pto troubles

transformer · #1 01-16-2010, 10:25 PM

Got the chance to work on our 70 today and thought I would give our first shot at our first pto removal and rebuild.Its amazing to me how someone could have ever let this thing go this far.Its only got 4 ears left on the fiber clutch disc left and no fiber button left at all.I just cant imagine letting something go that far but anyway Ive been pb blaster soaking the set screws for a couple of days now so I thought it was time.I managed to get the first one out of the hole with out a hitch but the lower one wont budge..so I moved on to the next one and managed to break my snap on allen wrench off in it.Im gona try tommorow with some dental pics and try to get it out there and start again...I have the feeling Im gona end up doing some drilling on this before its over.My question about this is are all the pto's this mean to get off? Its obvious that my tractor just pretty well got drove to near its on death before I got it so I expect everthing will be this way with it and to this point it has been. Maybe a good carbide bit with cutting oil is my best bet but any suggestions would be great...My thinking is once I get past this and the roll pins on the clutch It will all be gravy ...lol...

Yosemite Sam · #2 01-16-2010, 11:07 PM

You pretty-much hit the nail on the head... The PTO is about the toughest thing and the spiral pins are next.

I'm guessing that you are not using a "ball end" allen wrench, they don't work so well.
Keep soaking, try running a bottoming tap in the hole to clean up the threads a little, try to tighten the set screws a little before trying to get them out.

Not sure if anyone else has any "tricks"

For really stubborn ones I will use a long socket type allen wrench, when I get it in the set screw I beat the crap out of it with a hammer to "jar" it loose (be careful not to break anything).

To answer your question... No they aren't all this hard to get out, I'll bet that 50% of them are though! I've had some that I just "knew" were going to give me fits, that just come right out and I've had some that I thought would be easy and end up breaking the casting trying to get them off. One thing is for sure, runing into one that is a pita will teach you put Anti-seize on it when you put it back together.

Good luck.

transformer · #3 01-16-2010, 11:39 PM

Nope not using a ball end....I had to be careful today or I would have taught my son a few new words...lol....I soaked em again before I left it today..The bad thing is I didnt have a good set of wrenches so I borrowed my buddys Snap On's and broke it......lol..and another bad thing is I drove his in the set screw before it broke...I have a feelin it wont be easy to get out of there....

transformer · #4 01-18-2010, 10:27 AM

This pto is really giving me fits.I managed to get the broke allen out it took about a hour with a pecan pic working it back and forth. Went and bought a craftsman allen and finally stripped it.. I can tell the that the next one is set screw is gona be just like this one as well....So I soaked em and left em alone.Tommorow Im gona go find some good bit drill bits and try again...Im thinking it might be better just to cut the whole thing off the shaft...Only part worth saving on the whole pto is the basket.....Any recommendations on the bits and has anyone used a left handed bit to any avail...

Mlamar · #5 01-18-2010, 10:58 AM

I feel your pain. I've removed many over the years. I have even used my right angle grinder with a cut off disc to remove one. I cut through the PTO in two places being real careful not to cut into the crankshaft. I always wear a face shield with the grinder. I am fortunate to have extra parts so cutting that one off was not a problem.

transformer · #6 01-18-2010, 11:07 AM

What your saying may be my best option....Im not using any part of this pto...Except the basket...It looks like someone took a ball ping to it all over pully is chipped up.....one spring tab is broke ....I have another pto that I went through new disc new bearing and locking collar ect....to put back on...

Mlamar · #7 01-18-2010, 11:21 AM

I forgot to mention that another one of the hard parts for me to remove in the past (and I'm sure in the future) has been removing some of the older exhaust pipes that are threaded and screw into the block (such as on a 10hp kohler). I've had to very carefully cut the inside of the pipe (without going into the block threads) and using a chisel, tap the pipe near the cuts to collapse it. I used my sawzall with a good sharp metal blade. The key is to take the time needed to do it right without injury to the block our myself.

Yosemite Sam · #8 01-18-2010, 11:52 AM

Here's a quote that I found from a fella on another forum, you may want to give this a try before you cut anything off, I have read this before but had forgotten about it.

"Iv.e Been using Tork with a long shaft qnd a 1/4" ratchet to get the setscrews out, spray with Kroil(I like it better than PB Blaster and let sit an hour and pound the tight fitting tork in with a hammer. Haven't gotten any that haven't come out since I started using the torks."

Good luck.

Matt G. · #9 01-18-2010, 11:54 AM

I usually try EZ-outs before drilling all the way through the setscrews. I've had pretty good luck with them to remove setscrews.

At any rate, the thing you need the most here is patience. It's a great feeling once you get it off the tractor.

transformer · #10 01-18-2010, 07:47 PM

I thought about the torx yesterday...Im starting a shopping list tonight..lol...Im a pretty patient guy for the most part Ive been at this for 3 days now off and on..Ive got so much to work on with this tractor I just move over to something else till cool off and think about it about it a while.The good thing is when Im aggravated at one thing I do good on others I managed to rebuild my donor pto and my 38 inch deck during this time..Tomorrow Im gona get a couple of ez outs and a few good drill bits maybe a long torx like you guys suggested and try it again....Thanks for the encouragement ...and the input....