PTO Shaft - U Joints

34397 Views 32 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Mud1m, Dec 8, 2021

upsnake

Discussion Starter · Feb 9, 2014

4

Hello,

I went to start the snowblower on my GT 17 the other day and it started wobbling something fierce, so shut it down and took a look. The u joint in the PTO shaft from the tractor to the blower lost its cap.

Is the u joint in the pto shaft just a regular u joint like you would use on a driveshaft, if so all i would have to do is find one with the same cap and body dimensions correct?

Also I have having trouble figuring out of to get the u joint out of the yoke. There are no spring clips on the outside of the cap, and there is virtually no clearance between the body of the u joint and the inside of the yoke, so i am not sure how I could get a spring clip in or out of it is a inner clip.

I looked up the cost of a new shaft at various online parts stores and they were over 400 dollars.

I have access to a vice as well as a 12 ton shop press so i would think that i should be able to press them out once I figure the clip thing out.

Thanks
Jay

Here is a picture.

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1 - 20 of 33 Posts

al b

· #2 · Feb 9, 2014

Every one I've seen had a clip on the inside or outside, look close for a inside clip. I take the clip out and go to the vice, Use a large and a small socket to press it out. I seen a shop guy who just uses a hammer to beat it out. It does look to me like your cap broke.

Mike Milburn

· #3 · Feb 9, 2014

Hard to tell but it looks like the very end of the cap is worn off, the outer cylindrical part still seems to be there. I don't think you're going to find a conventional u-joint that will fit.
The u-joint on my mower for my Bolens was toast, I had to get a u-joint from Princess Auto and rig one up. The original, if I remember right, the spider was more of a steel block with 4 ears coming off, an odd looking thing.
As for taking it apart, it's not staked in a few spots is it, hard to tell from the pics....Mike

upsnake

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 9, 2014

Thanks for the reply. I am not sure what staked means. I will go look at it again.

Ya the body of the u joint is more of a block. It seems like if i could get one with the same dimensions that it would work though?
Idk... It is snowing again and the snow blower is down again.. (Just order new hydraulic lines so the tractor was down a week for that).... Oye...

Mike Milburn

· #5 · Feb 9, 2014

I am not sure what staked means.

In 3 -4 spots around the edge of the cup/yoke, the yoke is pushed over with a centerdab or similar, http://tinyurl.com/lxmcyqq .....Mike

Javelin395

· #6 · Feb 10, 2014

Hi Jay,

Try the U Joint Store.
http://www.theujointstore.com/

And take a look at this catalog
http://www.neapco.com/pdf/2001ptocatalog637.pdf

Cheers,
Nick

wiotian

· #7 · Feb 12, 2014

I purchased my first ariens set up from a not so honest fellow came to find out as all my attachments had been "rigged" up to work. Didn't know it at the time being new to ariens. Anyway, had to return once for a "forgotten" driveshaft/ujoint for the snowblower. Sent me with one that looked legit enough. Looked new. anyway same problem happened to me. Cap came off and had a very little wobble to it but wasn't too concerned as it had to get through the winter. Yeah, it didn't . Started tearing it apart couldnt figure out how. Took it to a buddy ag mechanic. He started tearing into it. Couldn't figure it out. Told him it wasn't any good as it is. Destroyed it. Turns out it was a bolt !! One side was a true U joint. the other side was a bolt. I don't know if this is true for all of these or if it was shadyness of the previous owner, or if it was shadyness of the parts manufacture. as i'm sure it was not ariens factory. Has to be a shady factory as i got it clean/ new and tight.
anyway, just wanted to share the experience as it may help. I know they are expensive. Can find them on ebay sometimes.

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William McNett

· #8 · Feb 13, 2014

Hi guys

I've been half searching for a fix for this just because I ran across another post on another site with the same issue, I have a Sno-Thro, and my dad has 2 of them.

Just ran out and dug through my pto stuff and found half of a brand new shaft I must have found on ebay for cheap.

The round ring around the hole is the stake.

On the end of the caps it says

Made in the U.S.A.
Kaydon
M-060906

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William McNett

· #9 · Feb 13, 2014 (Edited)

Found more info

John Deere Drive Shaft

http://www.weekendfreedommachines.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=335&post=128751#POST128751

Koyo M-661 Needle Roller Bearing, Drawn Cup, Closed End, Open, Inch, 3/8" ID, 9/16" OD, 3/8" Width, 7100rpm Maximum Rotational Speed

adambrooks8

· #10 · Feb 16, 2014

I change the u joint bearings and caps on the mower deck PTO shaft with a u joint I picked up at NAPA. It was about 12 bucks. I just beat the old one out with a hammer and punch and pressed the new one in with a bench vise. The retaining rings are under the cap on top if I remember correctly. I'll see if I can dig up more info.

William McNett

· #11 · Feb 16, 2014

5

That's not the same as what is on the sno-thro.
The needle bearings in the sno-thro shaft are 9/16" OD and the pins are 3/8" OD.
I just tore half of mine apart.

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adambrooks8

· #12 · Feb 20, 2014

I would think that an auto parts or farm/garden store would have something that would fit.

zombie568

· #13 · Sep 21, 2014

Sorry to res the thread, but this is relevant to what i'm searching for. I did manage to get my snow thro u-joint apart, but i've discovered that the square box that the pins press into is worn out. Any lead on where I can get a replacement, or even what type it is or what its called?

Alleyyooper

· #14 · Sep 26, 2014

Cross reference # for the Ariens # 3155800 u joint cross is Neapco# 1-0170 ,, 16 bucks at my local auto parts store this is a 2" cross with .938 bearing caps

N1000 Series
http://www.neapco.co...ocatalog637.pdf
Even lists that Quick Coupler 10-5366 that everyone wants too much money for. But you'll have to shorten your mower deck shaft about 1/2"-5/8" to be able to get the coupler on the mid PTO.

$10.54
http://www.theujoint....com/10171.html

Quick Coupler $32.20
http://kscdirect.com...+LLC_10-5366
U-Joint $13.49
http://kscdirect.com...REPLC+1-0170

Quick Coupler $28.71
http://www.drive-lin...neapco/1000.php
U-Joint $9.85
http://www.drive-lin...p?vendor=Neapco

And here is the Spicer catalog
http://www2.dana.com/pdf/U330.pdf
U-Joint 5-170X

Weasler 200-0675
Available at your local Tractor Supply for $19.99

SKF 1-0170

Federal Mogul - TRW 20017 & 20018
__________________

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Javelin395

· #15 · Sep 26, 2014 (Edited)

Hey Al,

Glad you found what zombie568 was looking for. :thThumbsU I posted the Neapco catalog in an earlier post as I found the same parts in there.
I was hoping to find a dealer here in Canada but no luck.
Maybe I could get you to get me some parts and ship them up.........

Cheers,
Javelin395

PS - The links you posted don't seem to work except for the Spicer catalog.

zombie568

· #16 · Sep 26, 2014

The yokes for the snow thrower are a wee bit smaller than what is used for the mower deck, and they use a pin and block style joint. I think what you are offering Alleyyooper works for the deck driveshaft, but would not fit the snow thro setup.

This is the example, one side bolts to the snow thro

I can get the block and pins apart (as is shown above by William), but my block must have been run while bearings were out, because the dowel hole in the cube is worn very loose, the pin and bearings wouldn't last long if put together as is.

browsing ebay for a replacement shaft, and a splined front pto pulley in the meantime. hope to find one before the snow flies!

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Alleyyooper

· #17 · Sep 28, 2014

Paste the links in a browser, should work that way.

William McNett

· #18 · Sep 30, 2014

4

zombie568 said:
Sorry to res the thread, but this is relevant to what i'm searching for. I did manage to get my snow thro u-joint apart, but i've discovered that the square box that the pins press into is worn out. Any lead on where I can get a replacement, or even what type it is or what its called?

You'll need to have a new block made, local machine shop

mild steel, press fit for 3/8 pins

Mine is now greasable

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zombie568

· #19 · Oct 3, 2014

Awesome, that looks pretty slick. Thank you.

Paulgo

· #20 · Mar 29, 2015

William McNett said:
You'll need to have a new block made, local machine shop
mild steel, press fit for 3/8 pins

Mine is now greasable

You're the man! Hello from the upper peninsula. I need to tackle this same project for the half shaft coming off the PTO on my Bolens. On the end of the caps it says-- Made in U.S.A. Kaydon M-060906 --same as yours. The block on mine is more rectangular, than square. Same thing, only different. Are you willing to answer a few questions?

1. How did you get the old one apart?
2. As for parts, it appears I will need 4 of the Koyo M-661 bearings and 4 of the 3/8 x 7/8 alloy dowel pins. Can you supply a part number for the pins? Did you buy all the parts at the same place?
3. What holds the pins in place? Your pics show the finished product, but not how you got there.

Thanks in advance! Paul G.

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