Maine_Polack
Gold Member
\"00\" Driveshaft questions
In the interest of learning something, I took off the driveshaft protective metal covering. I was going to change the oil, and thought that I would see what was there. I took off the back half also, in order to make some access for the grease fitting that lives there. I cut out some metal on both sides of the cover, so as to be able to reach the grease fitting. I used the strips I cut out to stiffen up around the openings I created.
Concerning the driveshaft, what I saw was a center shaft piece, that is 5’ – 6’ long. This goes through a supportive (?) bearing in the center. I am assuming that this does not get lubed, as I couldn’t see any way to do that.
This center piece, both at the front and the back of the tractor, enter a splined coupling, just inches from the machine. Coming out the other end of the coupling, are short pieces of shaft that do enter the machine. Both front and back appear to be identical, except that the front has – I think – (it was getting dark), a roll pin through coupling and shaft, while the rear had a set screw on one side of the coupling , and on the opposite side had a grease fitting.
Question No. 1 Should the front coupling have a grease fitting?
Question No. 2 Since the ends of the shafts going into the coupling are both splined, both shafts and the coupling would seem to have to turn as one. (Not shafts turning inside of coupling). So…what purpose does this grease fitting serve?
In the interest of learning something, I took off the driveshaft protective metal covering. I was going to change the oil, and thought that I would see what was there. I took off the back half also, in order to make some access for the grease fitting that lives there. I cut out some metal on both sides of the cover, so as to be able to reach the grease fitting. I used the strips I cut out to stiffen up around the openings I created.
Concerning the driveshaft, what I saw was a center shaft piece, that is 5’ – 6’ long. This goes through a supportive (?) bearing in the center. I am assuming that this does not get lubed, as I couldn’t see any way to do that.
This center piece, both at the front and the back of the tractor, enter a splined coupling, just inches from the machine. Coming out the other end of the coupling, are short pieces of shaft that do enter the machine. Both front and back appear to be identical, except that the front has – I think – (it was getting dark), a roll pin through coupling and shaft, while the rear had a set screw on one side of the coupling , and on the opposite side had a grease fitting.
Question No. 1 Should the front coupling have a grease fitting?
Question No. 2 Since the ends of the shafts going into the coupling are both splined, both shafts and the coupling would seem to have to turn as one. (Not shafts turning inside of coupling). So…what purpose does this grease fitting serve?