Best Brand of PTO Shield?

[Suburban Plowboy]

I ordered a Pat's Easy Change kit for my Kubota L3710 because the 3-point hitch was a frigging nightmare. I am trying to install it. I managed to get my bush hog loose from the top link and the lower arms, but the PTO shaft shield is not cooperating. It's a long tube with two yellow collars on the ends. There are two smaller black collars that attach to the big yellow collars, and inside the black collars, there appear to be huge snap rings I do not have the tools to open.

I am all over the web, Googling for ways to remove the shield. It has chains as well as the rings, and I can't figure out what they do.

I hate this thing, and it's going to the dump if I ever get it off. What's the best brand of PTO shield to buy as a replacement? I want to actually be able to use different attachments instead of using the one the tractor came with for the rest of my life, so I need to be able to disconnect them and reconnect them without an act of Congress.

 

[TomIre]

The shield stays with the PTO shaft when you disconnect the shaft from the tractor and/or implement. There are three different ways, afaik, that the PTO shaft can connect. Go to YouTube and search for Ask Tractor Mike. He's got some videos that will help you

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Thanks for the reply. This thing really pushed my buttons.

I found the answer. The shield is a Eurocardan. There is no intelligent way to remove the ring. You're supposed to pry it off any way you can, so I used a screwdriver. Really stupid design.

I got the Easy Change kit installed. Now my PTO shaft will have to reach 4" farther than it did before I installed the kit. Can I assume I'm going to have to buy a new shaft? I know nearly nothing about PTO shafts. I don't know if their lengths are fixed or they telescope a little or what.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

It's my lucky day. I found a PTO extender on Amazon. About $35.

 

[Alan W.]

Why would you be trying to disassemble the driveshaft? If you still have at least 6 inches of overlap after installing Pats easy change there is no need for a pto extension.

 

[TomIre]

Yes, all PTO shafts telescope. Yours might be "stuck". I have the same PTO shield as you and love it. You're not supposed to take the shield off often if at all. The PTO detaches from both the tractor and the implement with the shield in place.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Why would you be trying to disassemble the driveshaft? If you still have at least 6 inches of overlap after installing Pats easy change there is no need for a pto extension.

I hate the PTO shield. Every time I remove or install the bush hog, I'm going to have to wrestle with that stupid design.

Thanks for the info about the shaft. I will check it out tomorrow.

 

[bigtiller]

I hate the PTO shield. Every time I remove or install the bush hog, I'm going to have to wrestle with that stupid design.

Thanks for the info about the shaft. I will check it out tomorrow.

Stop wrestling with it. You are not supposed to take it off. It stays on the driveshaft.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Every time I change implements, I have to fight with the stupidly designed shroud on the end of the shield. I can't believe an engineer got paid to create this thing. Maybe there is something I'm missing.

 

[DieselBound]

Look at the Bare Co. shields. They have some release levers that allow you to slip the cover sections back and away so that you can get your hands around the ends for easier hook-up: also used to slide the tubes together to match up access holes for greasing. I had to buy a new PTO shaft for my bush hog (I got it with a bad PTO shaft) and it came with their patented guards.

Be sure to use chains to keep the guards from spinning (it's OK if they turn a bit, but not spin with the shaft- full rotations).