Making the connection to the pto

jebster54 · Oct 9, 2009

I bought a used FM for my JD 3032E and have never hooked up anything to the PTO. I have everything hooked up nicely but the shaft. I notice that it appears to be the same size and has slip release type coupling that you push forward or back to lock in on to the shaft. I not sure how to make the connection and how hard you have to push the female on to the male. It is well greased ...so what am I doing wrong? Rookie

Lineman North Florida · Oct 9, 2009

Do you have the splines lined up? Sometimes you have to turn the shaft on the implement a little one way or the other to get the splines on the PTO shaft to allow the shaft on the implement to slide on.

MarkV · Oct 10, 2009

Once it slides in the collar should lock onto the grove in the splined PTO output shaft. Also make sure that the PTO shaft that came with the mower is of the proper length for your tractor. You want the shaft to have about 6" of over lap without binding when in its shortest position.

MarkV

blueriver · Oct 10, 2009

You would think in this modern day, they could design a ratchet type hook up where you do not have to spin the entire machine just the very end of the pto shaft ...

kennyd · Oct 10, 2009

Often on new tractor's, the PTO shaft is painted making sliding the coupler on very difficult.

Dmace · Oct 10, 2009

I raise my snowblower so the drive shaft is flat and not at an angle to the PTO and then I can slide the drive shaft onto the PTO about 1/4 of the way without moving the coupler. Once it's on and lined up I slide the drive shaft coupler backwards (towards the attachment) and slide the drive shaft all the way on the PTO.

I hope this makes sense...

Runner · Oct 10, 2009

"You would think in this modern day, they could design a ratchet type hook up where you do not have to spin the entire machine just the very end of the pto shaft ..."

On my 2520, if I shift the PTO lever to the "front" position, it frees up the PTO shaft on the rear so I can easily turn it with my fingers. This makes hooking up attachments a MILLION times easier.

Please don't ask how long it took me to learn this trick....

witterbound · Oct 10, 2009

Yep, that's the trick I learned after struggling for about an hour the first time I tried to hook up my pto. After I put the pto "in neutral" so the shaft coming from the tractor could move, I got it on much easier. Still takes a little time and greasy fingers, but it's much easier.

jebster54 · Oct 10, 2009

Thanks for the replys! The FM shaft has a type of coupling at the collar that is a quick release like on an air pressure coupling where you change the air gun to another implement or tool. If I here you right I may have to push up on it with a fair amount of pressure. The shaft on the tractor still has original grease on it since it is brand new!