JD MX5 bush hog mower

Stroby · Feb 11, 2017

I recently purchased a JD 430W with a wide front end to use with my MX5 JD mower. I hooked it up to the 3 pt hitch yesterday and after hook up, the pto shaft is too long to get hooked up to the pto. I know I need to cut it off some, but after looking at the owners manual, I see no reference to how much "play" one needs to have in the mower shaft. It worked fine on my JD 4300, so I don't want to cut too much off because I may want to use it on that tractor too. Any suggestions?

Duner Wi · Feb 11, 2017

When I did this on a Woods I had to cut off both pieces.
Start small and work up.

Blackhole49 · Feb 11, 2017

If it were mine, I would block it up level with the dive shaft level and cut both ends so I had 1" to 1 1/2" of play then try it. If were going to use it on 2 different tractors with different dimensions, I would just bite the bullet and buy the correct length shaft.

Eric in IL · Feb 11, 2017

Adding a Quick hitch to your three point might work. Just a thought passing between my ears.

jCarroll · Feb 11, 2017

Be careful crossing a ditch (swale, gully,creek) that when your tractor rear wheels are in the low spot you don't jam the PTO shaft.
There is nothing "to give" in that situation, and stuff breaks.

Mike Groom · Feb 11, 2017

I've been through this before,in hindsight I wish I would have bought a quick hitch for the tractor that I had to shorten the shaft for as Eric said.I later had to buy a different shaft to use it on another tractor and the quick hitch is really a handy item to have. Just a thought.

Stroby · Feb 11, 2017

Yeah, that's what worries me. I still have to take it off the machine to see if the plastic guard is hitting first, then determine how much "lap" I have if I trim it.....Thanks for the input.

Stroby · Feb 11, 2017

Thanks, food for thought.

Stroby · Feb 11, 2017

I was afraid that might be the answer.....but I'm a tight wad. I also recognize that a new shaft is a LOT cheaper than the damage that could result. Thanks.

JMS/.MN · Feb 11, 2017

I think you could buy just the front shaft and yoke- just slip in when using the other tractor.

Stroby · Feb 12, 2017

Thanks all for the comments and help. Indeed I appreciated it. I went to another site and found a link to a manufacturer and it said to have a minimum of 2" slack when the shaft is level with the tractor. It also said to have a minimum of 6" overlap when extended. The shaft I am dealing with needed to be 3 3/4 shorter for the 430w than when installed on the 4300. BUT, the overlap was more than 24" as it was. I cut 1" off of both ends of the shaft, and the plastic guard, then reinstalled the same. I feel comfortable that it will be fine, but rest assured, I will be watching that distance every time I use this machine in the future.... Thanks to everyone again.

Russ from MN · Feb 13, 2017

Has the cutter had a slip-clutch added? When I added one to a King Kutter I had to shorten the shaft the corresponding amount. It needs to be short enough so there is a little free play when it's in it's highest position. You can tell how much you have by trying to take it off the pto, you need about 2 inches of free play to get it off.

JD MX5 bush hog mower

Stroby

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Duner Wi

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Blackhole49

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Eric in IL

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jCarroll

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Mike Groom

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Stroby

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Stroby

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Stroby

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JMS/.MN

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Stroby

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Russ from MN

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