Like just about everything I have tried since I retired, as soon as I learn how to do it, the job is done. In this case the task is learning to pick the essential bits of information out of the noise without a conceptual framework into which to fit them. I hope this particular brand of stupidity doesn't bug people too much, because I value your help.At the sawmill today the old guy took me on a tour of his wrecked equipment yard for a quick lesson on pto shafts. Most of the ones I saw weren't adjustable for length, even though they were all New Holland. Some had an oval contour, some square. Some were so seized we couldn't tell what they were. I learned about bale loaders and forage wagons and even tub grinders. Turns out there's one working in the area. After that a close examination of my existing half-shaft turned out to be a real eye-opener. Unlike the comparable shaft on my snowblower, it's female. It wants a male about 1" by 1 1/8, with a smooth, rectangular contour. The existing shaft is 19" from the centre line of the universal to the end. The reason the shaft is still there is that it won't come off. Where there should be a bolt there is a neat, 5/16" hole. Obviously someone tried to remove the shaft and gave up. He put the guard back carefully, though. I did manage to machine the flooring for the bed today. Tomorrow I'll get my welder friend to put three new 3/16 X 2" cross pieces in, and then I'll use up a box of stove bolts fastening the flooring down. Then comes repairs to the apron and most likely a trip to a farm supply for the components to complete the shaft and shield. Thanks for the input so far.
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