Ford NAA Golden Jubilee and Bush Hog 305

tvlis49

New User
Hey guys, I have a Ford NAA Golden Jubilee and a
Bush Hog model 305. I'm wondering if this bush
hog is too much for the tractor. It does seem a little
heavy on the tractor but the tractor seems to handle
it with no problem. The thing I'm experiencing is that
after cutting small brush or even tall, thick grass for
a couple hours, I disconnect the bush hog to find
the splines on the pto adapter have twisted. Once,
the adapter twisted to the point of breaking nearly in
two. I think the jubilee has about 28-30 hp with
about 25 pto hp. I believe the bush hog has a 75 or
80 hp gearbox. It is a five foot bush hog which is
equal to the width of the tractor's rear tires. I'm new
to all this and don't know if the cutter is too "heavy
duty" for my tractor or do I just need a stronger
spline adapter? I'm buying the spline adapters from
Tractor supply co. They seem a little cheap though
not priced very cheap. I recently bought an
overrunning clutch for the pto from TSC but I'm
afraid to use it due to fear of twisting the splines on
it. The tractor currently has a 1 1/8" pto shaft but I
have ordered an aftermarket 1 3/8" shaft that I will
install once it arrives. I was given a slip clutch for
the bush hog which I have not installed yet. I'm
thinking the slip clutch will prevent all of this twisting
but I'm not sure. Once again, I'm new to all this
tractor stuff so any advise would be greatly
appreciated!
 
(quoted from post at 20:28:59 08/22/16) Hey guys, I have a Ford NAA Golden Jubilee and a
Bush Hog model 305. I'm wondering if this bush
hog is too much for the tractor. It does seem a little
heavy on the tractor but the tractor seems to handle
it with no problem. The thing I'm experiencing is that
after cutting small brush or even tall, thick grass for
a couple hours, I disconnect the bush hog to find
the splines on the pto adapter have twisted. Once,
the adapter twisted to the point of breaking nearly in
two. I think the jubilee has about 28-30 hp with
about 25 pto hp. I believe the bush hog has a 75 or
80 hp gearbox. It is a five foot bush hog which is
equal to the width of the tractor's rear tires. I'm new
to all this and don't know if the cutter is too "heavy
duty" for my tractor or do I just need a stronger
spline adapter? I'm buying the spline adapters from
Tractor supply co. They seem a little cheap though
not priced very cheap. I recently bought an
overrunning clutch for the pto from TSC but I'm
afraid to use it due to fear of twisting the splines on
it. The tractor currently has a 1 1/8" pto shaft but I
have ordered an aftermarket 1 3/8" shaft that I will
install once it arrives. I was given a slip clutch for
the bush hog which I have not installed yet. I'm
thinking the slip clutch will prevent all of this twisting
but I'm not sure. Once again, I'm new to all this
tractor stuff so any advise would be greatly
appreciated!

Your tractor generates thepower - not the implement. Dump that crappy adapter and install the 1-3/8" PTO shaft. Once you do I predict your problem is resolved.

TOH
 
Ok but, the tractor does have a transmission driven
pto so I really need to use the overrunning clutch
while bush hogging. So, even after installing the 1
3/8" pto shaft, will the bush hog not continue to twist
the splines on the overrunning clutch? Or maybe it
was not using the overrunning clutch that was
enabling the bush hog to twist the adapter?
 
(quoted from post at 20:55:19 08/22/16) Ok but, the tractor does have a transmission driven
pto so I really need to use the overrunning clutch
while bush hogging. So, even after installing the 1
3/8" pto shaft, will the bush hog not continue to twist
the splines on the overrunning clutch? Or maybe it
was not using the overrunning clutch that was
enabling the bush hog to twist the adapter?

My assumption was you were using the "short" sleeve type adapter which twists up like a pretzel at the drop of a hat. I would not expect a problem with an ORC which is a different animal.

TOH
 
Thanks old hoakie. It is the "sleeve" type adapters
that I've been using. I'll install the larger shaft and
put on the overrunning clutch and give it a go.
 
Listen to TOH. Your spline adapter appears to be chicken chit. The over running clutch will solve it and not twist splines. But if you are going to change shafts, you might as well wait and get the 1 3/8 to 1 3/8 unless thats what you already have. You will want to use it.
 
As TOH said, it is the tractor that is twisting shafts, not the mower. Install the new pto shaft you ordered and put a 1 3/8 X 1 3/8 ORC on it and you will be good. Remember that the orc will make the length of your driveline longer so make sure it does not bind when you lift the mower. Too long and it will force your pto shaft forward into the tractor and damage things inside.
That Bush Hog? 305 is an older, discontinued model but still the top of the line of rotary mowers. Those are why everyone with even a flimsy, ersatz rotary mower call them bush hogs. I had a 305 for about 10 years but now have a little heavier tractor and after a 2 year search found a 306. Same mower but 6'.
It makes my tractor grunt to heft it but it will pretty much grind up anything the tractor can drive over. You should add some front weight for for better front/rear stability. Original front wheel weights are a neat, clean way to do it but can be hard to find. Barbell weights, engine block, whatever you have works too. I have a pair of bumper weights on mine for that purpose. A couple hundred lbs is about right.
Parts for your mower are readily available if needed and you can download a PDF file for the manual at the link below.
Adjust the slip clutch (not the ORC) annually!!
It explains how to do it in the manual.
Slip clutch prevents you from twisting the pto and protects the gears and other pto drive train componants in your tractor.
And have some fun. You have a great combo there.
Aitkin6_2014_06.jpg

nnalert the download
 
Hey guys, thanks for all the input. I'll let you know how it goes once the new shaft is in and the ORC is attached. Meanwhile, I now have another problem which I'll post as a separate thread. Maybe some of you can help me with it. Thanks again!
 
(quoted from post at 19:28:59 08/22/16)The thing I'm experiencing is that
after cutting small brush or even tall, thick grass for
a couple hours, I disconnect the bush hog to find
the splines on the pto adapter have twisted. Once,
the adapter twisted to the point of breaking nearly in
two. I think the jubilee has about 28-30 hp with
about 25 pto hp. I believe the bush hog has a 75 or
80 hp gearbox. It is a five foot bush hog which is
equal to the width of the tractor's rear tires. I'm new
to all this and don't know if the cutter is too "heavy
duty" for my tractor or do I just need a stronger
spline adapter? I'm buying the spline adapters from
Tractor supply co. They seem a little cheap though
not priced very cheap.

I've seen three types of PTO adapters for this.

1) The first style fits completely inside the driven side and then over the tractor shaft. It looks like it is made out of stamped steel. I've not tried this style, so I have no experience with how well it works. An advantage is that it doesn't affect the length of the shaft driving the implement.

2) The second style is a short shaft that is male on one end and female on the other. The splines of the male end of the PTO shaft start just about where the hollow part of the female portion ends. This seems like a weak spot in the design. The only one I had like this twisted nearly completely off after I used it with a 6-foot King Kutter finish mower. Grass was a little long, but not ridiculous.

3) The third style looks a lot like the second, but has a solid piece between where the female portion ends and the male portion begins. This makes the adapter about an inch longer and seems to be a stronger design. I've used mine for mowing (same KK mower) for over 20 years without a problem. I've mowed grass long enough to seriously bog down the engine. The adapter is just as straight as it was the day I bought it.
 

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