1450 Flex Disc Bolt Orientation
 

I am putting the engine back in the old 1450 after other repairs and am in a quandary as to putting the drive shaft back together. Is there a specific way the rag joint and bolts need to be assembled? I'm sure I'm over thinking this but is there a specific way to install the bolts on the rear flex disc joint? When I took the drive shaft apart there where were two bolts that had lock washers and two that didn't. I'm guessing that for sure there needs to be flat washers mating with the flex disc joint but not sure why there two bolts that had lock washers and two that didn't. All of the nuts are locking nuts so not sure why there are two lock washers.

Steve

Steve looks like you might want to put a second one in there. Did you get the driver?

As long as the bolts clear any adjacent components, the orientation doesn't matter. I normally place the bolt head on the coupler and the nut and washer on the flex disk side. You definitely want flat washers where the nut bears on the flex disk, but no need for lock washers if you have nylock nuts (which you really should use here).

Also, as mentioned, a second flex disk might fit here as the one disk is flexing quite a bit to take up the space. Not critical, but I'd run two.

Thanks Alvy, yep I got it and put the engine in last night.

So you and sawdustdad are suggesting to maybe stack two flex discs together?

I may look into finding one around here but I have the engine bolted in and I'm not sure I can get them in or out without moving the engine forward.

Steve

A second flex disk is by no means required. The single disk might have a shorter life. maybe only 20 years...:bigeyes:

As long as you've got it opened up, why not hit your hydro with some de-greaser and pressure washer (or at least a garden hose). Then give the buttons on your release valves a few drops of PB blaster or WD40.

I'm pretty sure the four cap screws go the other way, meaning the flat washer and lock nut would fact the front of the tractor, while the bolt head and flat washer would be facing the hydro pump side. Not sure it matters, though that's how the configuration is on my 1450. I guess in all of my experiences, the flex disk does bend like that when tight.

Have a good day guys!

:biggrin2:

I know when I replaced the flex disc in my 1200, the nut was hitting the transmisison when I had it the other way. If you put the them in as John suggests, you won't have that issue, as the head is thinner than a lock nut.

Just my $0.02