B2601 mid-mower PTO drive shaft not sliding

[catskillacres]

Ahoy - a used (50hr) B2601 found its way to my land last month. Mowing went swimmingly, and disconnection was a breeze. When going to reattach I've been unable to get the PTO drive shaft to slide. I'm not a newb to mechanics (motorbikes), though am taking baby steps to serious machines like this orange ox. I've tried all orientations, focusing on the teeth and markings. Though there are some abnormalities - see pictures - that have me slightly worried it may have been forced by the previous owner in wrong and/or right orientations. Before using force I thought to ask some experts, thanks for your thoughts on the matter.

 

[rogbn]

Had the same thing with mine. As I understand it they will only go back together one way, and is designed this way so that the shaft is balanced. As soon as I got the orientation right it went together with no problem. I couldn't tell by looking where the differences were in the teeth, so just did it by feel - trial and error.

 

[catskillacres]

Had the same thing with mine. As I understand it they will only go back together one way, and is designed this way so that the shaft is balanced. As soon as I got the orientation right it went together with no problem. I couldn't tell by looking where the differences were in the teeth, so just did it by feel - trial and error.

Thanks! Thought that was the case. Unfortunately, 99.9% confident I've found the right phase, though it catches hard about 1/2-3/4" down the drive shaft. I could be wrong, though it looks (pictures) like it's been tampered with previously. Considering a gentle filing to smooth those two suspect teeth, then fingers crossed.

 

[Henro]

Thanks! Thought that was the case. Unfortunately, 99.9% confident I've found the right phase, though it catches hard about 1/2-3/4" down the drive shaft. I could be wrong, though it looks (pictures) like it's been tampered with previously. Considering a gentle filing to smooth those two suspect teeth, then fingers crossed.

Curious. Why did it come apart to begin with?

On my MMM there is no need to separate the driveshaft halves when removing or reinstalling the MMM.

Different Kubota though…

 

[catskillacres]

Curious. Why did it come apart to begin with?

On my MMM there is no need to separate the driveshaft halves when removing or reinstalling the MMM.

Different Kubota though…

Good question, that's part of the mystery. A few after finishing mowing I went to take it off. The PTO coupler was warm to the touch when I pulled it down and slid it right off the mid pto. Being greasy and navigating under tractor contortionism the drive shaft slipped from my hand and came apart when it clanked against the mower deck. Never in a million years would've thought that would be the hard part to get back together.

 

[RBsingl]

One reason for fitting only one way may be to ensure correct "phasing" of the universal joints at either end to avoid excessive vibration. I know that the shaft of my 3 point Deere tiller is keyed so the two halves can only fit together one way.