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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings

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JB OH

07-29-2005 08:53:29




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I have a '63 Ford 2000 to which I just added an over running clutch, but the PTO shaft is now too long for my bushhog. My understanding is that I have to shorten the PTO shaft to accommodate the ORC (by about 4" or so?).

Here's my dilemma: The PTO shaft has a grease (zerk) fitting approximately 2" from the open female end of the shaft, with another zerk another 4" down from the first. Cutting the shaft at 4" from the end will sacrifice at least the first zerk, and leave the second one about 2" from the end. There may be some sort of seal or something as well, because the shaft has a "pinch" or 1/8" thinning of the diameter surrounding the pair of zerks. I don't know if this is typical, or if there is some other purpose I'm unaware of, other than greasing the extending shaft.

Should I just cut the shaft and leave the one zerk remaining, or is the "pinch" surrounding the two zerks doing something I should be concerned about?

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JB OH

07-30-2005 08:10:59




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to JB OH, 07-29-2005 08:53:29  
Yes, my '63 2000 does NOT have a live PTO. It was an option. I need the ORC to make sure the tractor stops while the bush hog is running (without having to yank it out of gear).

I'm going to check it out today, but as I posted below, I think I'm going to take Fred's advice.



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Jerry/MT

07-29-2005 13:51:33




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to JB OH, 07-29-2005 08:53:29  
Why do you need an ORC? Don't you have live PTO on the '63 Ford 2000? If you have a live PTO you don't need an ORC. When you step on the clutch , you disconnect the PTO from the drive line, unlike the earlier Fords and Fergusons. Don't cut you shaft until you check this out!



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Fred Martin

07-29-2005 12:33:00




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to JB OH, 07-29-2005 08:53:29  
You better check the first few inches of the tube...it has the square part that is welded in the front end (of the tube)to accept the square drive shaft. If you cut 4 inches off of it you may only have an inch or two left to drive the mower...no good! You have to cut the tube only.....by grinding a weld off from the rear yoke and knocking the yoke out of the tube...then shorten the tube the amount needed....but before you do this scribe a line on the tubing and yoke down the center axis and when you cut the tubing off to new length and put the yoke back in...you"ll have a line already there to align the yoke back in the same place it was in. Then try the shaft and if you have to ...take a similar amount off the square shaft by hack sawing it and deburring the end with a file or grinder. If you don"t get the tubing cut exactly straight but close...just drive the yoke into the tubing and rotate the whole pto shaft (hooked up) with anything up next to it and tap on the tube with a wood mallet or such till the whole assy runs within a few thousandths of an inch and then tack weld four places (with yoke covered from sparks) and then weld all the way around. Should use 7018 low hydrogen rod because the tubing is cold rolled and the yoke is a casting or forging. Clear as mud? Well, I have done many of "em this way if I was away from the lathe. I"ve even done truck driveshafts this way that ran at highway speeds and no vibration. PTO shafts run at a lot slower speed so you shouldn"t have any problems. Fred OH

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JB OH

07-29-2005 12:51:31




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to Fred Martin, 07-29-2005 12:33:00  
Fred:
Thanks, I think I'm going to take your advice, and follow your instructions. Actually, I was making plans to have the thing cut & welded by a local Amish guy (yeah, funny thing that the Amish can weld...). I'm going to show him your instructions, and since he's handled many farm implements before, I'm sure he'll know just what to do.

Thanks again!
JB OH



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Fred Martin

07-30-2005 11:12:17




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to JB OH, 07-29-2005 12:51:31  
I never knew much about the Amish people...I thought they were a religious cult with straw hats and beards. When someone told me that they were gonna lay the block for the below ground foundation for the house across the road I thought I was gonna see some quality work done. Just as I got time to look out the front door at them...they took a break and they all fired up a cigarette...Hmmm! When they quit for the day I went over and looked at the job. There was more skips than a quick bush-hog job with dull blades. Didn"t worry them...they just painted it with pitch and covered it with plastic. After I thought about it, I reckon it"s all done this way.

Anyhow, I suppose I could add that you could get by with no zerk fittings in the PTO shaft if you pull out and grease the male shaft once in a while. I bet theres a lot of fellows that picked up on that scribing a line down the shaft before cutting it off...it"s an old secret from many years of doing it...actually, when I do it in the lathe I use a lathe tool...with the shaft in the lathe chuck and the other end in a steady rest and you can"t hardly miss on alignment. Now you guys know all my secrets. Glad I was of some help. Fred OH

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paul

07-29-2005 23:01:39




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to JB OH, 07-29-2005 12:51:31  
There are so many pto designs, but I think Fred is right - that female end is welded onto the pto shaft right? It is _the_ square part of the female side, & you don't want to cut it. You need to remove part of the shaft.

Did any of the 1000 series tractors come without live pto? You really need the ORC?

--->Paul



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Van in AR

07-29-2005 10:47:37




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to JB OH, 07-29-2005 08:53:29  
Get a hacksaw and cut about 4 1/2" off both shafts, (inner and outer) and press on. Extra zerk is in case you have to cut it off.
Van



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JB OH

07-29-2005 11:38:23




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to Van in AR, 07-29-2005 10:47:37  
Van: Are you sure? I don't want to have to buy a whole new shaft if I cut off a critical part by mistake. I called New Holland about it, and the guy basically said that there are so many different types of shaft, etc., that it's hard to tell what the extra zerc is for.

The male shaft is square, and the NH guy said said that the region around the zerc is where the square shaft should mate with the round tube, and that this area shouldn't be messed with.

The "backup zerc" idea is what I was originally thinking, but then on the other hand, why put 2 zercs on the thing when 1 is expendable? Seems like a waste of money. Makes me think there's some other reason for it.

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old

07-29-2005 09:31:31




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to JB OH, 07-29-2005 08:53:29  
You will probably need to cut the yoke off as bob said but it can be done in a home shop. You do need to make sure you keep it stright and you also need to keep the U-joints in time. Which is not hard to do either just make a note of how they line up now, cut off/grind off the weld where it hooks to the yoke and then weld it back up alineing it the same as it was. The last one I did took me about and hour.

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JB OH

07-29-2005 09:39:02




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to old, 07-29-2005 09:31:31  
Thanks for the suggestions. Regarding the shaft, itself, has anyone seen one like this and/or know the reason for the 2 zerks? Do all PTO shafts have a zerk for greasing, or do you just grease them manually for sliding? If other PTO shafts are greased manually, would there be any harm in just cutting off the one zerk and going back to manual greasing?



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old

07-29-2005 09:48:34




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to JB OH, 07-29-2005 09:39:02  
Most shafts that I have seen/have only have one zerk. No idea why yours has 2



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Bob

07-29-2005 09:05:56




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 Re: shortening PTO shaft with zerk fittings in reply to JB OH, 07-29-2005 08:53:29  
With a shaft like that, if it really must be shorted, I'd find a local machine shop with driveline experience and check with them. Perhaps the tube will have to be cut off of it's yoke, shortened, and welded back on. A job for pros!



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