'42 2N with stuck PTO shaft

Ok this one has me stumped.
I'm not new to "N's" Learned to drive working fields on my Dad's '40 9N. Unfortunately years back Dad had a stroke and had to sell it. Been putting together a '42 2N to be like Dad's.
Finally got a Ferguson side mount sickle bar mower (Dad's originally belonged to the phone company). Got it mounted, replaced the lifting cable and when I went to engage the PTO to adjust the cable, it wouldn't go into gear.
No signs of sudden failure, lever just wouldn't move.

Got the tractor in the shop. Pulled the side covers, upper lift assembly, and stared to pull the PTO shaft. (figured that while investigating it's a good time to inspect the shootin' match and repair what I can. Less to do when I get to restoring). Funny thing is that the flange / bearing assembly came only about 1/2" to 3/4" out and stopped cold. Have to tap with mallet to put back in. Even more strange is that while it's partly out I can now throw the PTO lever in gear and when I crank the engine, the pump, PTO, et al work "correctly". Put it back in and I can't engage the PTO.

When it's partly out I can pull with all I've got. Put a drift pin through the PTO's hole at the end (for keeper pins on implements) and tap with mallet. Still won't move. Don't see anything but residual contaminated oil in caseing and can't figure out why the shaft won't move. Appears to be hung up in the pump but might not be.

Since I need to pull the shaft to drop the pump and I need to drop the pump to see what's holding things up, I'm at a loss.

Anyone out there with any suggestions on how to pull the shaft?

Thanks.

I will say that the last time I had mine out of my 8N, I had to prize it out with a long pry bar.

I will not tell you to do that because you could damage your expensive pump.

Chances are that the inside end (splines) are a little buggered up or maybe twisted.

The guys recommend cutting them out, and replacing them.

the dreaded "twisted PTO" syndrome! If the PTO shaft is twisted you will not be able to pull the PTO shaft out of the hydraulic pump and the tractor will have to be broken into at the rear of the transmission so that the PTO shaft can be cut in front of the pump in order to extract the PTO from the tractor. If the shaft is twisted don’t make the mistake of trying various extreme methods of pulling the shaft such as a chain hooked to it and extreme force like jerking it with another vehicle etc. You can do some major damage to the hydraulic pump this way that can’t be fixed. This “twisted shaft” condition happens much more now since most of the original “Ford” manufactured shafts are gone where the good shafts go when they die and have been replaced by soft steel shafts made in far away places that don’t care if your PTO shaft twists when you hit that stump or rock really hard.

One that was cut out. Still needs another cut on front side in order to remove twisted shaft.

Zane (and all),
While I don't have and hard proof that it isn't a "twisted shaft" (I've been searching boards for 2 days and have heard this often), I'm surprised that this would have happened with this particular machine.

I've had it for 2 years and haven't had any PTO driven equipment on it in that time. When I've engaged it It's been from a standstill as that was only to run the pump, so there weren't any "shocks" to the drive line.

I'm only the 3rd owner. This tractor hasn't gone more than 12 miles from the dealership is was originally sold at. In fact its now only 2 miles from there. Therefore the individual history is known. No previous owners have had the rear apart (the condition of the oil seems to prove that.) So a replacement shaft in at least the last 25+ years is not factor.

Finally even if this is a progressive failure, there haven't been any warning issues. I worked, I disengaged it to mount the sickle bar, and it didn't after mounting.[/list][/list]

(quoted from post at 13:39:23 05/17/09)
Zane (and all),
While I don't have and hard proof that it isn't a "twisted shaft" (I've been searching boards for 2 days and have heard this often), I'm surprised that this would have happened with this particular machine.

I've had it for 2 years and haven't had any PTO driven equipment on it in that time. When I've engaged it It's been from a standstill as that was only to run the pump, so there weren't any "shocks" to the drive line.

I'm only the 3rd owner. This tractor hasn't gone more than 12 miles from the dealership is was originally sold at. In fact its now only 2 miles from there. Therefore the individual history is known. No previous owners have had the rear apart (the condition of the oil seems to prove that.) So a replacement shaft in at least the last 25+ years is not factor.

Finally even if this is a progressive failure, there haven't been any warning issues. I worked, I disengaged it to mount the sickle bar, and it didn't after mounting.[/list][/list]

Click to expand...

Ok, I have told you about removing mine.

I will also go one farther, although once again, I am not telling you to do this, as you could break something.

But when mine gets hard to engage, I stomp the handle into engaged with the heel of my boot, while holding the clutch down with my other foot.

When I disengage mine, I only move the handle barely enough to disengage it.

It has been quite a while since I started having that problem, and it has pretty much gotten a lot better, although I try to leave it engaged as much as possible.

(quoted from post at 15:51:37 05/17/09) One that was cut out. Still needs another cut on front side in order to remove twisted shaft.

Click to expand...

JMOR, I guess a torch is used to cut the shaft. My PTO is not engaging. Found this thread and trying to get up to speed on what I am facing.

(quoted from post at 23:12:26 04/20/15)

(quoted from post at 15:51:37 05/17/09) One that was cut out. Still needs another cut on front side in order to remove twisted shaft.

Click to expand...

JMOR, I guess a torch is used to cut the shaft. My PTO is not engaging. Found this thread and trying to get up to speed on what I am facing.

Click to expand...

nvestigate further. PTO not engaging does not necessarily mean PTO shaft twisted.