3 Point PTO Shaft Greasing

[NCL4701]

Today, I replaced a missing zerk on a u-joint on my bush hog PTO shaft and proceeded to grease the u-joints on all my PTO implements except the 3 point auger in the back of the shed where it’s been buried unused for at least 25 years.

Some of them are really easy to access. Some require removing shielding which takes a few minutes. Some require removing the shaft from the implement. While completing this mundane task on the chipper, bush hog, stump grinder, winch, and generator my mind wandered to the question of how often people really grease these things. I don’t put a ton of hours on any of this stuff. My L is six years old as of last month and is just shy of 600 hours. I’m swapping implements routinely, not like I put on a snow blower for “the season” and leave it on several months. The bush hog and abandoned auger are stored in a pole shed. All other PTO implements are stored in a climate controlled building.

The below instruction in the owner manual for my bush hog is pretty typical from what I’ve seen.

So, every day of use, I’m supposed to remove the shaft (at least from the tractor end), displace the shielding on the gearbox end for access, grease the u-joints, pull the shaft in half to grease the slidy parts, and put it all back together.

I could probably do that on the bush hog without taking it off the tractor and someone long before me made it much easier by removing the bucket shaped shielding on the gearbox that covered the standard bell shaped shield on the PTO shaft. The winch, chipper, stump grinder, and generator; I’d have to at least disconnect the implement and pull the tractor away from it a bit to accomplish that. Realistically, I’d more likely have to drill some strategically placed holes in the shielding and use the grease gun with the flex hose to grease that often.

I’ve never had a problem with a PTO shaft sliding as it should or u-joints wearing out. Just wondering how often y’all actually grease the drive lines on your rear PTO implements.

 

[jyoutz]

Today, I replaced a missing zerk on a u-joint on my bush hog PTO shaft and proceeded to grease the u-joints on all my PTO implements except the 3 point auger in the back of the shed where it’s been buried unused for at least 25 years.

Some of them are really easy to access. Some require removing shielding which takes a few minutes. Some require removing the shaft from the implement. While completing this mundane task on the chipper, bush hog, stump grinder, winch, and generator my mind wandered to the question of how often people really grease these things. I don’t put a ton of hours on any of this stuff. My L is six years old as of last month and is just shy of 600 hours. I’m swapping implements routinely, not like I put on a snow blower for “the season” and leave it on several months. The bush hog and abandoned auger are stored in a pole shed. All other PTO implements are stored in a climate controlled building.

The below instruction in the owner manual for my bush hog is pretty typical from what I’ve seen.
View attachment 165556
So, every day of use, I’m supposed to remove the shaft (at least from the tractor end), displace the shielding on the gearbox end for access, grease the u-joints, pull the shaft in half to grease the slidy parts, and put it all back together.

I could probably do that on the bush hog without taking it off the tractor and someone long before me made it much easier by removing the bucket shaped shielding on the gearbox that covered the standard bell shaped shield on the PTO shaft. The winch, chipper, stump grinder, and generator; I’d have to at least disconnect the implement and pull the tractor away from it a bit to accomplish that. Realistically, I’d more likely have to drill some strategically placed holes in the shielding and use the grease gun with the flex hose to grease that often.

I’ve never had a problem with a PTO shaft sliding as it should or u-joints wearing out. Just wondering how often y’all actually grease the drive lines on your rear PTO implements.

I grease at the beginning of the season before I install the cutter.

 

[D2Cat]

Any implement with U-joints I grease around 8-10 hours, just guessing. Generally a pain in the azz, but I just tell myself that's better then repairing something.

 

[Botamon]

Like D2Cat, I grease u joints frequently. The sliding portion of the PTO shaft is done once every season.

PTO shafts like on my post hole digger that I use only every few years I actually take apart and store that way. I've found that if not used often the lubricant hardens and then it becomes almost impossible to attach the implement because the two sections "freeze" together. I suppose those of you who live in humid parts of the country the two sections could rust together also. Anyway, infrequently used PTO shafts I store with the two sections separated and then lube them up and assemble them when I need to use the implement.

 

[nbryan]

Generally I'll grease an implement much more frequently when I've just acquired the implement, new or used. Then can tell soon if it's consuming grease much or not, and adjust spaces between lubing accordingly. My ancient 3-point 60" Dixie Cutter rotary mower PTO shaft u-joints get greased EVERY use, as they're shedding a bit with age.
But in general I grease more often than manuals recommend, hours wise.

 

[jaxs]

When someone borrows my things I point to stickers that say "Grease every 8 hours" and tell them that is a condition for borrowing it so I expect them to do it. Before they leave I tell them I already did the 8am grease so it will be fine until 4pm. After a couple days of mid-night greasing they usually return it and never ask again.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I have several machines and the usage is very different between the B and MX. The B is used almost weekly year around. The MX is used slightly once per month between aprilish and decemberish - very low usage(hours), but when I use it, i need it and use it.

that being said, I grease the machines when I fuel them, which is close to 8ish hours of run time with either machine. (Seems like the fuel tank is just big enough on both for a days use…but rarely do I get to use a machine for a full day continuously )

as far as my implements, if I do happen to use for a full day, everything gets greased that day after fuel up. Otherwise the implements that need greased are:

1. Logging winch, Chipper and tillers - seasonal use and greased when done.
2. MMM and loader(s) and grapple(s) all get greased with the machines if they are on the tractor at fuel ups. (They get greased more than necessary IMO)
3. bush hog is greased after 3 to 4 full mows. The covers on the joints and shaft are a real PITA though and I do not look forward to monkeying with them, but I do.
4. As far as the Diamond C and other trailers, they get greased need it or not beginning and end of tow season and once or so during tow season(more than necessary but I consider it once of prevention)

IMO it really helps having the Milwaukee cordless grease gun for the majority of zerks and common grease and then I have two others manual grease guns for the exceptional greases for the minor number or zerks. The Milwaukee cordless sure makes it easier and enjoyable to quickly hit the zerks for the regular greasing of the machine. That combined with the lock fitting encourages the frequent maintenance and makes much less mess.

Sure it’s expensive for my low use but if it makes enjoyable and increases frequency I think it’s an ounce of prevention well spent.

 

[D2Cat]

I have several machines and the usage is very different between the B and MX. The B is used almost weekly year around. The MX is used slightly once per month between aprilish and decemberish - very low usage(hours), but when I use it, i need it and use it.

that being said, I grease the machines when I fuel them, which is close to 8ish hours of run time with either machine. (Seems like the fuel tank is just big enough on both for a days use…but rarely do I get to use a machine for a full day continuously )

as far as my implements, if I do happen to use for a full day, everything gets greased that day after fuel up. Otherwise the implements that need greased are:

1. Logging winch, Chipper and tillers - seasonal use and greased when done.
2. MMM and loader(s) and grapple(s) all get greased with the machines if they are on the tractor at fuel ups. (They get greased more than necessary IMO)
3. bush hog is greased after 3 to 4 full mows. The covers on the joints and shaft are a real PITA though and I do not look forward to monkeying with them, but I do.
4. As far as the Diamond C and other trailers, they get greased need it or not beginning and end of tow season and once or so during tow season(more than necessary but I consider it once of prevention)

IMO it really helps having the Milwaukee cordless grease gun for the majority of zerks and common grease and then I have two others manual grease guns for the exceptional greases for the minor number or zerks. The Milwaukee cordless sure makes it easier and enjoyable to quickly hit the zerks for the regular greasing of the machine. That combined with the lock fitting encourages the frequent maintenance and makes much less mess.

Sure it’s expensive for my low use but if it makes enjoyable and increases frequency I think it’s an ounce of prevention well spent.

GrumpyFarmer, when you say "enjoyable"..... that can only be said when comparing the cordless to a lever actuated, not the actual task!

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

GrumpyFarmer, when you say "enjoyable"..... that can only be said when comparing the cordless to a lever actuated, not the actual task!

LOL…Generally yes you are correct, however I have some adult aids to increase the pleasure…it starts with a proper cigar and beverage.

after I have been out pretending to be a farmer / productive, it’s actually relaxing for me to burn one one and sip something while greasing…yes I wait until fueling finished to light the wick on the cigar.

Let me rephrase, I do not mind it…however there is no aspect of monkeying with the shields and covers on the bush hog that find enjoyable.

 

[D2Cat]

I just know when trying to get job done and have a mental image of when, then things start clattering.... replacing U-joints is not enjoyable for me.