Bush Hog Drive Shaft

[ARHunter]

I have an old bush hog I inherited. The driveshaft was removed from the gear box and I'm not sure which way it is supposed to go. Does the end with the square shaft that slides into the round shaft go to the gear box on the bush hog? Thanks
 

[Tx Jim]

I really think it immaterial as I've seen equipment that came from the factory both ways. If the u-joint yokes on each end are the same then just install and use.
 

[ARHunter]

It is 1 3/8" 6 spline on both ends, I just wasn't sure if it made any difference. Thanks.
 

[keh]

Generally on old bush hogs the square shaft is attached to the gear box. When hooking up you can hold the round hollow shaft which is cleaner than the greasy square shaft when placing the pto yoke on the tractor. Not a big difference, though. Some brands of bush hogs have a different fitting from the normal 540 splines on the gear box so it will be obvious which end goes where.

KEH
 

[AgmanWallistx]

If it is a drag type bush hog make sure the yolks of the shaft are in phase with one another.
 

[Tx Jim]

Pull type implement is more important because of sharp turns but 3 pt impl drive shaft needs to be timed(phased) also.
 

[ARHunter]

[Tx Jim]

Yes.
Most square shafts have an alignment knot,other types are rectangular that can only be assembled 180 degrees apart then there's the ones built across the big pond. Most can't be slide together out of phase. But I've seen shafts repaired that were assembled out of phase.
 

[ARHunter]

[Hendrik]

The drive shaft should have a telescoping non-rotating safety sleeve. The smaller diameter part of this sleeve that slides into and out of the larger diameter part, is usually the dirty/greasy part. So that end of the drive shaft is usually mounted on the implement side.
Havin said that, I fully concur with the others that the proper timing of the U-joints is of key importance.
My 2c, Hendrik
 

[Texasmark1]

Didn't read the other replies.

The yokes on the UJ's have to work in unison. By that I mean if
one of the UJ's bends toward you, without moving anything but
the other end, it MUST move toward you too.

To effect this safety feature, most drive shafts are keyed such
that you can't assemble it unless you get the two lined up as
mentioned.

On which is which, it doesn't matter per se. But, if you put the
larger shaft end below (on the mower) with the smaller end on
the tractor and leave it in the weather, especially with no safety
shields, the mower end will fill with water and eventually freeze
up your slip joint and that, carried to the limit, can gut your pto
from your tractor, the first time you go over a hill or gulley,
depending.

Mark