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PTO-Shaft Lubrication

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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2008-07-28          155657


How often should you grease the zerks on a PTO shaft (the one with a universal joint at each end, to drive a rotary attachment like a tiller or mower)?

I use mine about 50 hours per summer, and just grease it at the beginning of the season, but wondered if it should be done more often. Grease is cheaper than replacement parts, but it's hard to lube those ends when it's on the tractor.

(Moderator: I really tried to post this on a more general discussion board, but how you do that is beyond me.)

(Message moved to a different section by Murf)







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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2008-07-28          155658


I've got several PTO drive shafts, none of which likely accumulate more that 24 hours use per year. None of them are used in the winter, so I consider a few pumps of grease in the spring to be adequate lubrication for the year. And I clean/grease the female splines while I'm at it

//greg// ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2008-07-28          155659


According to the Bush Hog manuals for rotary cutters (several different models) and a few other pieces I have here, they should be greased every time it's used.

They also say to grease any wheel pivot points or bearings and drive line guards as well.

In practice, every drive shaft in use is lubricated at the end of each day in our fleet. It's the last thing they do before they park it for the night as part of the daily check sheet. Any problems are reported to the maintenance people who then have a chance to fix it before it's needed the next day.

My personal stuff at home also gets a couple of shots of grease each time it's used.

Best of luck. ....


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harvey
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 1550 Moravia, NY
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2008-07-28          155660


I also grease mower spindles, wheels and pivot every time when finished mowing. I do grease PTO universals begining, middle and end of season.

Most of my shields are removed to make cleaning each time easier.

Do Have to admit greasing has slipped a little with leg. Hard to grease when using crutches. Watching wife and tring to explain is real hard. I grease every other mowing at moment. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-07-28          155661


It was suggested to me the use of high temp grease in the spindles. I probably grease along the line of Harvey which would about equal Murf's hours on use.

I do not use an air grease gun (or at least my model) for the spindles to be sure grease is pumping and not just the gun sounds like it. For other fittings such as pto joints and such do. kt
....


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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2008-07-28          155663


Thanks, guys. Better overgrease than under.

Thompson, I use an air gun too because otherwise I generally need three hands due to the flex hose on it. You can be pretty sure it's working on spindles where you can't see any outsquirt -- if you DO see the outsquirt on other fittings. (And if outsquirt isn't a word, it should be.) ....


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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-07-29          155671


Keeping the two halves of the PTO shaft lubed so they can slide freely when a three point implement is lifted or a turn is made with a pull type machine is probably as important to watch as the universals. When those things get sticky from dirt and chaff or whatever they can be really hard to pull apart, that has to put a lot of strain on the universals and the bearings of the PTO shaft in the tractor and the gearbox bearings on the machine end. I try to watch them and when they get gummed up I pull them apart and clean them up with some diesel fuel and an old paint brush, greas them up good and put them back together. it's a messy job, but I think pretty importsant. Frank. ....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-07-29          155674


Quote:
Originally Posted by auerbach | view 155663
Thanks, guys. Better overgrease than under.Thompson, I use an air gun too because otherwise I generally need three hands due to the flex hose on it. You can be pretty sure it's working on spindles where you can't see any outsquirt -- if you DO see the outsquirt on other fittings. (And if outsquirt isn't a word, it should be.)


You may be 100% correct on some air powered grease guns but not Craftsman brand. They will sound as if pumping grease and no "outsquirt" when empty. They will also make the same sound if unable to push grease into the fitting. No idea who makes this grease gun for Sears but have had two and they both did the same. Possible other brands or models does not give a false impression. I very much suggest if a person uses a power grease gun they are sure if does not give false pumping impression as mine does on such as spindles. Just try it empty and see if you can tell it is not pumping. One other reason I don't like air gun on such is control. On hand grease gun it is easy to know how much grease is being pumped into a blind fitting such as at least my Bush Hog brand spindles.

As to the three hands, understand, need to replace the end on my hand grease gun with flex hose for that very reason.

Hardwood, great point. kt ....


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