PTO Shaft overlap

[TomIre]

Any rules of thumb about how much PTO Shaft should remain inserted when the shaft is extended? Hope the question makes sense. My RC shaft is 24 inches when fully collapsed. Let's say it is in two parts when it is extended to 48 inches. What's the max size you would want it extended to?

 

[Leejohn]

I would say 36 to 38".

 

[oosik]

Yes - there are suggested overlap amounts. However - all that aside - proper measurement and cutting will leave you with a shaft that does not bottom out thru an of the 3-point movement and will have maximum coverage thru that same movement.

There is NO SUCH THING as a universal PTO shaft. Every machine, every implement is different.

The shaft for my chipper has, at least, three inches of clearance ( 3" before it would bottom out) thru the entire range of 3-point motion - it has, at the minimum, 14" of overlap thru that same range of motion.

That's the way I cut the shaft and that's exactly what I wanted. The only way I could have obtained more than the 14" minimum overlap would to have reduced the 3" clearance.

BTW - the suggested 10" to 12" of overlap should be adequate.

 

[rprecision]

I don't think I would be comfortable with less the 10" although I have heard from a dealer 6" is minimum..........

There's a TON of variables, even in shaft designs that could effect the load rating.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm completely comfortable with 10" and that's on a higher HP tractors...

SR

 

[Gale Hawkins]

It is nice when you have three tractors if the tractor end of the PTO's will interchange with other implements because different tractors require different PTO lengths we discovered. For the two Bush Hog brand cutters we have one that came uncut and one that has been cut off some at an angle which can be a plus in some cases. I prefer more of a 10"-18" but have been forced to work with much less but I hate when they can wobble any.