PTO shaft guard help

[melmark]

Hello there, I am relatively new to the tractor attachment PTO driveshaft game and could use some advice / help.

I recently picked up a used Countyline 4 foot rotary cutter for my New Holland Boomer 20. After I got it home I gave it a good once over to make sure it was good to go. One of the things I noticed when I was buying it is that there was no PTO shaft cover, just a bare metal shaft. I thought that was no big deal and I would just buy a universal shaft cover to put on. Unfortunately all of the aftermarket ones that I saw used a groove in the yoke for the guard bearing to sit in. As you can see from the pictures my shaft yokes have no grooves. Can someone advise how I could install a guard on this shaft or am I going to have to buy a whole new shaft?

Thanks in advance for any opinions

Mark

 

[oldballs]

I was checking out the same problem one time. IIRC........the sales person told me that the parts were about as expensive as buying a whole new shaft. .. So, at that time, I just bought the whole new shaft. Today, I'd probably just run it without the guards.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[diesel85]

If it's just you that is going to be operating it and no kids around or others using it, then fine, run it without the cover.

Just note that when that shaft is spinning, it can rip you apart like a crazy dog ripping apart a doll...

PTO driveshafts are no joke.

 

[oldballs]

Man..........I gotta agree with diesel........

 

[melmark]

Thanks guys, I just thought maybe I was missing something on a way to attach a guard. I am the only person running it and I shut the PTO off before I get off the machine so I will likely run it as is. The guy I bought it from said it was 7 or 8 years old so I have to assume that is not the shaft that came with it. I would have thought that new of a machine would have come with a "guarded PTO"

Thanks for the replies
Mark

 

[Roadworthy]

In addition to the guard bear in mind that if the PTO shaft is not securely latched in place on the drive from the tractor it is possible to get the mower spinning and have the shaft slip off the drive. The mower will then keep it spinning with the shaft flopping all over. A cover will not prevent this but the flopping can damage the shaft to the point it will need replaced.

 

[jimglassford]

1) Never operate any piece of equipment with safety devices removed. One injury and you will wish you spent the little bit for a new PTO shaft.

2) The cover not only protects people, it can prevent weeds from tangling around the shaft. If you are cutting tall grass, rethink the cover.

 

[oosik]

If you can not easily find the parts needed to make the PTO shaft "whole" once again - bite the bullet and buy an all new shaft.

I would NEVER even consider running a PTO with out the shaft cover ( guard ). It would take only one mistake and you or somebody could be injured for life. OR even killed.

 

[LouNY]

I normally try and keep the PTO shaft guards in place, but.
I'm not the only one that may use my equipment and the PTO shafts are moved around to different pieces of equipment at times as needed.
For instance right now my brush hog shaft is on my brothers round baler that my nephew uses.
On a towed piece of equipment that is exposed to people while in use I'd like to see the guards in place, on mounted equipment that is mostly unaccessible while in use, use your own judgment.
Some of mine are guarded a couple are not.

 

[LD48750]

Just keep in mind, all the guards anybody can think of will not save you from doing something stupid.
Owning a tractor can KILL you.
Add a brush hog & you have almost certain death to someone.
I KNOW this because I have access to the internet.