Broken PTO shaft or the story of sheer pin that didn't!

I connected everything up with patience and safety in mind. Brought the ole' PTO in play to provide slight lift to get my cutter back to the barn (only 100 feet away) and then BOOM BANG BOOM.
The rotary cutter drive shaft broke loose from the PTO shaft and the whole thing was banging and spinning with wild abandon! I immediately shut it down and at least limited the amount of damage (so I thought). Upon inspection the ORC was still connected to the cutter's drive shaft but it had SHEERED most of the splines off of the primary PTO drive shaft on the 8N. (how nice)

I wonder why the sheer pin didn't sheer on the bushhog? Everything was done properly and everything was greased properly - I cannot explain what happened. Now I guess I have to replace the main PTO shaft in the 8N? Can someone provide some insight and probable cost for this?
Also, not as if to add insult to injury, I hear some strange metallic grinding noise in the tranny now. (Was in 1st gear when this all happened - but at idle thottle and never even got the hog up to speed) - thankfully. How do I check the transmission. I was able to easy move the cutter back to the barn (no PTO connection obviously) but it sounds different.

Any advice? Cost? Instruction help?

Thanks so much!
Andy

Todd, No Dale's hydraulic fluid was like SLUDGE!
He told me that he did not work on hydraulic systems and didn't fix anything in there. Did you look at it? It was creamy and tan and had sludge on the stick. didnt want to go that route! Even though it may not have been that bad. (grin)
Plus mine has ALL original parts that the other one never had. I am REALLY happy with my 8N - the engine is in great shape - I have come to realize that for the $2000 I spent on the one I got in the great condition w/original - I can afford to spend a little on some brand new components to make it last for the next 50 years!

Thanks,
Andy

I've had my 8N for a year now and have replaced two sheer pins. Takes about five minutes.

I'd rather do that than replace a shaft or a gear.

Todd in DS

So, I bought a new 1 3/8" pto shaft, about $100 as I recall. Parked the N nose down in a ditch so the oil wouldn't run out. Removed the 4 bolts that hold the pto shaft, popped it out,installed the new one with new gasket and I was back in business in 10 minutes

This would be a good time to peer into the pto hole (rear end gears) and look for wear and also to look at the lubricant for age and contamination. Also, the original pto cover will not fit on the new shaft, but some of the replacement shafts include a new cover, although I don't think it looks as nice as the originals.

HTH - Mark

WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO - CHECK TO SEE THAT THE CUTTER SHAFT IS NOT SO LONG THAT IT WILL RUN OUT OF PLAY WHEN YOU HIT A HILL PUTTING THE TRACTOR AND CUTTER INTO A V (when viewed from the side). I could be wrong, but that would appear to be the most likely cause for the failure, and since your land is unlikely to change, will be waiting to do it again.

• ORC pics

I assume you know the difference between an ORC and just a PTO 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 conversion adaptor? The picture is kinda hard to calibrate my eyeballs on but it don't look like my ORC.

I'm with Bob on this, put a modern 1 3/8 PTO shaft in and a new ORC for your brushog, both are relative inexpensive vs the cost to a new tranny..... ...Dell

Good Luck ----- CRS

Is that the retainer pin for the ORC still in the PTO shaft? It doesn't look like the PTO shaft is broken in the picture but not too clear on that point.

All you can do is try to get the PTO out and attack the noise in the transmission when you see what is left to work with. Just pulling the shaft straight out may be easier said than done.