PTO shaft cannot extend!

[Conservation]

OK. Probably my fault for not lubing the pto shaft before putting it away last time. And I didn't use this Woods mower last season. The shaft is compressed all the way, and I cannot budge it. I finally put a chain around it and popped it a few times with the truck...pretty hard. I don't want to break the gearbox, so I stopped. I tried to get the safety shield off, and couldn't even do that. So I quit. Help this poor dumb sole!:confused2:

 

[whistlepig]

I have done this. A lot of soaking with WD-40 and a lot of patience waiting for the WD-40 to work and I finally got mine broke loose. Heat would greatly speed this process but with the plastic shields heat wasn't and option.

 

[RoyJackson]

Spray it with PB Blaster or another good penetrating oil and let it set for a day or so...might give it a rap with a hammer to try breaking the rust too. Just don't rap it hard enough to dent the tube...or use a block of wood between the hammer and PTO driveshaft.
Do disconnect it from the implement and use some other fixed object if you want to try pulling it apart (BTW, this should be a slow steady pull...don't yank it!).
I'm surprised the guard doesn't come off...can't rust so I think you need to look it over more carefully.

 

[Conservation]

I was a little out of patience when this problem arose. I should have let it sit.
Can you just pb blast into the split between the gaurds? Where will get it in there?
The guard has these white buttons, and for the life of me I can figure out how to push them in to get the shaft guard to come apart. It's a peaco if I remember the shaft guard name correctly.

 

[gwdixon]

The shaft is overlapping so each end will have an exposed point where the shafts slide. Spray goop of some sort from each end so it will run between the two shafts.

Then secure one end to something solid - like the tractor, use a come-along attached to the other end. The come-along can be attached to your truck. Then just ratchet the come-along until the shaft comes apart. The come-along will give it that gentle but firm pull that is required.

If it won't budge then spray some more goop and leave the come-along with tension on it overnight. Try again in the morning.

BTW - I've never figured out how to get those plastic covers off either.

 

[RoyJackson]

Then secure one end to something solid - like the tractor, use a come-along attached to the other end. The come-along can be attached to your truck. Then just ratchet the come-along until the shaft comes apart. The come-along will give it that gentle but firm pull that is required.

I don't suggest hooking it to the tractor's PTO stub shaft though!! That could be an expensive mistake!
Good idea about the come-along though..

 

[whistlepig]

I can't get the plastic covers off my PTO shaft either. I rate these covers right up there with the new EPA fuel cans we have to buy now.

 

[pacerron]

OK. Probably my fault for not lubing the pto shaft before putting it away last time. And I didn't use this Woods mower last season. The shaft is compressed all the way, and I cannot budge it. I finally put a chain around it and popped it a few times with the truck...pretty hard. I don't want to break the gearbox, so I stopped. I tried to get the safety shield off, and couldn't even do that. So I quit. Help this poor dumb sole!:confused2:

Get a can of PB Blaster, PCL, or other good penetrating oil. Rotate the safety shields so that the oblong holes line up. You will see the outside of the outer shaft. Normally you would see the square inner shaft that you grease but you probably have it jammed together too far. Grass, dried grease and crud is usually the problem but you may have a rusted shaft too boot, but doubtful unless you have left the mower outside. Hold the end of the shaft that goes on the tractor up and squirt a bunch of PB so it runs down toward the back U-joint.
Let it soak for an hour or more and try to pull apart. Anyplace you can see to get some oil onto the square solid inner shaft will help. You could tap the end toward the tractor with a rubber mallet after the oil soaks in but you might crack your plastic shield.
Once it is loose pull the shaft totally apart and clean the square shaft and wash out the tube it goes into with solvent to get rid of the old grease crud.
Then smear grease on all four sides of the square shaft and put it back together so that when the safety chains on each end are attached the oblong holes in the 2 shield halves line up.
Sometimes the driveshafts get stuck so you can't slide them back to remove from the tractor if they have been idle a while. Usually this can be fixed with a little PB on the square shaft and then raising the implement up and down with the 3 pt. hitch.
There's always a chance of breaking something, so beware.

 

[Conservation]

I'm not familiar with the safty chains. Maybe this gaurd is different. I will try the blaster tomorrow night.

 

[k0ua]

I'm not familiar with the safty chains. Maybe this gaurd is different. I will try the blaster tomorrow night.

The safety chains are on each end of the outer plastic safety guard. and are fastened on to a fixed part of the mower on that end and the tractor on that end.. If you don't have any then your plastic guard is liable to rotate with the inner steel parts. And therefore you safety guards are not doing any good at all, and would/could wind up your loose clothing, long hair etc.
You must also grease the nylon bearing at each end of the safety shields so that the metal parts of the PTO shaft will have low friction with the outer plastic guard pieces and not break you safety chains. One thing for sure, don't come near that spinning PTO shaft.

James K0UA