Pto shaft advice

[rickdavis81]

I picked up a Woods C114 10’ cutter last fall. It was missing the pto shaft. Looking online it appears it had a 2 section driveline with possibly a carrier bearing in the middle with a shorter shaft attaching to the tractor. I’ve seen several setup like this. But I’ve also seen a few with just a long pto shaft with no carrier bearing. Anything wrong with just using the long shaft without the carrier?

 

[oosik]

I have no clue - advantages/problems with single long PTO shaft. Recommend you do what is recommended in your Owners Manual.

 

[jeff9366]

The PTO shaft has to be free to telescope in and out as the tractor moves over rough ground, swales and banks.

 

[rickdavis81]

I realize it has to telescope. Maybe I’m not asking the question properly. I’ll try it with the longer single pto shaft assembly and see how it does. If it vibrates or comes off and beats the heck out of me then I’ll switch it up.

 

[Dave M7040]

The parts illustration clearly shows a two section pto shaft with each section having two U joints and each being able to telescope.
Deviating from this design carries significant risk. Woods would not have opted for this more complicated setup just for fun.

This is not a China designed product where safety is not a big concern.

Having a longer shaft break or become disconnected at one end would be very dangerous. It could kill you!

Dave M7040

 

[Harry in Ky]

Just opinion here, but if it were mine I would lean heavily toward the long shaft and forget the center bearing. I see way too many times where inexperienced operators try to turn too sharp with an old Woods mower with that center bearing setup. It simply will not take tight turns. The shaft will bind and break something. U joints, yokes, bearing carriers, tractor PTO stub shafts, SOMETHING will give.

 

[dieselscout80]

Here’s a picture of the factory driveline on a C114. I can turn so tight the rear tractor tires hit the tongue and the driveline is fine.

There are three u-joints in the driveline.

Here’s a link to one with the cover removed. What did I just buy?

 

[LouNY]

The two piece pto shafts on towed equipment is designed to keep the pto u-joint angle equal while turning with the drawbar set for the proper length to the hitch pin the short shaft will be centered over the hitch pin so the u-joints maintain equal angles. That equipment will have a specification for the drawbar length as measured from the end of the pto shaft on the tractor.

 

[CliffordK]

The two piece pto shafts on towed equipment is designed to keep the pto u-joint angle equal while turning with the drawbar set for the proper length to the hitch pin the short shaft will be centered over the hitch pin so the u-joints maintain equal angles. That equipment will have a specification for the drawbar length as measured from the end of the pto shaft on the tractor.

That makes a lot of sense to put a U-Joint near the pivot point, so you aren't relying on a significant amount of telescoping as you turn.

I'm seeing notes that the max angle of a single U-Joint is around 45 degrees.

 

[zzvyb6]

On the long shaft setup you should get a CV joint at the tractor end because angle differences will excite some serious vibration and potential damage. Plus, the cost of a long shaft + slip clutch + CV joint may be higher than 2 shafts piggy-backed. Single u-joints are practically limited to no more than about 25 degrees because of the 2x per rev cyclic variation in rpm.