Bushhog hookup

[flINTLOCK]

I've had my tractor and Bushhog for about 3 years now. I use the BH to cut back some trails at hunting camp about once a year, so my experience in hooking up to the tractor is limited. It always seems to be a challenge to get the cutter's shaft collar on the PTO shaft of the tractor. Usually wish that I had 3 hands if I'm doing it alone. Any secrets you guys use would be appreciated.

 

[Grandad4]

It is indeed a hassle, but I've found a few things that help.
1. The more often you do it, the easier it gets.
2. Keep the shaft and the locking mechanism well lubed.
3. It's easier for me to do the pto hookup before the 3pt links. Probably because I'm not as skinny as I once was.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Lube the spline and hook up before the rest of the 3 point. I find the top link gets in my way the most. I also use a string or tie-down to hold the pto shield out of the way. Spin the shaft and try it again if it seems to stick.

 

[TripleR]

I have tried everything and there is no easy way. My wife and I wrestled around with one and had no luck, so I called my burly son to come up and he wrestled around with and finally for no apparent reason "click" it went right on.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Does the pto shaft joint have the push button release/lock or the pull back collar type? They present different issues.
larry

 

[flusher]

I've had my tractor and Bushhog for about 3 years now. I use the BH to cut back some trails at hunting camp about once a year, so my experience in hooking up to the tractor is limited. It always seems to be a challenge to get the cutter's shaft collar on the PTO shaft of the tractor. Usually wish that I had 3 hands if I'm doing it alone. Any secrets you guys use would be appreciated.

I assume you're talking about a situation where the coupling has worked OK before but now is harder to accomplish the connection. In that case, the secret is to keep the splines clean, clean, clean. Spend a little extra time cleaning the crud out of the splines before you try to attach the pto shaft to the tractor. I've used a dental pick and wire bristle tooth brush to get all the stuff out of the spines.

If it's a new pto shaft that won't slip easily onto the tractor's pto shaft, then you might have to use a flat metal file to dress up the splines before lubricating and trying again. Sometimes there are burrs on the pto coupler left over from manufacturing.

 

[Diamondpilot]

All good advise here. Keep it cleaned and lubed up and it will make it easier. Other than that I keep all my implements on dollys and on the concrete floor of my pole barn. This way I can back the tractor up within a few feet then get off and roll the implement to the tractor.

The dollys I made are simple using a few 4x4's, some scrap 2x4's, and 4 casters from Harbor Freight. I have about $20 in each and its made life much easier.

Chris

 

[flINTLOCK]

The problem I have is getting the collared connector to match up with the splined tractor PTO if the cutter shafts are already telescoped together. It seems easiest to get the tractor connection onto the PTO, then try to get the Cutter shafts to slide together. Would probably be easier if I cut about 1 inch off both parts of the shaft, then after connecting to 3 pt, I could swing the cutter shafts into place while pulling back on the collar and pushing forward with the assembly. The parts are clean and lubed before and after use.

 

[Runner]

Don't know if your tractor has a mid/front PTO, but if it does, and if it's like my JD, you can shift the selector into the mid/front setting and it frees up the rear PTO shaft so you can easily turn it to line up the splines.

 

[manganos]

Once I get mine lined up it usually goes right on. Sometimes it takes a little persuasion on the U-Joint with a no bounce hammer or rubber mallet. Not too much pressure is needed..