PTO shaft replacement

[gersus]

I finally was able to find a used brush hog, rotary cutter, whatever you want to call it. I had a hard time finding one that wasnt junk. Anyway, got it home and the u joints aren稚 as good shape as I thought they would be.
I知 debating having someone replace them or just buy a new shaft. The cutter is cureently shear pin not slip clutch and I wouldnt mind switching it over if it isnt too expensive. My other reason for considering buying a new shaft is the plastic sleeve is all busted off the original one.
I知 having a little difficulty knowung which shaft I need. I致e been looking on agrisupply痴 website. Whats the difference between the different series of shafts? Like series 4, 6 etc.
With the cutter hooked up, it measures 48 from the base of pto shaft tractor end to the base of the gear box.
So, is this the shaft that would work?
PTO Shaft - PTO Shafts | Agri Supply 89367

 

[Oldtink]

The series numbers relate to horse power the shaft is designed to handle. I THINK my 37 hp tractor uses a 3 series shaft.
This may help you ID what you have.View attachment 555059
ETA has a great video on how to measure and cut your PTO shaft
How to Measure and Cut a Tractor PTO Shaft - YouTube

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I finally was able to find a used brush hog, rotary cutter, whatever you want to call it. I had a hard time finding one that wasnt junk. Anyway, got it home and the u joints aren稚 as good shape as I thought they would be.
I知 debating having someone replace them or just buy a new shaft. The cutter is cureently shear pin not slip clutch and I wouldnt mind switching it over if it isnt too expensive. My other reason for considering buying a new shaft is the plastic sleeve is all busted off the original one.
I知 having a little difficulty knowung which shaft I need. I致e been looking on agrisupply痴 website. Whats the difference between the different series of shafts? Like series 4, 6 etc.
With the cutter hooked up, it measures 48 from the base of pto shaft tractor end to the base of the gear box.
So, is this the shaft that would work?
PTO Shaft - PTO Shafts | Agri Supply 89367

You might try just using as is just to make sure it is all functional since a new PTO with a slip clutch may cost more than you paid for the cutter.

Worn U joints can last a long time if greased regularly plus the main load on them is first few seconds of spin up if they do not operate at a step angle LOADED.

I know what you mean about having a plastic sleeve so tall grass does not wrap around the PTO. The son helped me cut it off of a PTO the other day.

Does your gear box show containing any signs of water build up? Our last used mower did and we got them flushed and refilled with factory spec gear oil.

Glad you found you a cutter.

 

[oosik]

I've been here 36+ years. Gave up looking for a used agri equipment 30 years ago. In this part of the world - used agri equipment "our size" just doesn't exist.

 

[ericm979]

I get the feeling that there's significantly fewer used tractors and attachments out here on the Pacific coast than in the rest of the country.

I have a slip clutch on my current rotary, the old one was shear pin. I'm not convinced the slip clutch is superior and it requires annual maintenance. On the old one I never broke the pin; I've never noticed the clutch slipping on the new one. When I hit something big, usually a rock that's been rolled up out of the ground, I lift the cutter. I often mow with my hand on the 3pt control for this reason.

One way to figure out what series shaft to use is to look at similar size new cutters and see what they use.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

When purchasing d-line parts you need the specs from your u-joint (brg cap dia and width) in combination with shaft profile (square, oval, etc). Once the appropriate category is defined all parts interchange. If you currently have a sq profile shaft (na shaft) and want to replace as an assy I would change it to a metric d-line of a similar category. Metric d-lines are generally less expensive and more common, (you can recognize by the shaft profiles like oval, triangle, star). They also can be sized w/out any welding where many NA d-lines would need to be purchased in the proper length as the female side is generally just a welded insert requiring it be cut off to re-size.

 

[gersus]

I was hoping the solution was to just go down to a farm store and buy one the right length. My current shaft is north american square style with internal clip. Havent measured yet to see specific series.

 

[gersus]

I dropped my shaft off at a local tractor repair shop to have the u joints replaced.

 

[oosik]

For a while I ran my BX42S Wally chipper on my M6040. I immediately noticed, the first time, that the PTO shaft having been cut to fit my Ford 1710 - too short for the M6040. Took it to a specialty shop in the "big city" and they were able to replace the inner and outer shafts with longer sections. Got an all new PTO for $100.

 

[Cougsfan]

I get the feeling that there's significantly fewer used tractors and attachments out here on the Pacific coast than in the rest of the country.

I think you are right. It seems to me that anywhere west of Nebraska has a pretty limited "used tractor and implement" market. Not sure why. I sold a tractor and several unused implements a while back. I barely had time to push the "post" button on Craigslist before the phone started ringing.