Pull-Back collar on PTO shaft

[Jack42]

Hi,
New member here with arthritis in hands. I just spent several hours kissing, cursing and aching, trying to get a very well lubricated driveshaft onto the Deere's spline. Damn thing kept insisting I buy it dinner first!
Short version, My hands (at 74) are no longer strong enough to Hold back the collar to release the ball bearings while pushing the shaft forward. I can still do the rods ok, and the twister ok, but the pull back defeats me.
Finally got it on with second person tapping on the collar as I pulled back.

Question: does anyone make a strong enough clip to hold the collar back until mounted?
or
is it easy to replace the pull back collar with a rod collar? or a twist collar?

Thanks

 

[Wagtail]

G'day Mate and welcome to TBN from Downunder.

Did you raise the implement to a height where the driveshaft was parallel with the PTO?

 

[doneill127]

This is what I did for a mid mount mower shaft. Can’t take credit someone else had the idea. Works well.

 

[John0829]

I hate those pull back collars! My solution was to replace the yoke with one of the push pin type yokes, I would have used the twist type if it had been available locally. If I remember correctly it cost about $40 to change it. Money well spent to no longer have to put up with the frustration.

 

[Tinhack]

All of mine are old and have the push-pin release. Even those can be cantankerous at times if not kept lubed. I have to make it a point to include them in my routine maintenance rounds as all my equipment is stored outdoors.

The hair-pin idea is a good one even if revisited. Was the "hole" already there? Ball removed? Drilled?

 

[ericm979]

Switching to the push pin type can help. Also, use a bungie cord around the top link to hold the pto shaft up. Then you can concentrate on getting the shaft connected. I can't take credit for that idea, someone here posted it. Most pto shafts will slide onto the tractor's pto stub for a short ways before you need to release the locking balls to fit it the rest of the way. You can slide it on partway then unlock the balls to get it on the rest of the way.

 

[3gunr]

Maybe look into some of the new pto easy attach units. They are a little pricey but seem to make it very easy to connect. There are pop up adds on you tube for them.

 

[old and tired]

You can swap out just the end of it (or pay someone to do it for you).

Not sure what kind of PTO shaft John Deere uses... if it's like anything else JD, they have a proprietary connection.
Agrisupply has other ends depending on the class of pto shaft: (not saying this one works)

Quick Detach Spline Yoke, Series 4

Agri Supply has a Satisfaction Guarantee on all of your farm, agriculture, cooking, and outdoor needs, including this series 4 quick detach yoke.

www.agrisupply.com

 

[WranglerX]

Maybe consider something like this...

Easy PTO quick connect for tractor attachments

Has it ever been easy to hook up a tractor's PTO shaft? It is now! The PTO Link™ system turns a difficult and time consuming process into an easy task.

tractorptolink.com

Dale

 

[metalbender]

I had a little go round with my blower shaft. Wound up putting on a hose clamp once it was pulled back. Worked pretty good.