PTO coupler "frozen"

bcjmmac · May 4, 2018

In November I was going to bush hog the back 40 with my Houzz but the coupler wouldn't move (some wet areas back there so easier to cut when it is either very dry or ground is frozen). Was fairly cold (-10C) so took it off but couldn't get it to loosen up after a few hours indoors. Sprayed with penetrating oil & stuck it back on the pto shaft. Went out the other day & it is working fine so expect there may have been some ice in there. Other than storing the coupler part of the shaft indoors, what do other people do?

mcfarmall · May 4, 2018

If it moves, grease it. If it doesn't move, paint it.

Let's see if we can get this thread to 40 pages!!

lman · May 4, 2018

bcjmmac said:
In November I was going to bush hog the back 40 with my Houzz but the coupler wouldn't move (some wet areas back there so easier to cut when it is either very dry or ground is frozen). Was fairly cold (-10C) so took it off but couldn't get it to loosen up after a few hours indoors. Sprayed with penetrating oil & stuck it back on the pto shaft. Went out the other day & it is working fine so expect there may have been some ice in there. Other than storing the coupler part of the shaft indoors, what do other people do?

Store everything inside. Stops rust too.

M5farms · May 4, 2018

store with it tilted up so moisture cant get in .

oosik · May 4, 2018

I store the PTO shaft with both U-joints inside a shed. Its dry but not heated. Seldom have problems with rust here in Ea WA. Our humidity is so very low.