Attaching pto implements

[bigtiller]

The collars that you have to pull back to slide on are difficult with arthritic thumbs so I made a lever to help out. It is a 1x4x20" pine board with a 2½" hole in one end. Works great going on and off.

 

[Runner]

This is probably super-obvious and I'm sure you've tried it already, but for me, I can only make the connection to the PTO when I am standing on the left side of the machine, holding the drive shaft with my right hand and operating the collar/button with my left hand. If the splines aren't lining up, I shift the PTO control (which is on the left side of my tractor) to the mid PTO position, which allows the rear PTO shaft to spin freely. Then, I can rotate the PTO stub with my left hand while pushing the drive shaft on with the right.

I guess this is because I'm right-handed, maybe I have more strength in my right arm to hold up the drive shaft, or whatever. If it is extremely hard to do from one side, you might try experimenting with doing it from the other side.

Another thing that can be helpful is to have a bungee cord stretched across the A-frame of the implement under the drive shaft so it takes some of the weight of the driveshaft while you are aligning the splines.

 

[WinterDeere]

Don't most tractors have a lever to take rear pto out of service ( eg change from rear pto to mid pto) my Kubota I just put lever out of rear pto position and then I can spin it by hand to line up with driveshaft spline and click in driveshaft, then board the tractor and put lever into rear pto position....away we go, until I realized this implements like rototiller or brushhog were a bear !

I'm going to have to try this. I was going to say "turn off the tractor", as the PTO's on at least some of my tractors have been stiff when the tractor is running, but go into neutral once the tractor is shut off.

Of course, turning the tractor off is probably never a bad idea when working between a rear tire and an implement.

 

[chim]

Many years ago I saw a picture of what happened when a guy got wrapped up in a lathe. I've seen a lot but that was the most awful thing I can remember. It isn't impossible to have a similar accident with a PTO. People have done it. Seeing that picture convinced me to never be around a PTO with the tractor running - whether the PTO is engaged or not.

 

[Farmer495]

With engine off you should be able to turn the tractor shaft 1/4 turn.

Keep tractor end greased and same with implement end.

I wear gloves when hitching so hands stay greaseless.

I have everything from light 3pt implement shafts that can be turned by hand to heavy and long CV Shafts that required two hands to manage.

 

[bdhsfz6]

My PTO shaft will not turn by hand unless the engine is off and the PTO disengaged.
I keep the stub lightly greased and use a spline cap to keep it clean when not in use.

 

[neilpaku]

Consult the operator's manual - it will give instructions. For all the tractors I've ever operated with PTOs (just about everything that JD sells plus a few other brands), the manual states to turn the tractor engine off. The main reason is safety but it also (typically) releases any braking or locking mechanism on the tractor's PTO shaft. If your tractor does not behave this way, then still turn the tractor engine off, but get a long screwdriver, put it through the implement universal joint, and use that for leverage to turn the implement shaft. You might have to have the implement a couple of inches off the ground if it's something like a tilller.

 

[dstriplett]

I saw a trick on "Ask Tractor Mike" about using a paint pin to mark the splines on your implement so it's easier to line up. Holding your mouth right is the solution I generally use.

 

[tjandrews]

It was mentioned before on a few posts before this one. Does your tractor not free spin when the pto isn't engaged?

Depends on the tractor. We have three, a John Deere, an IH, and an old 1952 Case.
On the JD, the tractor PTO can be moved if the engine is off.
On the IH, the tractor PTO can be moved if disengaged, regardless of engine status.

The old Case is the most dangerous. That PTO "coasts" with no implement attached if the engine is running, PTO clutch engaged or not. You MUST shut the engine off to attach the PTO. With the engine off, the tractor PTO will turn by hand rather easily.
And no, the clutch is not adjusted too tight. It's set to the service manual spec. If it's loosened to the point where it doesn't "coast" it just slips when engaged. It's dangerous, as I said. To compound the danger, you mount that tractor from the rear, not the side. But, all it takes is a little attention from the operator to avoid the hazard.

 

[nacl9163]

I have a bush hog with a midsized Kubota L3400. I have the bush hog on dollies so it rolls easily into position at just about the right height. I suspend the PTO from above (attached to the tractor) with an appropriately sized bungee cord. This way the bungee carries almost all the weight of the PTO shaft, and the shaft can be adjusted a few inches in any direction with minimum effort. Turning and pulling on the collar is then very easy.