You have to split them to install the quick hitch. One thing that might make your life easier in the future is before you split them, using a paint marker, mark the location of both the male and female part of the driveshafts on the snowblower and the quick hitch. At a quick glance, it looks like a square shaft, but in reality, it is actually a rectangular drive shaft and it will be a lot easier to assemble if you mark the top and bottom of each half. I speak from experience. In my case, I filed a notch on each part to make it easier for me. Grease all the points on the snowblower and the quick hitch before installation. Also once the driveshaft is installed, tug on it trying to pull it off. If you can, then it wasn't fully seated on the PTO shaft. Mistakes such as this can get expensive quickly.