Getting Irritated....PTO Shaft Breaking

[Russell]

I was using my 48" tiller Labor day in my front yard. I was hitting a few small roots and rocks, nothing big. As I was going back over an area that I had already broken up, the tiller stopped. I knew what had happened as soon as I grabbed the rear PTO shaft. After taking it to the dealer, they confirmed that the PTO shaft broke just inside the case.

I get it back the following Friday. Ok, cool, it's fixed. Well, my dad needed his garden tilled. I took the tractor to him Monday. I tried the tiller myself just to be safe. I used it for maybe 10 minutes. The ground isn't that hard being that it's been used as a garden for almost 20 years. I used it a little more Tuesday (maybe another 10 minutes). Worked fine. I go over there Wednesday and he tells me the shaft broke again and this time if fell out. I am really aggrivated. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I checked the shaft angles when I put the tiller back on. We never raised the 3PH all the way up (just enough to clear the ground when running). I don't know if the dealer didn't really fix the problem other than replacing the shaft. I don't know for sure if it was something my dad or I did (I doubt that). Everything on the tiller seems ok.

If this is going to be a common thing, maybe I need to go get a 4110/15. It shouldn't be breaking shafts like this. I'm not saying it wasn't something we did, but I can't think of anything we did wrong. Sorry, I just needed a little rant... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Docsknotinn]

Russel, I broke myshaft just inside the case this spring at 10 hours. I believe their was a couple of problems due to both poor dealer set up/communication/follow through and my error. My tiller (Frontier 1250 ) was delivered seperately from from tractor. I use the iMatch. I was VERY clear with the dealer I was new to this and needed him to totally set up and go over every thing. When the tractor was delivered it was drop/boom their ya go see ya. The same when the tiller came. The problem was they didn'y even bother cutting the shaft for the tiller. They need to be cut WAAAAY down. I mean they will be stubby compared to the full length for the 2210. You should be able to install the shaft AFTER the tiller is hooked up to the 3pth. If not they are probably to long. This causes a bind on the shaft when lifting the tiller or any shaft driven implement with the improper length shaft. They need to be like 6" inside of one another. They do cut easily with a hack saw. Try cutting down a few inches at a time if unsure. I marked mine with paint when together and then took them apart and measured how much was inside the other shaft. you will need to remove the plastic sleeves first. This is all very easy. You can cut the plastic down the same way. I cleaned the shaft ends up on a bench grinder as well as the plastic sleeve and hit the insides of the shaft with a flat file. Make sure you re-grease the shaft. Mine broke this spring at planting time. It took three weeks to get one through customs from Japan which really killed my spring planting. I am rapidly looseing my faith in JD or more precisely this dealer. I have had this less than 6 months and want to trade up to a 4115 but they wont even talk to me about it. I guess they just want to sell new ones. I drove to get to theese guys as My local dealers were thousands more and one even tried to tell me the tiller went on the front of the tractor. They use commisioned sales people who know absolutely NOTHING about the product they sell. Sorry for the side issue but I'm a little peeved I have to go elsewhere and trade up. I expected to better financially on a new machine. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Dave

 

[Hambone]

I have heard the shafts will need to be cut also.
Here is a link to Befco that shows how to properly set up the shaft.
http://www.befco.com/technical/technicaltips/tip1.html

 

[BigEddy]

I must be missing something, but isn't there a shear bolt?

I thought every PTO shaft had either a slip clutch or a shear bolt to protect the driveline and the shaft itself. If the shear bolt is breaking, don't complain, it saved your tractor, install another one and continue. Costs next to nothing and should take all of 5 minutes to change. I never mind when they break!

If the shear bolt didn't break and the shaft did, then either somethings set up very wrong, or you are REALLY lucky nothing more expensive broke inside yourtractor! Check the hardness of the shear bolt.

If you don't have a shear bolt in the PTO shaft, insist that your dealer provide a shaft with protection!

 

[fgross335_2210]

I think what they're saying is the shaft is too long and when you raise the implement it pushes inward on the PTO stub causing it to break at it's weakest point which is apparently just inside the case.....

.....shear bolt protects again the driven implement hitting an immovable object but not something like this....

 

[Docsknotinn]

Exactly right. A slip clutch is what I have but that has no bearing on the implement shaft being the incorrect length. Another thought is that you want to dissconnect the shaft if you are transporting the tractor with the tiller attached. That is per manufactures reccomendations, Also DO NOT tie down on the shaft ! Any limited catagory 1 3pth can be a problem due to the limited hitch height. If you are puuting this on a trailer with the tiller on it and your ramp is too steep you might bottom out the tiller putting it on or off the trailer. A definate no no and a quick way to snap a shaft. Also make sure you are lowering your engine speed before you engage or dissengage that electric PTO ! Dave

 

[_RaT_]

"You should be able to install the shaft AFTER the tiller is hooked up to the 3pth. If not they are probably to long."

Somehow I would have thought everybody installs the PTO last. I always hookup my top and lower links before the PTO, perhaps it's just me. You also need to make sure you have enough shaft inserted. There are minimums noted in my manuals.

 

[Docsknotinn]

When I first received mine it was so long it would not hook up after the tiller was on the hitch. I stupidly thought ok, whats wrong with me. I must be stupid . I know they wouldn't bring it to me if it wasn't right. LOL. ooops. Well thats why they call it the school of hard knocks. Dave

 

[_RaT_]

Were all guilty of those assumptions. I too would have thought the tiller was delivered, ready to go. A REALLY good dealer would have seen to it.

 

[Russell]

Assuming too much.....

I was guilty of the same thing. My dealer missed it too. So we are both at fault in someways. You know what they say when you assume something.....I guess I have done it again.

This is the first new tractor with new implements that I've ever had/used. I'm used to old Ford 800's, antique tricycle JD's, old Massey's that already have the implements. And that was even back about 15 years ago (back in my pre-teen years). I unfortunately haven't had an opportunity to fool with tractors since then.

I've heard about the shaft length problems, but for whatever reason, it didn't even dawn on me until Doc brought it up. Thanks for the help guys. Atleast I know that I'm not the only one that has had this problem/assumption/mistake. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif