PTO Front Shaft

[gssixgun]

Okay this is going to sound confusing but I will try and push through

I have had a 60" Snow Blower that I moved over from my L185 to the Newer L3600 since 2012

Sometime around 2016 I added a set of Pat's but the shaft still engaged and I had no probs.

Everything worked fine and I have had really zero issues until I kinda pulled a boneheaded move and backed it into Heavy Snow and Ice with gave the shaft just enough flex and I blew the PTO side U-Joint..

Luckily our friend on North Idaho Wolfman had a spare front half shaft so I made it through that season and into last season..

Note here: The shaft he supplied was about 3in longer but since I had added the Pats it was not an issue. In fact, it seemed that because the shaft had more engagement depth it might have run quieter and smoother

He replaced the U-joint and the Old shaft went back into action..

Now skip forward, and I bought a new complete front Half Shaft the other day ,,

I put it all together and now I am ready to cut the shaft to length..

So I measured the Pats which adds actually 4 in to the length of the arms, so I am thinking I will cut this shaft 2.5" + longer than than the old shaft to keep that extra depth of engagement

NOT a longer shaft overall just the amount of depth that engages with the rear Half Shaft..

Are you following

Shafts are lined up to length from the Ball indent locks

Does anyone see a fault in my thinking here ???

Keeping the old Front half shaft as a spare

 

[RCW]

Hmmm....

While Wolfman's shaft was 3" longer than OEM, you added 4" with Pat's, you said it worked better. Then you put the OEM back on and got by for a season-plus.

Why would you start at just 2.5" over OEM if the extra 3" was better? Wouldn't 4 or 5" be better yet, at least as a start? Again, doesn't change overall length, simply allows more overlap of the inner/outer sections.

As you know well, you have to take into account the halves telescope such that they don't bind, but seems like your heading in the wrong direction. Of course, wouldn't be the first time I got the math wrong or missed something; just ask my wife...

These are much easier to make shorter than longer....

P.S. - just proof-read this before submitting, and it sounds like dialogue from a REALLY bad '70's porn movie!!!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I personally wouldn't go by anything you currently have.
I would go from square one, with the blower on, and PTO shafts hooked to tractor and snowblower, but the 2 halves not inside each other, just side by side, (I hold them together with a couple of bungee cords) start with the blower all the way on the ground, mark new shaft, lift the blower a little at a time and mark it every time you lift it, use the shortest length mark as your base max length, figure out how much of the shaft you can engage, then add that to the short mark then subtract 2" to make the final cut.

Clear as mud?

I'm just hanging around the house tomorrow, if you need a hand just shout and I'll come over.

 

[gssixgun]

Clear as mud?

I'm just hanging around the house tomorrow, if you need a hand just shout and I'll come over.

Yeah, I figured that was what you would say

Makes perfect sense..

I need to use the Box blade and rippers one more time on the road, and then I will pull out the Blower and get her done ..

Thanks

 

[gssixgun]

Marked and done

Cut, smoothed out, and hooked back up..

I would guess about 7" longer than the old half shaft left a good 2.5" of safety also..

Everything is all Greased, New Oil, New Filters, Howes added to the fuel all lights checked and working. Another dozen Shearbolt sets still needed

Fingers Crossed waiting for winter

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Marked and done

Cut, smoothed out, and hooked back up..

I would guess about 7" longer than the old half shaft left a good 2.5" of safety also..

Everything is all Greased, New Oil, New Filters, Howes added to the fuel all lights checked and working. Another dozen Shearbolt sets still needed

Fingers Crossed waiting for winter

Excellent to hear!

 

[gssixgun]

The best part is the huge chunk of Tool Steel that I might beat into submission and make something sharp out of it

 

[gssixgun]

Annnnnnnddddd It's Snowing

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Annnnnnnddddd It's Snowing

It did, you must have ticked off the snow gods by getting your blower ready!