sheered shaft

[billycalexander]

I have a 15-20 yr old 5' Southeast brand tiller (of course they are out of business) that recently met its match with an unseen stump. The bottom shaft(~1 1/4" dia) sheered off about 2 inchs into the outer shaft/pipe/tube (that actually has the tines on it). I still have not seen how the outer tube/pipe/shaft is connected to the inner now broken solid shaft as the piece that came out has no keyway and i see no thru bolts that would bolt the two together. In other words what keeps the inner shaft from just spinning inside the outer tube/pipe/shaft. I'm also surprised the 1/4" square key did not shear where the chain cog connected to the bottom shaft. Anyone have any experience repairing broken lower shafts on tillers?

 

[AndyMA]

Can you post any pictures of the parts? Closeups if possible.

Andy

 

[RonR]

Billy, pics would help, but I'll take a shot.

I can't answer about the keyways or lack of.

Typically, the shaft will be welded to two round disks/plates and machined to fit snugly into the tube. There are about three holes per disk in the tube. The disks are welded to the tube via these holes and Yippee, you have a straight shaft/tube.

If you can clean up the tube to find these welds, you can torch them off sacrificing the disk, not the tube. When you have the six welds off, you should be able to get the shaft/assembly out.

A machine shop can make you a new shaft assembly. If I were doing it, I'd drill six new holes for the weldment and just plug weld the old ones shut.

Should work good as new, if you want to rebuild it. I've done this on other roller type deals and it's not that tough. It will require machining capability though.

Best wishes, Ron