Mowing Cutter death trap

[Kodiak45]

Recent used purchase of a 10’ offset John Deere cutter at 1000pto. This thing scares me and I lean forward when running cause I think the pto shaft is going to explode. Is this normal from the video. Most of the noise is coming from the loose shield. I’ve ran plenty of implements with pto’s and never been worried. See picture of the hookup orientation at cutting height along with the video. I can spin the shaft by hand and no bearings feel loose or anything else alarming.
Not sure what I should expect, but I don’t like the fear of a yoke going through my head.
Any thoughts from experienced users of batwing cutters or anything close?
Should I be worried and if so what do I need to do in order to correct?

 

[Topzide]

Looks like the shaft is bent to me. The connection at tractor doesn't seem to spin well. JM2C.

 

[zzvyb6]

I can't tell from the dark photo at the tractor end, but first suspicion is that one of the PTO shafts is mis-phased. This are probably low angle shafts, so the yokes at each end of each shaft must be aligned as mirror images. Post some pictures of each shaft showing both ends.

 

[zzvyb6]

From the video, it's pretty obvious that the shaft connected to the tractor's pto has been assembled incorrectly. The Cardan yokes are 90 degrees off. Most shafts are designed to be put together properly phased, so I'd bet that some yahoo put a new yoke on one end without knowing the consequences.

 

[zzvyb6]

From the video, it's pretty obvious that the shaft connected to the tractor's pto has been assembled incorrectly. The Cardan yokes are 90 degrees off. Most shafts are designed to be put together properly phased, so I'd bet that some yahoo put a new yoke on one end without knowing the consequences.

Like so:

 

[BnRidge]

 

[Kodiak45]

Thank you. This is good news then. I also found that one of the yokes is now missing the cap and bearings, so that is part of the problem in combination of the misphasing. I’ll get yoke corrected this week assuming supply has the right parts in stock. I should be able to correct the alignment by just rotating the shaft since it is square. Thank you for your help.



View attachment IMG_1953.jpg
View attachment IMG_1955.jpg

 

[ruffdog]

Yeah.....get that thing fixed ASAP.

The phasing is wrong, the shaft may be bent, and at least one u-joint that is destroyed.

 

[Tx Jim]

I agree with zzvyb6 part of the pto vibration is due to the 2 opposing u-joints on the telescoping shafts are out of time/phase. I suggest to slide telescoping shafts apart then attempt to place opposing shafts in time/phase while sliding halves together

 

[Rustyiron]

While you're at it, there's a lot more driveline and gearboxes to inspect and lubricate that can be very expensive if neglected.