Outside the box.

olds45512 · #1 06-09-2018, 11:50 AM

One of our repeat customers at the shop is a local golf course, they have a Ford 2120 that we've worked on several times. It's back in the shop again because the PTO quit working and after we got it apart it the issue was fairly obvious. The PTO shaft runs from the double clutch back to a coupler and then another shaft goes out the back of the tractor, as you can see in the first two pics the splines are gone from the front shaft and coupler. The shaft and coupler are nla and good used parts couldn't be found and the golf course really needed their tractor back so I suggested having the coupler welded to the front shaft, it was one of the few times where my dad said "that's actually a really good idea". I took it to a local machine shop and they turned the coupler on a lathe to clean out the hole and make it round, they also welded the shaft and then ran it on a lathe so the coupler would go on tight and straight, once that was all done they welded the two pieces together and it turned out perfect. We got the tractor back together yesterday and will be delivering it to the golf course Tuesday. I anxious to see how it holds up, if it doesn't I guess we're back to square one.

Jeff in Pa · #2 06-09-2018, 09:49 PM

Nice fix but keep looking for replacement parts. Depending on what grade/ alloy steel they used for the shaft and coupler, it may develop cracks and fail.

One thing going for the repair is it looks like the welder kept the heat down

jaynjeep · #3 06-09-2018, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olds45512

One of our repeat customers at the shop is a local golf course, they have a Ford 2120 that we've worked on several times. It's back in the shop again because the PTO quit working and after we got it apart it the issue was fairly obvious. The PTO shaft runs from the double clutch back to a coupler and then another shaft goes out the back of the tractor, as you can see in the first two pics the splines are gone from the front shaft and coupler. The shaft and coupler are nla and good used parts couldn't be found and the golf course really needed their tractor back so I suggested having the coupler welded to the front shaft, it was one of the few times where my dad said "that's actually a really good idea". I took it to a local machine shop and they turned the coupler on a lathe to clean out the hole and make it round, they also welded the shaft and then ran it on a lathe so the coupler would go on tight and straight, once that was all done they welded the two pieces together and it turned out perfect. We got the tractor back together yesterday and will be delivering it to the golf course Tuesday. I anxious to see how it holds up, if it doesn't I guess we're back to square one.

Tim,

Great fix in a pinch.. but I agree with Jeff.. you better keep hunting parts.. It may hold up forever but i've seen shafts welded to hubs before and more often than not they usually break at the weld..

But I understand.. you gotta do what you gotta do to get them going!

J-Mech · #4 06-09-2018, 11:41 PM

Yep, BTDT before when I didn't have any choice. But I agree with the others.... and I've seen it too. It will likely break at the weld. A hard shaft like that usually stresses and breaks. I agree with Jeff though, it does look like the welder kept the heat down, and that will really help. Machining a keyway in the shaft, then welding it would have helped too in my opinion. I'm surprised the shaft is NLA being it is on the PTO. Usually high wear parts stay in production.....