PTO bushhog shaft wobble ?

[sailorman]

Unhooked bush hog this a.m. to do other work. I noticed when sliding the shaft and working it side to side a bit that I have a very slight side to side wobble ( less than 1/8 ") . Most pronounced at longer shaft position. Non-existent at shortest shaft position. Shaft doesn 't look damaged in any way. Is this normal ?

 

[RoyJackson]

The two sliding sections of the shaft have a pretty loose slip fit. You don't have a problem.

 

[jinman]

As Roy said, I would not worry about that tiny bit of wobble. When you have to start worrying is when it looks like a jump rope being swung by two little girls on a playground. I destroyed one on my old Ford Jubilee by raising the 3PH too high and bending the shaft with the front lip of the cutter. When I started the PTO, it was awful.

 

[sailorman]

Thanks guys for the answers. It was just what I wanted to hear !! Ended up doin' 3 hrs. of bush hoggin' today and all went well.

 

[Eagleview]

As the others have said , it should be OK (as long as you know for a fact that the shaft has not been cut too short and that there is enough engagement when fully extended) .