PTO Drive shaft problem (my latest issue)

[CobyRupert]

Basically, if the pto shaft turns, but the blades (or technically the input shaft of the mower’s gearbox) do not turn. then the shear bolt has sheared. It’s done it’s job of breaking, when the mower blades hit something, so other expensive parts don’t break.

If the input shaft to the mower’s gearbox turns with the pto shaft, but the blades don’t turn, then the gearbox is broke.

 

[Williy]

Does the drive shaft spin smoothly with no wobble? If it
wobbles you could have a bad u-joint as they need grease to
keep from seizing up.

willy

 

[workinonit]

There are only two types of PTO latch.

1) Button 2) pull-back collar.

If you do not have the button, you have the pull-back collar type.


VIDEOS:

There is a third type. It's a collar type that the collar is knurled and the collar rotates instead of pulling back. I have a couple of this type.

 

[allenport]

Had the Kubota guy out today. It is the PTO engagement cable. It had to be ordered as none were in stock for this tractor model.

 

[workinonit]

So the issue was that it was not engaging completely?

 

[ruffdog]

So the issue was that it was not engaging completely?

Hmmm...that doesn't sound good.

 

[workinonit]

That was a question. She said it was a cable. The only thing that I can think of that would make that kind of racket on a PTO that is cable related is if it was partially engaging.

 

[zzvyb6]

Pretty obvious: There is a bolt dropping directly down from the top link that is hitting the drive shaft. You can see the crease in the plastic. I can imagine the racket this makes with a rectangular shaft section internal to the plastic cover.
Rotate the top link so this bolt doesn't make contact no matter what position the lower links are in. My guess is that the bolt was added to help you rotate the top link in order to set height, angle, whatever, on other attachments. It may actually be locked in this position by a jam nut. Rotate the top link 90 degrees in either direction and try to find out how to now lock the thing from turning on it's own. Sometimes there is an oblong washer looking deal that is threaded and used to lock out any top link rotation.

The contact force may have been so severe that it pulled the shaft off of the tractor a bit, or even bent 1 or more parts.

 

[ruffdog]

That was a question. She said it was a cable. The only thing that I can think of that would make that kind of racket on a PTO that is cable related is if it was partially engaging.

I know it was a question. The same one I was thinking of. I can just imagine what the gear dogs look like after 1 minute of "partially engaging". Time will tell. Hopefully everything will be fine for the OP.

 

[workinonit]

 

[tfuller]

In the second picture it doesn't look like you have very much range of motion in the telescoping of the PTO shaft or at least the cover. There may be plenty but I would watch as you raise and lower it to make sure it isn't bottoming out.

 

[allenport]

That was a question. She said it was a cable. The only thing that I can think of that would make that kind of racket on a PTO that is cable related is if it was partially engaging.

Yes, partially engaging. Belt is stretched or frayed. He did something that he said would allow me to 'temporarily' mow, but it would likely fail again. I got about 1.5 hours mowed yesterday.

Interestingly, while he was diagnosing the problem, the belt came undone. He clearly wasn't familiar with how to put the belt on, but followed the diagram.

This morning, I went out to mow, PTO engaged, and then the belt broke. Grrr. I suspect that he did not adjust the tension properly or else it was a fault of the PTO fail.

I today order two new belts, just in case. Another thing I had to order was the Idler pully. I forget what he said was wrong with that. I ordered two of them too to the tune of $150. The two belts were $100. Add to that the service call (???) and the price of the cable he ordered.

I am not a happy camper today.

 

[allenport]

In the second picture it doesn't look like you have very much range of motion in the telescoping of the PTO shaft or at least the cover. There may be plenty but I would watch as you raise and lower it to make sure it isn't bottoming out.

This I don't understand but I will pass it along to the mechanic when he comes to replace the belt. This is a Kubota tractor mechanic and they don't sell Bush Hogs so that is why he is not familiar with my mower. In fact, I'm not even sure if he services any mowers, although the company he works from sells all sorts of farm machinery. Wonderful service!!

 

[allenport]

An unrelated question. Have any of you downloaded a machine manual from any of those on-line free sites such as manualslib.com? I'm suspicious of them because I can't see what they have to gain by providing all these manuals when there is no charge and I don't see any advertising. The reason I ask is because I don't have a manual for my mower and they have it on line. I was able to print a screenshot of the pertinent page I need so I didn't have to download.

 

[Chewwy]

An unrelated question. Have any of you downloaded a machine manual from any of those on-line free sites such as manualslib.com? I'm suspicious of them because I can't see what they have to gain by providing all these manuals when there is no charge and I don't see any advertising. The reason I ask is because I don't have a manual for my mower and they have it on line. I was able to print a screenshot of the pertinent page I need so I didn't have to download.

I have downloaded many equipment manuals, both from OEM sites as well as others like you are describing. I prefer the OEM sites since they are usually better organized. Have never had a problem with any of them. All my devices have security software installed that would warn of a dangerous site but it never have for these sites.

Just curious, what is your mowers make and model? I am not familiar with a 3 point hitch mower that is belt driven.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I have downloaded many equipment manuals, both from OEM sites as well as others like you are describing. I prefer the OEM sites since they are usually better organized. Have never had a problem with any of them. All my devices have security software installed that would warn of a dangerous site but it never have for these sites.

Just curious, what is your mowers make and model? I am not familiar with a 3 point hitch mower that is belt driven.

Probably a finishing mower would be my guess.

 

[allenport]

I have downloaded many equipment manuals, both from OEM sites as well as others like you are describing. I prefer the OEM sites since they are usually better organized. Have never had a problem with any of them. All my devices have security software installed that would warn of a dangerous site but it never have for these sites.

Just curious, what is your mowers make and model? I am not familiar with a 3 point hitch mower that is belt driven.

It's a Bush Hog RDTH84 finishing mower which is a 7 foot mower.

 

[allenport]

I wrote a couple posts up that I had ordered an Idler directly from Bush Hog company. I am concerned now that I bought the wrong thing. Serviceman called it a Idler Pulley. On the Bush Hog parts site, there was nothing called that. All they had was an Idler Arm, and Idler Arm Bushing, and just Idler. I order two of the Idlers assuming it was the 'wheel' that the belt goes around.

Now reading other things on the web, the terminology is confusing me. There isn't much hardware on that deck. Just the wheel and the belt. I'm hoping that it is the defective wheel that caused the belt to break.

 

[Chewwy]

The idler part listed is a pulley. The terminology is not perfect but the pictures are helpful.

Messicks.com is another source for Bush Hog parts. Their price for the idler is about $10 less although shipping might be more.

 

[allenport]

The idler part listed is a pulley. The terminology is not perfect but the pictures are helpful.

Messicks.com is another source for Bush Hog parts. Their price for the idler is about $10 less although shipping might be more.

I've ordered things from Messicks before. Shipping is really expensive. I have found that the belts from Messicks and other sellers are not authentic Bush Hog belts. A Bush Hog belt for my mower is $200 from Bush Hog company. It's around $49 from Messicks and others. I order two of them, in anticipation of one breaking. This is getting expensive.