Securing PTO safety shield

[brantley]

As was mentioned in another post, sometimes the little rings to keep a PTO shield from spinning will break off. I have a couple of shields where this has happend. I am curious how others have handled this.
My thought was to drill a hole through the shield and bolt on an eye bolt to attach the chain.
Are there any other suggestions besides replacing the shield.

 

[GaryM]

Would it be possible to use a worm type hose clamp to secure a welded steel ring to the shield? Then attach the chain to the steel ring.

My tractor's too new to have broken any parts off the PTO shield, but I think I'd give it a try when they do break off.

 

[beenthere]

I'm curious as to why one needs to keep the shield from spinning? Seems as long as it isn't connected firmly to the drive shaft, then it will not be harmful to anyone or anything that comes in contact with it. It will just stop spinning. Am I missing something?

 

[Bird]

I suppose this might be a little controversial, but . . .. My tiller came with the little chains to hold the driveline shield and keep it from turning. The chains very soon got pulled through and came loose, so the plastic shield turned with the PTO shaft and I let it. My finish mower came with the chains and they always worked; never pulled out. But my brush hog came without the chains and with no place to put any. It was intended for the plastic shield to turn with the PTO shaft, but it could be easily held by hand and stopped so it would still serve the safety purpose (I never actually tried to hold it or stop it myself with the PTO running, but when the PTO was not running, I could easily turn the shield on the shaft). Now . . ., in my opinion (so take it for what it's worth), there's nothing wrong with letting the shield turn with the PTO shaft. I'd check it every once in awhile to make sure it could turn freely, maybe even lubricate it, but if the chains keep it from turning, I figure eventually it's going to wear that plastic and some parts are probably going to have to be replaced, so not using the chains might make the shield last longer.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color=blue>...I'm curious as to why one needs to keep the shield from spinning?...</font color=blue>

The chain doesn’t just prevent the shield from rotating… but it also prevents the shields from “creeping/slipping” down the shaft, and then exposing the open driveshaft underneath… (without depending on the nylon bearing carriers to hold it in place)(don’t forget you’ve got male/female parts…)

 

[beenthere]

That sure makes a lot of sense to me, and the "no wear" with "no chains" seems to be a good option. Depending upon which attachments are run by the PTO, most are of the ilk that they won't have anyone in contact or close proximity with them anyway (i.e. rotary cutters, finish mowers, tillers, power rakes). Others that may have someone working around the PTO shaft would be feed grinders, or possibly 3pt post hole diggers (if a second person is on the ground near the digger).

In the early days of PTO-powered items, such as powered wagons running while unloading their load, feed grinders, and silo fillers, there was a real need for the safety shields and safety shafts in place because bodies were close to the turning shafts.

Thanks for the input.

 

[brantley]

I like the idea of using hose clamps better than my first idea. Thanks.
For the ring, I think one of those key chain rings, where you have to slide the key on, would work. I have a few of those laying around.

 

[GaryM]

If you check the rotational freedom of the shield, and keep it lubed on a regular basis, I can see where letting it spin might not be too dangerous. But eventually you forget to inspect and lube...That's when you'll get hurt!

The shield is supposed to keep you from coming in contact with a rotating shaft, and that sounds like a fine idea to me.

Of course when I have as much tractor time as most of you do, I might feel differently. I don't use the blade guard on my table saw, so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

 

[Soundguy]

One thing to keep in mind. If the shield is stationary, it is much less likely that something will wind around the shaft.

Once that shield is spinning, it will carry some momentum, and who's to say when it will decide to bind ( at the worst possible time ).

Soundguy

 

[juadro]

I can't appreciate/understand the chains; BUT definitely am of the same feeling when Brantley mentions the plastic [probably nylon] retainer rings - one on the outermost ends of the inner shield and the outer shield. I see shields regularly that are crap because the plastic retainer rings broke - just try to buy the retainers separately ... then, please let me know from whom, so I can buy assorted pairs of them. TIA

 

[grsthegreat]

<font color=blue>...I'm curious as to why one needs to keep the shield from spinning?...</font color=blue>

The chain doesn稚 just prevent the shield from rotating but it also prevents the shields from 田reeping/slipping down the shaft, and then exposing the open driveshaft underneath (without depending on the nylon bearing carriers to hold it in place)(don稚 forget you致e got male/female parts?

Ive had several of these break away from the chains and spin. after repairing them a few times, i finally gave up. Mine have never slipped down, as there secured to the head pieces with a sleeve and 3 set screws. they just spin to their hearts content. Im not exposed to any of the metal parts......so be it. They really should be designed better. Mine are all made in Italy (for some reason) and all are crap.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I am with Bird on this one. Let it spin and it provides the protection to keep from wrapping you up in the pto if you are stupid enough to get on the deck when it is running and doesnt wear it out. I have never chained mine down and as for slipping down the shaft, just try and pull it away from the knuckle joint, it wont move at all. I actually had to split my outer shaft so it was loose enough for me to slip my PTO shaft in and out. It was so tight that it was impossible to telescope the shaft for hook up and un-hook. It has been that way for 3 years and still as good as new and rotates freely. I have never had anything wrap around it. I dont know what you guys are bushhogging, but there shouldnt be any thing on the deck to wrap around the shaft to start with, maybe a little grass on the deck but that doesnt wrap the shaft. You guys are overthinking this whole thing. First, you shouldnt even be on the deck when the shaft is turning, second your definitely shouldnt be touching the shaft when it is turning and the plastic sleeve is there for the idiots that do get on the deck and work on it with the PTO engaged and turning.

 

[RoyJackson]

9 year old thread...revived.

 

[moored4]

Never to old to talk safty! For 40+ years I sat in mill safty meetings, It was like all those old movies you watch over and over again, pertty soon you know the lines as well as the actors did! BUT there was also the new guy sitting in the same meeting hearing IT for yhe first time!:thumbsup:

 

[jeff9366]

As was mentioned in another post, sometimes the little rings to keep a PTO shield from spinning will break off. I have a couple of shields where this has happend. I am curious how others have handled this.

When an EYE has broken through on the PTO plastic shield I secure a 3/16" (small) CHAIN "QUICK LINK" to the PTO plastic shield with one or more CABLE TIES. One INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH CABLE TIE will suffice or two less robust cable ties. On my PTO shield cable ties need to be 11" long; INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH CABLE TIES begin at 14" length.

Lasts a long time, no rust and you will not snag/cut your hands fumbling around so I think cable ties are better in this application than a worm-drive PIPE CLAMP.

Tractor Supply - Search Results for 3/16 quick link

 

[nickel plate]

I went through the same thing this spring while re-greasing the Squealer 480 PTO shaft and finding a severe lack of those Italian plastic clips that hold the upper and lower heads to the PTO protective shaft. I searched local stores and all over the net and never found any for sale-seems the retailers want you buy a complete cover and they are not cheap. I wound up glueing the heads directly onto the protective shaft tube and accepting the fact that I now have a spinning PTO protection tube. Tried it out, lightly finger tip grabbed it at a low RPM and it stopped (just a safe test) and since then have mowed several times for several hours without incident. I do understand that this is not how the system was originally designed but it's my rig with no outside help following me around and if I ever sell the Bush Hog, the plastic shield will be removed and not included in the sale.
During that same time period I needed to refill a propane bottle and my closest supplier is a franchised equipment rental yard. While waiting for the fellow in front of me to finish up on refilling his tanks, I wandered over to the compact tractor area (the front row on the street) and saw a tractor/rotary mower sitting there for rent without any hint of a protective shield on the mower's PTO shaft. Just an exposed steel shaft screaming "Please touch me while I'm spinning!".

 

[mscheer772]

I just cut mine off. Been operating tractors for 40+years. Be careful and don't do anything stupid. Don't recommend it, but it works for me-So far.