Bent PTO shaft

MikePA · Apr 3, 2002

You might want to mention to the dealer that if he's using a tilt bed to deliver tractors with 3ph implements, they should disconnect the driveshaft, or at least be aware of the potential problems. My TC25D was delivered on a tandem axle trailer where the angle wasn't as severe.

Anonymous Poster · Apr 3, 2002

...they should disconnect the driveshaft...

Uhhhhh....Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Mike, you brought us back to peg 1..../w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

The dealer would have absolutely no reason to hook up the PTO shaft for transporting on his trailer for delivery...

Now... was the PTO shaft connected at time of delivery or not...Brad dig some more pictures out...? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · Apr 3, 2002

Bird...

Are you following all this... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

This is evolving into a real tractor mystery novel.../w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Ok tractor detectives... solve this "tractor crime"... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

MikePA · Apr 3, 2002

The dealer would have absolutely no reason to hook up the PTO shaft for transporting on his trailer for delivery...

I agree...but I can see the following scenario..

Mechanic at the dealer sets the tractor up and makes sure all the attachments work, shortens the driveshaft, hooks it up to verify, etc.

Sales Manager asks if Brad's tractor is ready to be delivered.

Yep.

Delivery person is told "Load that tractor and deliver it to this address."

Delivery person hops on the tractor, drives up to the tilted bed, cutter scrapes the ground as he starts up the bed. Easy solution - grab the 3ph lift lever and pull it the whole way back. /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

Anonymous Poster · Apr 3, 2002

… I agree...but I can see the following scenario…

or…/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

The mechanic “slipped” the yoke on (never bolted it down), took his measurements (measure twice – cut once…), took it off… cut… and….

Never put it back on… because his cut was right the first time?…

Tossed{nicely} the PTO shaft assembly in the delivery pile and said “Driver… deliver this to it’s new home sweet home…” /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Anonymous Poster · Apr 3, 2002

… I agree...but I can see the following scenario…

…or ...or ...or...(applying the law of averages…?)

The mechanic slipped on the PTO shaft, tested and never had to measure or cut anything… found out it was absolutely perfect… as the manufacturer designed it that way… , then slide it back off and said, “Driver…. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif”

(Brad's photos hold the secret... but don't tell us just yet Brad... we're still having fun... /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif)

pennwalk · Apr 3, 2002

PTO shafts are built up of components. The shafts are either pressed into the yokes or welded. Either way they can be repaired. If you bent both halfs of the shaft repairing may be more expensive than replacing. Agri Supply (1-800-345-0169) sells Eurocardan Shafts. They are pretty reasonably priced as PTO shafts go. Even so PTO shafts are expensive.

Chris

BKColeman · Apr 3, 2002

No more pics yet, but you're certainly right. It was indeed hooked up when delivered.

And it had been cut, I asked him if it had (just curious because I was glad I didn't have to cut it myself /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif).

I do hope I've got some better pictures at home now that it has turned into a mystery...

BKColeman · Apr 3, 2002

I was wondering if one side could be replaced, instead of the whole thing. Only one half of the shaft was bent (the end going to the tractor, not the gearbox). I put my level beside the otherside and it was straight as an arrow.

I guess that gives further evidence that John's theory on how it got bent is correct. Now I'm just worried about how it will all get resolved.

BKColeman · Apr 3, 2002

Mike, another question for you, since you just bought the same cutter. Does your gearbox have this plastic bell shaped cover over the shaft as in this <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/46-127276-L3010.JPG>picture</A> of Frank Mulligan's new L3410 w/ the BB60?

I noticed my neighbor's looked like this but mine doesn't. Mine looks the same as the end that attaches to the tractor(ie the plastic shield looks the same on both ends of the shaft).

I'm just wondering if mine is an older model or if it is missing something.

--Brad

Bird · Apr 3, 2002

Yep, John, I've been following it./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif And I don't know./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif Brad says only one of the two parts is bent? Was it all assembled and hooked up when it got bent? I don't see how it could have been. Or was something dropped on that one piece while it was disassembled? Or transported disassembled and something heavy on top of it? Maybe we'll find out when the dealer looks at it./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

pennwalk · Apr 3, 2002

The plastic guard covers the slip clutch. Didn't you say that you had shear bolts? The slip clutch is usually an extra cost option.

Chris

looch · Apr 3, 2002

Maybe the shaft is too short, got retracted almost all the way, and got jammed when it was supposed to slide back togethe. Would the force from the 3ph be enough to bend the shaft?

Brad, did you ever hear a loud bang when raising the implement?

MikePA · Apr 3, 2002

Chris is right. The bell shaped object is a slip clutch, an option on the BB60.

BKColeman · Apr 3, 2002

Chris,
That would make sense, except my neighbor bought the exact same one the day after seeing mine and his looks just like that picture, and I know he has a shear bolt, as we discussed mine breaking.

--Brad

djradz · Apr 3, 2002

Brad, could the bolt have broke because of the bent shaft?

Also, the NH dealer had to replace the seal on my PTO shaft on my 40D because it too was leaking. Maybe this is somewhat of a common problem and totally unrelated to the bent shaft.

MDNick · Apr 3, 2002

My LandPride rotary cutter has that bell shaped plastic shroud. I do not have a slip clutch. I assumed it was there for shrapnel control when a shear bolt lets go. It worked poorly, the bolt went right through it. Never did find the nut end on the first one, or the head end on the second. It is in my future to remove it. Makes it a pain to get to the bolt, and what the heck, it ain't serving a useful purpose anyway. It's cracked in 2 places now, and the cutter probably doesn't have 10 hrs on it. I suppose they have it there to keep the weather off the slip clutch, and it is standard equipment, even if the slip clutch isn't.

As far as shipping with/without the shaft connected to the tractor, I would personally be upset if they shipped without making the connection. Depending on how easy the shaft slides, it can fall out if not connected, or just fall far enough that it would catch on the tractor under the axle, etc.. It flops around if not tied down. If I buy a new piece of equipment with a tractor, I'd just assume it would show up connected properly. And if it didn't, I'd want to know why, and have them do it before I accepted delivery. Just my view and $.02.

Nick

BKColeman · Apr 3, 2002

Duane,
I believe the bolt did break because of the bent shaft. It would break whenever I engaged the PTO. The first time I thought I might have had the RPMs too high. After several tries, I found the only way to prevent it from breaking was to start it with the cutter real high and slowly lower to the cutting height.

I don't know about the leak. May be nothing. I've got 3 rear remotes w/ top and tilt, and had to adjust the hoses around a bit. Maybe one of the fittings wasn't completely tight and dripped a few drops. I'm going to have the dealer look when he comes out though, I hope its not a seal.

Thanks for your input.

--Brad

BKColeman · Apr 3, 2002

Thanks for the picture Mike. Yep that's exactly what I'm referring to. It does sound like that should be for the slip clutch, but I would have assumed my neighbor would have known he paid extra to get the slip clutch. And then Nick says his Land Pride has that same piece w/ a shear bolt.

Oh well, I don't guess that is a big deal. I was just wondering about it.

--Brad