Jacobsen GT10 Right Angle Drive failure

[BillET]

I have attached a couple photos I took the coupler apart and heated up the joint. I got it to move and can see the start of the groove for the key. After a lot of failures trying to get that flex coupler off I have removed the drive shaft so I can get a punch centered on the end of the angle drivers input shaft. A few taps and no success. I will restart this the first week of January. We have a road trip for my sister-on--law's 80th birthday on Friday in Georgia after Christmas here in Maryland .Attached I hope are a photo of the tractor and a top view of the angle drives. You are correct it is not that white one you showed above but the other one. I will update this thread the first week of January after I have hopefully removed the flex joint half from the angle drives.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, Bill

 

[Jim.ME]

I have attached a couple photos I took the coupler apart and heated up the joint. I got it to move and can see the start of the groove for the key. After a lot of failures trying to get that flex coupler off I have removed the drive shaft so I can get a punch centered on the end of the angle drivers input shaft. A few taps and no success. I will restart this the first week of January. We have a road trip for my sister-on--law's 80th birthday on Friday in Georgia after Christmas here in Maryland .Attached I hope are a photo of the tractor and a top view of the angle drives. You are correct it is not that white one you showed above but the other one. I will update this thread the first week of January after I have hopefully removed the flex joint half from the angle drives.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, Bill

Bill

This is the third time today you have posted this same post, repeating the same post isn't going to help. Unless you try changing the size of your pictures, or how you attach them, they don't attach. And may be even then they won't. Have a good holiday, hopefully when you get back to working on this project, the problem with posting pictures will be corrected.

 

[BillET]

There is a problem with picture posting at present, admin is working on it. No pictures in either of your last two posts (duplicates) here.

Try reducing the picture to a small size, that has worked in some cases..

Sorry about the dups

I will resize and try again on the next couple days. Bill

 

[Jim.ME]

Sorry about the dups

I will resize and try again on the next couple days. Bill

It looks like the picture posting issue has been solved at least temporarily.

 

[BillET]

See attached at 40%and 20% of original.

 

[BillET]

Well the right-angle drive saga continues into 2026. My attempts to use a wheel puller to press out the shaft were not successful. The first puller bent so I sought a stronger three leg puller. My local NAPA guys, not having any suitable available, referred me to my nearby AUTO ZONE store. They had a 7-ton puller which I thought I could make fit. I dropped the mower frame that allowed to remove the drive staft. I could only pull on the flex couple's ears since there is not enough edge to pull closer to the center. While I thought I had the shaft moving I was wrong. As yo I can see in the photo the ears are folding in. So I'm left with trying a heavy hammer tomorrow now that I have cleared a space that may give me a swing after I clamp the flex tube to the frame support between the two frame cubes. If the hammer doesn't move it I guess I'm left with trying to cut the shaft with hacksaw blade not knowing how hard that shaftay be. Greatly appreciate any alternative methods for extracting the shaft from the flex joint collar.
And also Happy New Year.

 

[NormanSavesTractors]

See below.

 

[NormanSavesTractors]

Is it likely I can find a replacement for this right angle drives unit for this old 10hp Jacobsen or should I just give up and dump it?

You can still find 90 degree gearboxes and use them for a variety of garden tractor applications. I get those types of parts from surpuscenter.com

It's also not a complicated part. You can pull it apart and see what it needs. If you get real stuck, let me know, I have some old Jakes with the 90 degree drive box. I don't know if I have time to pull it, but you can come take the whole tractor. I am in Maine.

 

[NormanSavesTractors]

Well the right-angle drive saga continues into 2026. My attempts to use a wheel puller to press out the shaft were not successful. The first puller bent so I sought a stronger three leg puller. My local NAPA guys, not having any suitable available, referred me to my nearby AUTO ZONE store. They had a 7-ton puller which I thought I could make fit. I dropped the mower frame that allowed to remove the drive staft. I could only pull on the flex couple's ears since there is not enough edge to pull closer to the center. While I thought I had the shaft moving I was wrong. As yo I can see in the photo the ears are folding in. So I'm left with trying a heavy hammer tomorrow now that I have cleared a space that may give me a swing after I clamp the flex tube to the frame support between the two frame cubes. If the hammer doesn't move it I guess I'm left with trying to cut the shaft with hacksaw blade not knowing how hard that shaftay be. Greatly appreciate any alternative methods for extracting the shaft from the flex joint collar.
And also Happy New Year.

You will want to try to pull it from further down the hub. You may have to end up making a special puller to grab it.

 

[BillET]

You will want to try to pull it from further down the hub. You may have to end up making a special puller to grab it.

Thanks Norman, I tried to get a 20- pound electric hammer on the shaft but there was just not enough room due to the cross piece that works the retraction of the mower deck frame. Removing the mower deck frame was considered but that tractor frame piece was going nowhere so there was no advantage in dropping that deck frame. The other "hammer" issue was holding the flex joint to the cross tube angle drives mounting plate. I held the flex drive with a big Victoria players but as soon as I hit the angle shaft with that 20 pound hammer the vice grip gave up. So thinking I had a defective angle drive I decided to cut it's input shaft where it goes into the flex coupler. I had maybe 3/8" gap between the coupler and the front of the drive. I rented a 4" angle grinder from Home Depot and set about cutting my way through. I got most of it cut but still had a bit in the center I couldn't reach. Then I remembered they also make 4.5" discount that would still fit in this rented grinder. So by running out and getting the 4.5 disc's I was able to cut through the shaft.
So m
Now the post mordum- the problem was not in the right angle drives. An attached photo shows the Woodruff key had partially sheared allowing the shaft to turn with some friction within the flex coupler. That friction allowed me to get the tractor back to my shed in the back yard about 150 feet. But in doing that I made a groove that then did not allow me to pull off the coupler.
So I need to buy a replacement coupler from Greg or from you Norman. I'm looking forward to getting this old Jacobson tractor back in service since I have a lot of hauling work yet to do since this breakdown. See attached photos. I plan to drive out the shaft after I try a realine the key ways.

 

[BillET]

Thanks Norman, I tried to get a 20- pound electric hammer on the shaft but there was just not enough room due to the cross piece that works the retraction of the mower deck frame. Removing the mower deck frame was considered but that tractor frame piece was going nowhere so there was no advantage in dropping that deck frame. The other "hammer" issue was holding the flex joint to the cross tube angle drives mounting plate. I held the flex drive with a big Victoria players but as soon as I hit the angle shaft with that 20 pound hammer the vice grip gave up. So thinking I had a defective angle drive I decided to cut it's input shaft where it goes into the flex coupler. I had maybe 3/8" gap between the coupler and the front of the drive. I rented a 4" angle grinder from Home Depot and set about cutting my way through. I got most of it cut but still had a bit in the center I couldn't reach. Then I remembered they also make 4.5" discount that would still fit in this rented grinder. So by running out and getting the 4.5 disc's I was able to cut through the shaft.
So m
Now the post mordum- the problem was not in the right angle drives. An attached photo shows the Woodruff key had partially sheared allowing the shaft to turn with some friction within the flex coupler. That friction allowed me to get the tractor back to my shed in the back yard about 150 feet. But in doing that I made a groove that then did not allow me to pull off the coupler.
So I need to buy a replacement coupler from Greg or from you Norman. I'm looking forward to getting this old Jacobson tractor back in service since I have a lot of hauling work yet to do since this breakdown. See attached photos. I plan to drive out the shaft after I try a realine the key ways.

Using a home brew press I made about 20 years ago, I stacked a couple sockets on both sides and pressed out the stub shaft end. Now I know the answer. You put a deep half-inch socket into the center of the flex joint and remove the jam bolt screwed into the end of the angle input shaft.
With that half inch bolt out there would be no remaining friction to pull the coupler off the angle drive input shaft. I will press the coupler ears flat tomorrow so it can be reused it with a replacement angle drive.That's all the news for today. After I get a replacement drive and everything back together I will post a final photo of my little Jacobsen pulling again to help me get work done around here again. Comments appreciated.

 

[Brian G. NY]

Using a home brew press I made about 20 years ago, I stacked a couple sockets on both sides and pressed out the stub shaft end. Now I know the answer. You put a deep half-inch socket into the center of the flex joint and remove the jam bolt screwed into the end of the angle input shaft.
With that half inch bolt out there would be no remaining friction to pull the coupler off the angle drive input shaft. I will press the coupler ears flat tomorrow so it can be reused it with a replacement angle drive.That's all the news for today. After I get a replacement drive and everything back together I will post a final photo of my little Jacobsen pulling again to help me get work done around here again. Comments appreciated.

So.....I kinda had a feeling it might not have been the right angle drive as I indicated in an earlier post.
However...it seems the right angle drive is now toast.
My original offer still stands.......send me a private message....Brian

 

[BillET]

So.....I kinda had a feeling it might not have been the right angle drive as I indicated in an earlier post.
However...it seems the right angle drive is now toast.
My original offer still stands.......send me a private message....Brian

I found a nearly identical unit at the Surplus Centet. It doesn’t have a grease fitting but looks to otherwise be a good replacement. I flattened the ears on the flex coupler and am looking forward to putting it all back together when I receive the new drive unit. I will post a photo when I'm operational to close out this thread
Thanks for everyone's help. Bill

 

[Brian G. NY]

I found a nearly identical unit at the Surplus Centet. It doesn’t have a grease fitting but looks to otherwise be a good replacement. I flattened the ears on the flex coupler and am looking forward to putting it all back together when I receive the new drive unit. I will post a photo when I'm operational to close out this thread
Thanks for everyone's help. Bill

Oh well!
I guess I will put it back on my "in stock" shelf along with all those other things "I might have a use for sometime; maybe".

 

[Fritz Maurer]

That would have been the perfect pull for a small bearing splitter behind the flange of the flex drive.

 

[NormanSavesTractors]

Sorry I haven't been back to this thread. Did you ever get a new coupler? Send me an email [email protected] if you need something. I have several parts jakes. It's cold and horrible outside, but if you can work with me on the timeframe, I can help you out.

 

[BillET]

No problem. I bought a new drive. My next job is removing the old pulley wheel from the original drive. A direct pull started to bend the pulley wheel. Next I will try a little heat and then try to pull it off.

 

[NormanSavesTractors]

No problem. I bought a new drive. My next job is removing the old pulley wheel from the original drive. A direct pull started to bend the pulley wheel. Next I will try a little heat and then try to pull it off.

Yea, heat, penetrating oil. Also if you can get a puller to get as close to the bore as possible. Sometimes it's a lost cause, and you need to cut the pulley. Surplus Center where you got the drive should have some pulleys too if you end up needing it. Good luck and enjoy the process!

 

[BillET]

I pick up the new pulley tomorrow and hope to have it all back together by end of day. Tried to use an adjustable pulley but it was too wide and jamed against the left tube. So picking up the correct pulley from Grainger tomorrow . Will be great together back in operation. Thanks for all the help
I will post a final photo soon. Bill

 

[BillET]

Well many months have passed and I want to let all know how my little drive problem came out. All becomes clear in the end. My problem was a jamed Woodruff key which was jammed so I couldn't get it apart. I was able to get a small cutoff wheel in there to cut off the shaft. I bought a new drive on the internet and installed it with no problems . I also replaced the starter since it was available and my drive gear was chewed up Now the tractor starts like new. I'm delighted with the results . prime use is now moving cut logs I will use for firewood. Thanks for your advice. It was helpful.