Sorry I don't fully understand what aprt you are talking about, can you post a pic of it?

 

Hey Lantzy7

Hi and welcome ...do you need help posting pictures? Is there a hole that should have a cotter pin going through it to hold the clip in place?

 

I do not see a hole in the gear and there is not a cotter pin on the other side that I can see. Just a clip holding the other side on.

 

Hi, and welcome to MTF!

The 3 point lift should have lower arms that the implements actually connect to, upper arms that are actually powered by the rear axle, and links between the upper and lower arms, as well as the top link. The two lower arms and the top link are the "3 points" that an implement connects to in a 3 point lift system. I am not sure what you are calling "the gear". Any gears related to the 3 point lift should be inside the rear axle. Maybe you are just using the incorrect terminology. If you could post a picture, perhaps we could figure out what it is that you are talking about.

 

 

OK, thanks for the pic it clears a lot up for us. That lift arm is the one that I think most of us thought you were referring to it is mounted on what is called the "rock shaft". There is suppose to be a square shaped groove around the rock shaft for the snap ring to sit in. Here is a pic of mine:

From what can I can see in your pic it appears that something has caused the splines on yours to be rounded off allowing the snap ring to pop out of its' groove. There is no easy way I know of to correct this, one way is to replace the shaft (expensive). Another thing you can try is to get a small ******* file that matches the width of the groove and then gently file the groove and try to square up the shoulders to retain the snap ring ( aggravating and a PIA) . Last would be to drill the shaft and put in a cotter key (IMHO a fix of absolute last resort). You really need to figure out what rubbed and wore the shaft and get that problem corrected.

 

OK, JohnW has you covered. What you were calling the "gear" is actually the rock shaft which has splines that look sort of like gear teeth. Comparing your picture to John's, it looks like your shaft has moved into the housing so that I cannot even see the groove that the snap ring is supposed to ride in. Have you just been reinstalling the snapp ring on top of the splines and not in the groove? If so, that is what has been wearing the splines down. Check the other end of the rock shaft on the other side of the tractor to see if the shaft is sticking out farther than it should on that side. If so, hopefully you can tap it back into the proper position so that the snap ring can be seated properly into it's groove on the problem side. I would use a sledge hammer with a block of wood to tap it on the opposite side to try to move it, so the wood will absorb the impact and the metal won't be damaged or deformed.

 

I'd be curious to see a photo of the other side. Otherwise, I'd be using a cutting disk (or several, as they like to break) in a Dremel like tool to cut a snap ring groove the circumference of the rock shaft.

How old is the machine? Is it possibly a warranty issue?

 

I really don't think there is enough room to work a Dremel in there to clean up the groove. Even using a flex extension.

 

I understand that, just a "McGyver" type thought.

 

Oh it was a good thought, if were mine and had the room I would be all over doing it with a Dremel... color me lazy