home made PTO tube for brush hog

Farmallb · Aug 2, 2014

Im thinking of taking 2 pieces of angle iron, the thick stuff and welding it, then taking 23 more and placing the V of the angle over the welded places and welded them together. Do you think it would hold up for a brush hog?
Do you think I could get it welded good enough to the universal to be worthwhile?

JMS/.MN · Aug 2, 2014

No. Shafts need to be in reasonable balance. You can buy tube stock at machine shops if you want to make your own.

donjr · Aug 2, 2014

Just go to TSC and get a couple of shafts. Probably cheaper and less headaches that trying to weld one up.................

Billy NY · Aug 2, 2014

You could weld angle iron together, as well as the universal to be strong, but there is that balance thing and that's a must with something like this. The other thing is, that is about the most cantankerous thing I have ever heard of, and I'm not poking fun at the idea, always fun to consider building this or that, but I'd opt for the correct material. Another consideration, given the shape, you ever get caught on it or something caught in it, it's going to wind and or wrap without hesitation, if what you describe, is sort of an open gear or sprocket, it would need a guard for sure. If it ever comes apart, who is to say what will happen.

I've had regular drive shafts get out of balance and have taken same to a shop specializing in same, just not something to fool with. I had one come apart and toss the universal parts like shrapnel more than once, pieces hit a city bus. Another on a tri-axle dump, same kind of thing, flying metal, still have the pieces from that one in a jar.

paul · Aug 2, 2014

Not worth messing with, you will need several tires to get close to right, balanced, able to slide. The inner angle iron being hollow will twist over time and then you will have the same problems of needing a new shaft.

Forget about it.

Paul

ss55 · Aug 3, 2014

What could go wrong?

Mowers like that can produce heavy shock loads. A replacement shaft would be much safer. Do you still have a slip clutch or shear pin in the system?

Farmallb · Aug 3, 2014

Yes the shear pin is still on it, and TSC wants over $250 for a new one.

bg/mo · Aug 3, 2014

250 would be for complete shaft,,, you just need replacement tubing,, or i guess thats what you need , if you can weld,,, even $250 would be cheap compared to what a poorly made jury rigged shaft would do when it comes flying apart.

RodinNS · Aug 3, 2014

Most days... it's a lot cheaper and easier to not try and reinvent the wheel. This is one of those days.
Just buy a shaft/profile...

Rod

ss55 · Aug 3, 2014

Sometimes it's better to pick which battles to you want to fight and which ones to pass on to someone else.

Replacing twisted tubes on power shafts used to be a common repair at many welding/farm repair shops. They know how to keep things better centered for balance and how to keep the U-joint knuckles in time to each other. If you took your old shaft to one of these shops they could probably repair it for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of a new one. If they can't they should be able to tell you that up front.

Good luck and be safe.

Charllie in MO · Aug 4, 2014

I've always lived by don't let people say you 'can't'. But sometimes safety and common sense rule, be careful.

Farmallb · Aug 4, 2014

I stopped at a welding shop. He said he could weld it for $10. Didn't have a tube that took a 1 1/4in shaft. I went to 2 machine shops, 2 places where I used to work that did fabrication metal jobs. nobody had 1 1/4in tubing thick wall. And I went to one steel yard. 1 1/2 was easy to find, but couldn't find 1 1/2 shaft top replace my shaft with. just called TSC. They want $150 for the tube and universal. Steel yard is going to call there supplier and get a price on a whole stick, hopefully just 5ft and call me back.

bison · Aug 4, 2014

Most agri Dealers and some farm supply stores or farm oriented bolt and bearing houses carry the common PTO shafting and will cut to length needed

bg/mo · Aug 4, 2014

I"m pretty sure pto shaft tubing is not the same as thick wall regular steel tubing

RayP(MI) · Aug 4, 2014

My NAPA dealer stocked PTO tubing in several sizes. Some were rectangular rather than square.

Prawn Farmer · Aug 4, 2014

About 4 years ago I needed a shaft for a small 5ft woods rotary mower and checked at TSC - $175.00. Rural King is about the same distance south (25 miles) and they had the identical brand for $139.00 and then also gave me an additional 10% off because it was senior citizen day - saved $50.00. Believe Harbor freight sells them, too.

Farmallb · Aug 4, 2014

My original tube is made from cast iron.

Farmallb · Aug 4, 2014

Not here. New tubes and universals only, $187

Farmallb · Aug 4, 2014

Hey, ill check on that tomorrow.

mj · Aug 6, 2014

Check out Northern - http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...e=search&gclid=CLyytIea4b8CFQ8daQodPTYAyQ

home made PTO tube for brush hog

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