Howard Rotavator

[tsoileau]

Just purchased a Howard Rotavator P 70. Looks like everything is there and will try to get it going. Don't know anything about this product so any help/advise will be appreciated. Right now it appears that it is "stuck" so I will try cleaning out gearboxes and refilling with gearoil. Just ordered an owners manual for assistance. Hope I didn't waste my money-lol. If parts are needed and ideas???

 

[MikeJM]

Does the pto turn at all?
Does it have a quick change gear box? You might be able to remove the speed change gears and see where the trouble is.

Freezing weather where you live? Could have water in the main box or the drop box, hard water is tough on parts.

Or the rotor support bearing is seized up.

 

[tsoileau]

Did try turning the pto with a pipe wrench in the field. Haven't tried since getting it home. Don't think it has a quick change gear box. Live in south Louisiana so hard freezing is usually not an issue. Will try putting diesel in the drop gear box in order to loosen old gear oil then refill. Will take cover off of main gear box but not at that point yet. Will work it to get it loose-hopefully not anything major. Thanks for input.

 

[Tx Jim]

If input shaft on tiller gearbox won't turn with aid of pipe wrench then I'll guess 1 or more bgs in gearbox have seized.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

If you tried it while it was sitting in the field, unless it was up on blocks, it surely didn t turn because the tines were in the ground. You have to have the tines in the air before you can turn it by hand. Guy machinery in Harvard Il is likely the best place to find parts if needed. Tines will definitely be available, but if it s an older unit any parts specific to that model are going to be hard to source.

 

[tsoileau]

(quoted from post at 15:32:30 03/03/20) If you tried it while it was sitting in the field, unless it was up on blocks, it surely didn t turn because the tines were in the ground. You have to have the tines in the air before you can turn it by hand. Guy machinery in Harvard Il is likely the best place to find parts if needed. Tines will definitely be available, but if it s an older unit any parts specific to that model are going to be hard to source.

I've put it on blocks and tried turning a bit but the weather is not cooperating at this time. I will fill the side gearbox with diesel in order to lubricate with something light and clean out old gunk(I hope it will). I feel that one or more of the bearings are frozen so with the diesel and greasing the bearing will help. Hopefully there is nothing major--time will tell. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[tsoileau]

I will work (as soon as weather allows) on getting it loosen up by putting diesel in the side gearbox and greasing the bearings. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[tsoileau]

(quoted from post at 16:29:43 03/04/20)
I will work (as soon as weather allows) on getting it loosen up by putting diesel in the side gearbox and greasing the bearings. Appreciate the feedback.

Just an update. Had to remove side gear cover (couldn't get oil fill plug out and didn't want to drill). Special nut that holds middle gear was tough. All gears in side box look just like new. Haven't been able to see if shaft with tines turn free(believe there is work to be done there) or the main gearbox. That's what I plan on seeing about tomorrow. It does look heavy duty.

 

[tsoileau]

(quoted from post at 14:27:53 03/05/20)

(quoted from post at 16:29:43 03/04/20)
I will work (as soon as weather allows) on getting it loosen up by putting diesel in the side gearbox and greasing the bearings. Appreciate the feedback.

Just an update. Had to remove side gear cover (couldn't get oil fill plug out and didn't want to drill). Special nut that holds middle gear was tough. All gears in side box look just like new. Haven't been able to see if shaft with tines turn free(believe there is work to be done there) or the main gearbox. That's what I plan on seeing about tomorrow. It does look heavy duty.

I need to remove the yoke attached to the gearbox. The main seal is bad and needs to be replaced. The seal goes around the yoke and into plate behind yoke. Any suggestions on how to remove the yoke? I've attached pics. Thanks,

 

[mudcreek183]

As badly rusted as that yoke heat might be you best friend to get it loose.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

FIRST, make sure it is not threaded on. It likely is not, but I have seen dumber things. Most likely either splined or keyed.

Take the cross in the universal joint out and put a gear puller on the yoke. Once you have the gear puller on, then you can heat it if it does not come with just pressure.

Do all you can to save parts. Depending on the age of it, they can definitely be NLA. The cross is probably off-the-shelf, but I am guessing the yoke Is not. And if it is available, it might cost more than the tiller.

 

[tsoileau]

There was a castle nut which it seems held the yoke in place. I am planning on doing what you suggested. It appears that there is an oil seal that surrounds the yoke so any pitting would really make the yoke unusable. Once I can remove the yoke I will "attempt" to find a suitable replacement. I have never seen a seal around a yoke-around a shaft yes but not this.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

(quoted from post at 14:03:33 03/08/20)
There was a castle nut which it seems held the yoke in place. I am planning on doing what you suggested. It appears that there is an oil seal that surrounds the yoke so any pitting would really make the yoke unusable. Once I can remove the yoke I will "attempt" to find a suitable replacement. I have never seen a seal around a yoke-around a shaft yes but not this.

I got to thinking after I posted-
You could also not mess with it and put a low temp grease in the gearbox. That might be far and away the cheapest fix, and unless you are planning on doing many acres a year, it could last a long time.

 

[tsoileau]

Certainly food for thought. I've read where cotton spindle grease works well in a gearbox. The seal is completely gone but maybe using some silicone around the yoke might slow down the leakage. Going to sleep on this--thanks for giving me something to consider. At lease this way I get some usage out of it.

 

[tsoileau]

(quoted from post at 18:59:37 03/08/20)
Certainly food for thought. I've read where cotton spindle grease works well in a gearbox. The seal is completely gone but maybe using some silicone around the yoke might slow down the leakage. Going to sleep on this--thanks for giving me something to consider. At lease this way I get some usage out of it.

pdate: Was able to take off yoke and remove input shaft. The lobe on the shaft where the oil seal rides is pitted pretty bad. Since a replacement seems not likely, I am planning on going to a machine shop and see if they could cut it down to a smooth surface and get a seal with a smaller diameter--[b:a4fe1f35de]thoughts??[/b:a4fe1f35de] I've been able to loosen everything in the tiller--all bearings-spraying with penetrating oil and diesel and spinning. All gears look great. Progress-slow but progress.

 

[Jim.ME]

Can you get a Speedi-Sleeve the right size? install with Loctite retaining compound and there is no need for machining.

 

[tsoileau]

(quoted from post at 05:23:27 03/13/20)
Can you get a Speedi-Sleeve the right size? install with Loctite retaining compound and there is no need for machining.

Was not aware of speedi-sleeves--I will look into it. Really appreciate this--made my day.

 

[tsoileau]

Update: Was able to install speedi-sleeve and continue work on unit. Everything is loose and spins were very and with ease. Have put everything back together and install a slip clutch that I previously had. Now I'm needing to shorten pto shaft for implement and tractor and of course ran into a problem. Measured what shaft needed to be and cut outer tubing for pto---hollow tube. The shaft to the tractor is a square bar which fits into a square sleeve that appears to have been welded to the hollow tube. Rookie needs help. Believe solid square piece needs to be welded to cut round shaft--guidance. Did search and could not find answers needed--thanks

 

[tsoileau]

Update: Was able to connect to tractor (45 hp) and try it out. Outcome with rotavator-very good. Turned like a champ and all seals gaskets were leak proof. Tractor might be a little weak for this size rotavator. Need to purchase a new pto shaft however but that's another thread. Thanks to everyone for their help and guidance.

 

[jaoneill]

(quoted from post at 11:11:49 03/30/20) Update: Was able to connect to tractor (45 hp) and try it out. Outcome with rotavator-very good. Turned like a champ and all seals gaskets were leak proof. Tractor might be a little weak for this size rotavator. Need to purchase a new pto shaft however but that's another thread. Thanks to everyone for their help and guidance.

Unless you go shallow and slow (multiple passes) you will most definitely need more ponies in front of that baby. I had one like it 45 years ago and it was, in reality, too much implement for our 60 hp diesel; 70 - 80 hp would have been a better bet.