GreAsing PTO shaft with cover on it

[Citydude]

I purchased my L3400 during the winter and changed the fluids yesterday in preparation for mowing. I then got to looking at the PTO shaft on the rotary cutter. How in the heck to you grease the PTO u-joint up by the PTO shaft with the plastic cover on it? As you can tell, I'm new to tractoring......

 

[k0ua]

There is a hole in most of them to access the zerk. You have to rotate the shaft by hand while holding the shield in the other hand, to line up the hole with the Zerk. And with your third and fourth hands you put on the grease gun coupler and hold the grease gun, and then work the handle with your 5th hand.
Dont forget to grease the external plastic zerk on each end that lubes the plastic bearing that rides on the actual PTO shaft. Remember to fasten the chains that keep the PTO shaft plastic shields from spinning. One chain is fastened to the implement, and the other to the tractor. My PTO shield has a hole in it to snap the chain snap into.

Aren't PTO shafts fun? And if you were thinking about "fieldstripping" the outer plastic guard off to get to the zerk, you might want to rethink that. They can be taken off (obviously) but it is not particularly easy on the two different kinds I have there are two different procedures to do it. We can get into that if you want later, but suffice it to say, it will be easier to get the greasing hole lined up with the zerk than it will be to strip back the shaft cover.

 

[jim44]

Generally, those shaft covers (guards) have holes in the bell-shaped ends that you can reach the zerks through. It usually takes a little trial and error and adjusting to make it work (at times, a little cussing seems to help).:laughing:

 

[k0ua]

Generally, those shaft covers (guards) have holes in the bell-shaped ends that you can reach the zerks through. It usually takes a little trial and error and adjusting to make it work (at times, a little cussing seems to help a little).:laughing:

No, a LOT of cussing is what I do..:laughing:

 

[Citydude]

Ok, the plastic cover doesn't have a chain holding it in place so I learned something already :thumbsup: I wondered what the plastic grease zerks were for....no holes where I can get to the zerk easy however did manage to just get to it and hopefully got grease in it. Aren't there zerks for the slip joint?

 

[k0ua]

Ok, the plastic cover doesn't have a chain holding it in place so I learned something already :thumbsup: I wondered what the plastic grease zerks were for....no holes where I can get to the zerk easy however did manage to just get to it and hopefully got grease in it. Aren't there zerks for the slip joint?

You have to pull the PTO shaft apart, and slather grease on the two PTO shaft halves with your finger. I put a little glob on the inside of the outside half, and grease lightly the entire outside of the inner shaft half. It is important to grease these especially if it sits out in the weather, as water will run down the shaft and rust them together.

 

[k0ua]

If you don't have a chain on each end of the outer plastic guard, you need to fit them, because if the plastic guard spins and it will if there is not chain holding them static, then the whole point of the plastic guard is moot as you could get clothing tangled up in the guard.

 

[Citydude]

You have to pull the PTO shaft apart, and slather grease on the two PTO shaft halves with your finger. I put a little glob on the inside of the outside half, and grease lightly the entire outside of the inner shaft half. It is important to grease these especially if it sits out in the weather, as water will run down the shaft and rust them together.

Holy cow! So, now I have to start another thread on how to get the shaft off? :confused3: just kidding, I'll figure it out this fall when I stop mowing. Thanks everyone for helping!

 

[Citydude]

If you don't have a chain on each end of the outer plastic guard, you need to fit them, because if the plastic guard spins and it will if there is not chain holding them static, then the whole point of the plastic guard is moot as you could get clothing tangled up in the guard.

OK thanks. Will do!

 

[k0ua]

Holy cow! So, now I have to start another thread on how to get the shaft off? :confused3: just kidding, I'll figure it out this fall when I stop mowing. Thanks everyone for helping!

Pulling the PTO shaft apart for greasing is pretty easy.. Just pull and it comes apart.. Notice it has to go back together only one way.