I am looking for some much needed help.
A few years ago I bought a used 1980's vintage kubota L245DT with a loader. It runs like a champ and I've gotten more use out of it than I could have imagined. Anyhow, the loader is powered by a hydraulic pump mounted on the front of the tractor. (It appears to have been the original setup as it was purchased new from Kubota.) Hydraulic pump is connected to the front pto shaft. Recently, while plowing/lifting some snow, I noticed a crack in the frame the supports the loader. This, in addition to some serious whinning from pump and loss of power to the loader. Upon further inspection and removal of the hydraulic pump, I realized I have a problem which goes beyond a simple weld job on the frame.
The PTO shaft (18 splines) is badly worn, as are the teeth on the female coupler (also 18 splines, obviously) that is used to connect the PTO shaft to the hydraulic pump. (There is a one foot shaft with two chain sprockets that runs between the female coupler and the back of the hydraulic pump.)
I don't have the time or money to tear the machine completely down, which is what would be required to replace the PTO shaft (per local Kubota dealership). Even if I did that, I cannot find a replacement female coupler, since Kabota does not make it anymore. I've tried everywhere to find one, to no avail (local machine shops, hub city, salvage etc.). I've read many post on several different website detailing people with similar problems, but have yet to find someone who found a solution that worked.
I considered drilling and tapping several holes into the female coupler, so as to send threaded bolts through the holes to secure the female coupler to the worn shaft. Problem is the machine shop tried to drill the holes and snapped a bit in the process as the coupler is made of hardened steel. Even if they use a diamond or carbide bit to drill the hole, the guy at the shop told me I won't be able to tap a hole in order to screw the bolts through the holes.
Before I completely quit and weld the coupler to the shaft, I am trying to see if anyone else has any suggestions. Here are some others I've considered:
1). JB Weld/loctite. Probably not a real "solution," since it would be a temporary fix. Doubt it would even hold for long, but it would probably hold for a while. (I don't think the female coupling needs to slide back and forth on the pto, since the two sprockets appear to be made to serve that purpose (ie. they provide for some play front to back between the pto shaft and the hydraulic pump.)
2). Drill a hole or two completely through the female coupler and drill a similar hole all the way through the PTO shaft. Secure the two parts together with steel pins. This would probably work great, but I don't think I have enough room to fit a drill into the area where the PTO shaft is (ie. I don't want to disassemble the entire tractor to complete this repair.) Also, it will be difficult to prevent the drill bit from slipping on the PTO shaft and I doubt the bit will hold up when trying to drill through the female coupler and the PTO shaft. It will probably snap due to heat and inability to continue putting oil on the area I'm drilling.
3) find some type of a sleeve that will fit over the worn shaft. I'm envisioning something with a female end with 18 splines and a male end which would essentially be a brand new 18 spline shaft. I've seen similar pieces of gear meant to increase or decrease the size of a healthy shaft, but I've yet to find a device meant to be used on a worn shaft. I'm sure someone will say this idea won't work because even if such a device existed, the female side will probably slip on the worn shaft. But I suppose I could weld it on, effectively creating a new shaft.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I think I need Service Dept Vic!
A few years ago I bought a used 1980's vintage kubota L245DT with a loader. It runs like a champ and I've gotten more use out of it than I could have imagined. Anyhow, the loader is powered by a hydraulic pump mounted on the front of the tractor. (It appears to have been the original setup as it was purchased new from Kubota.) Hydraulic pump is connected to the front pto shaft. Recently, while plowing/lifting some snow, I noticed a crack in the frame the supports the loader. This, in addition to some serious whinning from pump and loss of power to the loader. Upon further inspection and removal of the hydraulic pump, I realized I have a problem which goes beyond a simple weld job on the frame.
The PTO shaft (18 splines) is badly worn, as are the teeth on the female coupler (also 18 splines, obviously) that is used to connect the PTO shaft to the hydraulic pump. (There is a one foot shaft with two chain sprockets that runs between the female coupler and the back of the hydraulic pump.)
I don't have the time or money to tear the machine completely down, which is what would be required to replace the PTO shaft (per local Kubota dealership). Even if I did that, I cannot find a replacement female coupler, since Kabota does not make it anymore. I've tried everywhere to find one, to no avail (local machine shops, hub city, salvage etc.). I've read many post on several different website detailing people with similar problems, but have yet to find someone who found a solution that worked.
I considered drilling and tapping several holes into the female coupler, so as to send threaded bolts through the holes to secure the female coupler to the worn shaft. Problem is the machine shop tried to drill the holes and snapped a bit in the process as the coupler is made of hardened steel. Even if they use a diamond or carbide bit to drill the hole, the guy at the shop told me I won't be able to tap a hole in order to screw the bolts through the holes.
Before I completely quit and weld the coupler to the shaft, I am trying to see if anyone else has any suggestions. Here are some others I've considered:
1). JB Weld/loctite. Probably not a real "solution," since it would be a temporary fix. Doubt it would even hold for long, but it would probably hold for a while. (I don't think the female coupling needs to slide back and forth on the pto, since the two sprockets appear to be made to serve that purpose (ie. they provide for some play front to back between the pto shaft and the hydraulic pump.)
2). Drill a hole or two completely through the female coupler and drill a similar hole all the way through the PTO shaft. Secure the two parts together with steel pins. This would probably work great, but I don't think I have enough room to fit a drill into the area where the PTO shaft is (ie. I don't want to disassemble the entire tractor to complete this repair.) Also, it will be difficult to prevent the drill bit from slipping on the PTO shaft and I doubt the bit will hold up when trying to drill through the female coupler and the PTO shaft. It will probably snap due to heat and inability to continue putting oil on the area I'm drilling.
3) find some type of a sleeve that will fit over the worn shaft. I'm envisioning something with a female end with 18 splines and a male end which would essentially be a brand new 18 spline shaft. I've seen similar pieces of gear meant to increase or decrease the size of a healthy shaft, but I've yet to find a device meant to be used on a worn shaft. I'm sure someone will say this idea won't work because even if such a device existed, the female side will probably slip on the worn shaft. But I suppose I could weld it on, effectively creating a new shaft.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I think I need Service Dept Vic!
