difficult task, and the complainer has not.

I know, I know, once you get it hooked up the last thing you want to do is practice hooking up, but if you will actually do it several times, you WILL get better at doing it. This practicing works for many things, PTO shafts, and women too!

 

[Fuddy1952]

I have a lot of 6x6 treated scrap blocks and pallets so when I'm finished with anything I put it on blocks. It's easy with bush hog on blocks to turn pto, and I clean/lube before connecting, keep the pto cover on my JD when not using it.

 

[aczlan]

I’m thinking when I had my 755 you could put the lever in the mow pto position and then the rear pto could spin freely???

I was going to say that. That is what I would try next. I would also try lubricating both sides of the connection with chain lube.

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

I can't even imagine how the regular Joe, Deals with his PTO. Not one of my machines has the guards or plastic stuff. I just don't ever go near a running PTO shaft or even near a stopped one on a running tractor. And life is so much easier.

 

[aczlan]

I can't even imagine how the regular Joe, Deals with his PTO. Not one of my machines has the guards or plastic stuff.

I leave them on unless they are in the way or cause it to be less safe. If they break, I might fix them.

I just don't ever go near a running PTO shaft or even near a stopped one on a running tractor. And life is so much easier.

Same here. A starter and a battery are cheaper than a trip to the hospital.

Aaron Z

 

[powerscol]

Not so on the 855.

Is the lock electric. Have you tried putting the key in the on position without starting?