RC48 mower deck removal question

[Roger Fowler]

I had a few minutes to look at it again this evening. All of the pins now move back into their hole when pressed. They did not do that before. Even when I tried to move them with vice-grips (carefully). Sprayed everything with Kroil again. Stay tuned.

Roger

 

[Roger Fowler]

Good morning Hugo,
I went back out this morning to take some more pictures. Looking at it directly from the side I see that there are actually 4 pins. 2 in the U-joint housing and two in the rotating collar. The pictures from the left side show the collar rotated to different positions. And I threw in the picture from the right for reference. I haven't found any holes for the pins to drop into, but maybe they are full of rust and dirt. I will keep looking. Thank you for the information and suggestions.

Regards,
Roger

Finally got back to the driveshaft this morning and the "quick disconnect" is now removed. I started turning and wobbling the one remaining pin and was able to pull it out. It then took vice grips on both sides to fully retract the retaining ring - but then it slipped right off.

One remaining question - what is the purpose of the four little pins (2 on the ring and 2 on the splined part) and how should they work? Are they supposed to be spring loaded to allow retracting the retaining ring?

 

[Mowbizz]

Hold the fort! It's a good thing I read the posts on this board. All this time, I was pushing a button like is on all other PTO connections I've used. Apparently, with the statements here, all I need to do is pull back that ring, line up the splines and slide it onto the PTO shaft. "All," I say, "all I need to do." I'm not sure it will be as easy as it sounds but maybe that's why I've had such a hard time re-attaching this mower. The ring does not stay "cocked," for one thing. As soon as I start to slide it forward, the ring goes forward but is not attached yet.

All to say, I hope you get it on! Oops...it's off in this case.

TG

Yes! That’s what my mid PTO shaft always did with my deck and now with my snowblower! You need hands like a giant to hold the ring open while positioning it on the PTO! I admit with the snowblower, there is ample room to work it as opposed to the mower deck (which I don’t own anymore)

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Finally got back to the driveshaft this morning and the "quick disconnect" is now removed. I started turning and wobbling the one remaining pin and was able to pull it out. It then took vice grips on both sides to fully retract the retaining ring - but then it slipped right off.

One remaining question - what is the purpose of the four little pins (2 on the ring and 2 on the splined part) and how should they work? Are they supposed to be spring loaded to allow retracting the retaining ring?

I think the pins are only for guiding the ring and prevent rotation. Mine were broken off when I got the tractor and the lock could still be operated. The spring is inside the ring on my coupling.

Wrt assembling, on my coupling you can align it with the splines first and push it in a few millimeters and then you pull the ring to retract the locking balls and push it fully forward. Then pull it back until it's locked.

 

[Russell King]

…and push it fully forward. Then pull it back until it's locked.

@Hugo Habicht neglected to state one obvious but critical detail…

…and push it fully forward. Release the ring. Then pull it (the shaft) back until it's locked.