I have a B-2400 sometimes connected via a quick connect system to a Deere LX-4 Rotary Cutter. I have been bush hogging my property to ~20yrs with this set up with minimal maintenance. The drive line when connected to the tractor and rotary cutter only has about 4" of space for additional compaction - this is when the Cutter height compresses the drive line the most. I have read that if the drive line is too long it may damage the Cutter or the PTO. The question is should I cut the drive line(s) shorter (considering I have been using this set up for 20 years without incident). And, if so, how much shorter? The driveline pieces are each about 2 1/2' long. Thanks for your help.
Rotary Cutter Drive Line Question
- Thread starter NickAdams
- Start date
If a shaft is too long it would "bottom out" jamming the two half shafts and causing a bad day all around.
If you have 4" of additional compaction when raised to it's shortest point I would say you're fine.
If you have 4" of additional compaction when raised to it's shortest point I would say you're fine.
NCL4701
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Equipment
L4701, T2290, WC68, grapple, BB1572, Farmi W50R, Howes 500, 16kW IMD gen, WG24
Leave it as is.
“I have read that if the drive line is too long it may damage the Cutter or the PTO.”
That statement is correct. If the PTO shaft in its fully contracted position is longer than the shortest distance between the tractor PTO and implement gearbox, it will bind. If it binds, something will break. Might be the implement gearbox. Might be the tractor PTO. But something will break.
That’s why it is important, when setting up a PTO driven implement on a tractor for the first time that particular tractor and implement have been paired, to attach the implement without the PTO shaft installed and measure the shortest distance between the tractor PTO and implement gearbox and also furthest distance as the hitch is run through its full range of motion. Then measure the PTO shaft at its fully contracted length and also at its fully extended length (fully extended means with sufficient overlap, not merely that it doesn’t fall apart). The PTO shaft fully contracted should be at least 1” shorter than the shortest distance between the PTO and tractor. It should also maintain sufficient overlap at the longest distance.
In your case, you’ve been running the setup for 20 years. If you were going to have a problem with the PTO shaft being the wrong length, it would have happened 20 years ago.
“I have read that if the drive line is too long it may damage the Cutter or the PTO.”
That statement is correct. If the PTO shaft in its fully contracted position is longer than the shortest distance between the tractor PTO and implement gearbox, it will bind. If it binds, something will break. Might be the implement gearbox. Might be the tractor PTO. But something will break.
That’s why it is important, when setting up a PTO driven implement on a tractor for the first time that particular tractor and implement have been paired, to attach the implement without the PTO shaft installed and measure the shortest distance between the tractor PTO and implement gearbox and also furthest distance as the hitch is run through its full range of motion. Then measure the PTO shaft at its fully contracted length and also at its fully extended length (fully extended means with sufficient overlap, not merely that it doesn’t fall apart). The PTO shaft fully contracted should be at least 1” shorter than the shortest distance between the PTO and tractor. It should also maintain sufficient overlap at the longest distance.
In your case, you’ve been running the setup for 20 years. If you were going to have a problem with the PTO shaft being the wrong length, it would have happened 20 years ago.
Russell King
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L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
I agree with your post except for the statement above.
It sounds like for some of the 20 years it might have been connected to a different tractor?
I may be reading too much into the OP’s post but want to state that the PTO. shaft length needs to be verified when connected to any different tractor using the implement.
NCL4701
Well-known member
Equipment
L4701, T2290, WC68, grapple, BB1572, Farmi W50R, Howes 500, 16kW IMD gen, WG24
I read the question as the same tractor/cutter combo had been used the entire 20 years. I agree correct PTO shaft length has to be verified the first time it’s run on a different tractor.
I took the guard off the drive line to more arcuately measure the play in the shaft. Instead of " 4" of space for additional compaction" set forth in my initial post above - I have 1 1/2 inches. Does that mean I should cut the shafts?