Pull-Back collar on PTO shaft

[Roy Najecki]

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

I have the same problem with my pull back collar and this is how I solved it. I put the tractor end of the PTO shaft on my workbench and pulled back the collar. I measured the pull-back distance and it was 5/16" from the snap ring to the face of the collar, and the now exposed shaft was 2" diameter. I had a length of 1/4" square aluminum stock (I didn't have any 5/16"), put it into a bench vise, and hammered into a rectangular 'U" with 2" ID. I pulled back the collar, inserted my new aluminum jig, which held the collar back enough that I could slip the PTO shaft onto the tractor spined stub without difficulty. With the PTO shaft now on the stub I pushed the legs of my jig off the collar and voila, the collar closed.

I wanted to also have the option of using the hitch pin method that Doneill127 pictured. So with the PTO shaft back on the workbench I put on my aluminum U jig and then inserted two small 1/16" thick brass shims (the hourglass shaped piece in the photo). That pulled the collar back to the maximum 5/16". I then drilled two holes for the hitch pins.

I often have difficulty lining up the tractor stub splines with the PTO shaft spines. So using a cold chisel I created a small groove at the edge of PTO shaft coupling in line with the spline. Then I painted each groove with white paint. Now it is easy for me to see when the tractor stub splines are aligned with the PTO shaft spines.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Some of my implements still have the push button spline lock. With those, I use a welding clamp to keep the button pressed while I line up the splines. Much easier on these 79 year old arthritic hands.

I'm working on a similar idea for the collar locks using this clamp:

When I get the chance, I'm going to try heating & bending the tabs to fit the collar mechanism. If that doesn't work, I'll weld on new tabs.

 

[bcp]

See post 19. Don't touch the latch until after the shaft is on the splines.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/pull-back-collar-on-pto-shaft.435439/post-5950660

Bruce

 

[Hay Dude]

My gosh. Does that really work? I’m so stupid!

MoKelly

Yes it does. I still have Category 6 driveshafts (including John Deere CX-15) I install & remove almost daily. Yes, they are VERY heavy because they also have a CV joint on them. The one on my Krone baler is insanely heavy.
I just start the collar on my PTO stub, just enough to hold it in place without falling off, then with both hands/fingertips, pull back on the collar and then use hands to thrust it on to the stub until it locks.

 

[Rvrrat14]

I’ve seen where the splines on the tractor may need to be dressed with a file…….

 

[Hay Dude]

I’ve seen where the splines on the tractor may need to be dressed with a file…….

AGCO/Massey/Challenger tractors have chamfered PTO splines, making the mounting of the PTO prop shaft much easier.

 

[big bubba]

i deal with the same but finally manage to finally get it attached solo.
if your hands are in that shape, seems to me the best fix would get a buddy to retract collar, while you slip on the collar to shaft.
cheaper than above remedies. plus safer with 2.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I actually prefer the collar over the pushbutton pin ...

 

[old and tired]

How about the twisting PTO lock? I got all three... but pull back, is what I use the most.

 

[Hay Dude]

Note that the springs and collar “balls” and mechanism will rust if left outside or used in the rain. You should regularly spray lubricant in the collar mechanism.

Another thing to make slipping the prop shaft onto the stub easier is to regularly lubricate the telescoping inner/outer shaft.