Rotary Cutter Bent PTO shaft

[JSanders10]

On my 6' bushhog rotary cutter, I must have raised the cutter to high with the 3pt lift slightly bending the PTO shaft... it just won't slide off like it should.

I assume this because I can't get the tractor end of the PTO shaft removed from the PTO spline (has the quick disconnect push pin).
The hammering area is a bit limited, but I know I can keep at it and finally get it off.

Other ideas to back the PTO shaft off the tractor PTO?

After that, should I just remove the safety casing and try to un-bend the shaft, with additional hammering?

 

[countrybumpkin]

Unhook the cutter from the three point arms and then have someone try to inch the tractor forward while keeping the button pushed , or if your on flat ground and tractor is light enough you could try pushing it forward if you don't have a helper. You sure it's the shaft that is stuck and not the splines on the coupler, then try the above method. Only other option is if you can unbolt the pto from the gear box or slip clutch unit on the cutter.

 

[JSanders10]

Countrybumpkin, thanks.

Tell me about this "oboe" method?

All the rest I understand. I can wait til a friend is around to help with the "drive the tractor forward" method. That should certainly work.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Suppose to have said ABOVE method. Not really sure how it got those letters.

 

[Andy4600]

Unhook the cutter from the three point arms and then have someone try to inch the tractor forward while keeping the button pushed , or if your on flat ground and tractor is light enough you could try pushing it forward if you don't have a helper. You sure it's the shaft that is stuck and not the splines on the coupler, then try the oboe method. Only other option is if you can unbolt the pto from the gear box or slip clutch unit on the cutter.

Holding on to any portion of a PTO shaft or PTO output while the tractor is running is a good way to get yourself 6 feet under. If you can roll the tractor with the tractor off, that would work. Or perhaps hook the tractor up to a truck and try to pull it a little. But, don't touch the PTO with the tractor running.

 

[JSanders10]

Andy, understood.
I can have a friend roll the tractor forward with the tractor off and releasing the brake.

Thanks.

 

[smstonypoint]

After that, should I just remove the safety casing and try to un-bend the shaft, with additional hammering?

I'm skeptical about "un-bending" the shaft -- you may introduce a "wobble" that will damage a seal in the gearbox and/or PTO.

Steve

 

[2458n]

You are going to find out soon why they sell PTO shafts by themselves. You are not alone, having bent one.

 

[CowboyRon]

On my 6' bushhog rotary cutter, I must have raised the cutter to high with the 3pt lift slightly bending the PTO shaft... it just won't slide off like it should.

I assume this because I can't get the tractor end of the PTO shaft removed from the PTO spline (has the quick disconnect push pin).
The hammering area is a bit limited, but I know I can keep at it and finally get it off.

Other ideas to back the PTO shaft off the tractor PTO?

After that, should I just remove the safety casing and try to un-bend the shaft, with additional hammering?

What brand cutter do you have? I just bought the rear half of the shaft for a land pride for $80.

 

[HCJtractor]

Sounds like more of a problem in the connection to PTO. So the two part shaft will separate? When I bent the telescopic shaft and couldn't separate the two parts, I used a ratchet strap to exert the force. That was safe and controllable.