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Adjusting tiller shaft

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slugdoug
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2 CA
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2005-04-24          110274


I purchased a Gearmore tiller and have not idea how I am supposed to cut and adjust the shaft. I really feel stupid about this but I don’t want to screw this up and I got no instructions on how it should be done.



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Adjusting tiller shaft

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Iowafun
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 955 Central Iowa
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2005-04-24          110283


Yeah, take your time as you don't want to screw it up. Others will probably get you instructions before I can get the ones from my tiller. But one place to start is to install the tiller onto your tractor. The move the 3-point up and down until you find the shortest distance between the tiller and the PTO.

Measure that distance. Then assemble your PTO shaft that came with your tiller. Fully compress it and measure it. Obviously, if it's longer that what is needed to connect the tractor to the tiller, then it will need to be shortened. But if it's shorter by several inches, you may not need to shorten the shaft. Life is better if you don't have to shorten it. I didn't need to shorten mine for my tractor. ....


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Adjusting tiller shaft

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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2005-04-24          110292


To expand on Iowafuns' instructions, if you need to shorten it cut half the length from each shaft. The goal is to preserve as much shaft overlap length as possible without it EVER bottoming out. If it bottoms out you can do some expensive damage. I use a sawzall with bi-metal blade to cut the shaft but a hacksaw and sweat should work. ....


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Adjusting tiller shaft

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s chrand
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 77 Mid-Michigan
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2005-04-25          110311


I just went thru this with my tiller. Be cautious. Measure twice... I mounted the two halves of the shaft seperately to the tractor and tiller, then connected the tiller. jacked up the tractor so the tiller could be completely lowered, and looked for min. and max. shaft lengths by holding the shafts next to each other while raising and lowering the tiller. ....


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Adjusting tiller shaft

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s chrand
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 77 Mid-Michigan
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2005-04-25          110312


for mine, the min was with the tiller all the way up, max was with it all the way down. I marked the cut length on the female shaft (were it lines up with the u-joint). Oh yeah, before any of this, remove the pto cover. then I subtracted 1/4" and marked the shaft. then find max length, and mark shaft again. ....


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Adjusting tiller shaft

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s chrand
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 77 Mid-Michigan
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2005-04-25          110315


here's were it can get tricky. I hope I can explain this. assuming the shaft was made correctly, you'll need to cut the same amount off both shafts (the mark for the min shaft length, ie, the greater of the two marks). measure that and put a mark on the make shaft were it gets cut. now lay the shafts next to each other and set it at max length. ....


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Adjusting tiller shaft

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s chrand
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 77 Mid-Michigan
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2005-04-25          110317


what you are looking for is the min amount of overlap the two shafts will have at max travel (length). the more the better, but from what I've found, don't run with less than 4". if it's less than that, you'll need to find a different shaft (I did). cut the shafts (min length marks) and de-burr with a file. ....


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Adjusting tiller shaft

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s chrand
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 77 Mid-Michigan
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2005-04-25          110319


clean and re-grease the shafts. re-assemble and install with tiller on tractor. carefully, very carefully, raise and lower the tiller and watch for the shaft bottoming out (running out of travel). make sure the shaft never fully collapses. if it does, cut more off. major damage to tractor if you don't. ....


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s chrand
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 77 Mid-Michigan
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2005-04-25          110320


now cut the shield, I think so they are a little shorted than the end of the shaft you just cut. I haven't done this yet. with 10" of snow over the weekend, the need to till has diminished. good luck, and if any of this was helpful, consider joining. best 20$ I've spent on my tractor yet.
David ....


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Adjusting tiller shaft

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slugdoug
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2 CA
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2005-04-25          110324


Thanks, I think that I have a clear understand now just need to get over being nervous about doing it. Thanks again. ....


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Iowafun
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 955 Central Iowa
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2005-04-25          110326


Well, there you go. Those are the basic steps I was going to put up once I went and got the instructions that came with my tiller. I was fortunate that I did not need to cut my shaft down.

You will want to have at least 4" of overlap where the male portion of the PTO shaft is in the female section by at least 4" at the point where the tiller is farthest away from the tractor. My father-in-law had less than that for his rotary cutter and the shaft flexed (bowed outward) causing significant vibration. Once he figured that out, he moved the mower closer to the tractor. It can be dangerous if it's too short. ....


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Adjusting tiller shaft

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bmeyer
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 175 Central Wisconsin
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2005-04-28          110486


Great Timing! I'm picking up my Woods GTC 52" Tiller on Friday. I've read what the Woods manual said about cutting the PTO shaft (if necessary), but your discussion made better sense. The issue of maxium overlap was a great tip. I, too, am sweating making a cut too short.

Measure twice - cut once! That will be my mantra. ....


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bmeyer
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 175 Central Wisconsin
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2005-04-30          110524


I picked up my Woods GTC 52 Tiller yesterday. So last night I had to trim the PTO Shaft. Despite the nervous sweat in my eyes, all went well.

I wound up cutting 2 inches off each piece. I could have cut more but saw no need to do that in case I move to another tractor some day.

I used my sawsall to trim the ends, then filed them clean. It worked perfectly.

The comments made here help as much or more than the Woods Manual.

THanks. ....


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kubota6200
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 17 Central Ohio
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2006-08-12          133240


I have purchased a vgc used, Befco T30-142 Tiller (42",540rpm,shearpin,cat1-3ph,w/side shift)for my B6200D Kubota. A new drive shaft came with the tiller. There are extension arms added for the 3ph pin mountings to adapt & extend the tiller away from whatever tractor it was used on. I will test mount the tiller to see if the hitch adapter extensions will be needed for clearance for my setup, if not, then I will not use them since they could cause added strain on the 3ph & tractor. The drive shaft may need to be modified or replaced to suit the length required, so I checked the Befco web site and found answers to all of the questions posted in this forum.
See:
Befco equipment is located at Rock Mount, NC & there are 3 dealers near central Ohio.
....


Link:   

Click Here


 

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Adjusting tiller shaft

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kubota6200
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 17 Central Ohio
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2006-08-17          133407


Check this url for info to adjust shaft length:
www.befco.com/technical/technicaltips/tip1.html ....


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