Can I use tiller PTO shaft on rotary cutter ?

[Capricious]

Can I use a PTO shaft labled for use with tillers, on a rotary cutter? There will be a slip clutch, the rotary cutter ("brush hog") is only a 42" cut, and the tractor is 16 hp / 13.6 PTO hp.

Thanks.

 

[motownbrowne]

If the tiller is rated for at least that much HP, then I don't see why not. Make sure the angles at the joints are acceptable and that you have enough overlap where the two ends of the PTO shaft slide together.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

In my experience the end of shaft for rotary cutter is some times a slip shaft with a hole for shear bolt while tillers have spline shafts good luck

 

[Capricious]

Long story short: I have splined connections at both ends (tractor & cutter) but no shear pin /slip clutch.

I bought a slip clutch (with male splines and female splines) but when I went to cut and shorten the driveshaft to make room for it, turns out I have an old "American style" driveshaft that needs to be cut and welded.



This should work:

Tiller PTO with 1-3/8" x 6 Spline Yoke On Both Ends | Agri Supply

I "THINK" it is a "series 4" which should be big enough. Probably about $125 or so including delivery. In about an hour or so I am taking my old shaft down to a driveshaft shop to get a price on shortening and welding. It it is not significantly cheaper than the new shaft, I am ordering the new shaft.

As the new shaft comes with a slip clutch, I will then try to sell my brand-new unused slip clutch and salvage a few bucks from it, which should reduce the cost of the new shaft a bit.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Capricious]

Well, the driveshaft shop doesn't do driveshafts (not PTO driveshafts, that is). They gave me the name of some place that apparently does but it closes @ 16:30 and that's when I get off work.

Ordered the new shaft from Agri Supply. About $119.00 including shipping. If I can sell the now-unneeded stand-along slip clutch then my cost is under a hundred bucks, and I have a shaft with "modern" safety guards.