Put some hair around it?

[jdaugh]

Hey ya'll. I'm working on my tractor, so it must be Sunday...

I had to drop the pump for repairs. The ear (pivot point) where the lift control valves arm is pinned broke off on me. Rather than buy a new base, I J-B Welded it back on. So far, so good.

Upon re-assembly, it appears the PTO shaft has swole up durin it's short time out of the tractor. (Does the oil help keep the original diameter, or does sunlight make it grow? Sorry if I sound like a newbie.)

Anyways...I'm trying to stab the shaft back in and it won't go quite all the way in. It seems to go through the pump okay and then bottoms out. With a little wiggling (the shaft, that is) it comes back out as easily as when I removed it.

Should I go ahead and start pounding it with a 15-lb sledge until something breaks, mushrooms or explodes? Or...is there an easier way, such as rocking the tractor, working the clutch pedal, jacking with the PTO lever, etc?

In short...does anyone have a trick for easily installing the PTO shaft? (It's not mushroomed or twisted.)

Thanks for your help!
James

 

[Bob - MI]

Keep the pump bolts loose and work the shaft in slowly - back/forth in/out. If you need the sledge something is way wrong. If you didn't have trouble getting the shaft out you shouldn't have trouble getting it back in if you take your time and let the splines line up.

 

[Bob]

It's best to shift the PTO lever to the "engaged" position BEFORE removing the shaft to keep things from getting out of place. Did you do that?

You may want to remove the side inspection cover and have a look at what's going on in there!

 

[Dan in CO]

Have you tried rotating the PTO shaft as you apply a bit of pressure while sliding it in? I just put mine back together & forgot to have the PTO engaged as Bob said, but rotating the shaft did the trick. Also loose pump bolts will help.

 

[jdaugh]

Thanks Bob. And Bob. I'll take your advice and go try it again, gentle-like.

 

[jdaugh]

Got it! I don't know whether the PTO was engaged or not. I tried it both ways, used the back-forth-twist-turn-wiggle-push method (the same as a manual transmission) and she slid right in. Back in bidness!

 

[Dan in CO]

Good news! Always glad to hear when it works out thanks for posting the positive outcome.