PTO Shaft Length - minimum overlap etc

[xtxpete]

Just to illustrate that point here's the shaft after cutting 40mm off the outer and before cutting the inner. You can see only 15mm or so needs to come off.
View attachment 3539942


These are the actual offcuts. Without doubting your comments that I'll have miles more overlap than needed, I don’t see why I'd want to sacrifice an inch by cutting the same length off the inner.

View attachment 3539943

I'm going to suggest that the reason the inner is shorter is because at the other end of shaft than you're showing, if might interfere with the cross if it's turning at an angle if you leave it too long

 

[aesmith]

I'm going to suggest that the reason the inner is shorter is because at the other end of shaft than you're showing, if might interfere with the cross if it's turning at an angle if you leave it too long

The inner can't pass right through the yoke and stick out the other side, if that's what you mean. The fixing pin is in the way, and is presumably what it's stopped by in my picture.

 

[aesmith]

However, I make a point of leaving the safety shield exact or 5mm too long so the plastic bottoms out before either end metal does.

That's a good idea, too late for me this time. But I might mark the fully closed line on the plastic if it doesn't actually close right up.