In the performance testing thread, Bill and Ed talk a lot about "load" and "rock" shafts. When I asked the mechanics at the local John Deere dealership they did not know what I was talking about. They asked if I meant PTO shaft? I know about PTO shafts. I am wondering if we are talking about the same part, just different parts of the country? Thanks.
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Load shaft question?
- Thread starter Fox
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Can't guarantee it, but that's always been my interpretation. I would ask for a PTO shaft. If you learn different I'll be glad to hear it myself.
Dave
Dave
Rick, I did talk to the head mechanic and he did not have a clue what a "load" or "rock" shaft was. He insisted that the guys here must be talking about the power take-off, or PTO shaft. I am hoping someone here can confirm for certain. They have offered me a bunch of PTO shafts from their scrap, but is it the right material?
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- Mar 14, 2000
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Fox, I am confirming for certain... The mechanic that I talked to recognized it as a load shaft, but corrected me and called it a "Load Control Shaft", try asking him for that. The ones that I got are 5/8" and 7/8" in diameter and about 18 to 20 inches long, smooth, silver in color. They are solid steel except for a hole at one or both ends. The ones that I got had been used as big drive punchs and had been hammered on the ends. They were in the mechanics tool box. I am going to be calling them today for anothr reason, I will ask the mechanic if it is the PTO shaft and will post what I find out.
Rick
Rick
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I just got off the phone with the John Deere people. The load control shaft is definitely NOT the PTO shaft. The load control shaft has something to do with adjusting the implement that is being pulled by the tractor. It sounded to me that it is a torsion bar of sorts. Other tractors use springs instead ot these bars. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Rick
Rick
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- Mar 18, 2001
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Fox,
The load control shaft is located in the rear of the tracton and is connected to the upper arms of the three point hitch. In operation they are sitting against a spool valve connected to the hydraulics which raise and lower the implement. Should you be plowing and come up against an immovable object the load control shaft start to bow which in turn actuates the spool valve which raises the plow thus reducing the load and preventing more serious damage to the implement or tractor. With the constant load on these shaft they are prone to wear and thus need to be replaced quite often. I believe that they are used in the forty series of tractors ie... 4020, 4010, 4050...
The load control shaft is located in the rear of the tracton and is connected to the upper arms of the three point hitch. In operation they are sitting against a spool valve connected to the hydraulics which raise and lower the implement. Should you be plowing and come up against an immovable object the load control shaft start to bow which in turn actuates the spool valve which raises the plow thus reducing the load and preventing more serious damage to the implement or tractor. With the constant load on these shaft they are prone to wear and thus need to be replaced quite often. I believe that they are used in the forty series of tractors ie... 4020, 4010, 4050...
Rick, Dave and Bill, thank for all of your help. I finally got in touch with someone at the local John Deere dealership who knew what a load control shaft was - the service manager. He instantly knew what I was talking about and they are exactly as Rick described in his post. The manager gave me two of them and even went through their scrap bin looking for more. It turns out they just had a scrap pickup, which probably had another half dozen. Poor timing on my part.
Anyway, the service manager says to check back every few weeks for more as he will instruct the mechanics to start saving them for me. I think he actually stole these from the mechanics bench stock. They look like they have been used as drift punches. Time for a new round of experimentation with the new steel source. Thanks again, guys.
Anyway, the service manager says to check back every few weeks for more as he will instruct the mechanics to start saving them for me. I think he actually stole these from the mechanics bench stock. They look like they have been used as drift punches. Time for a new round of experimentation with the new steel source. Thanks again, guys.
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- Mar 14, 2000
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- 509
Hey Fox, Congrat's on your score. I should have my last stock removal knife out of the way by the end of this weekend, then it's nothing but forging for me for the next few months. This will be my first real attempt at forging a knife. Can't wait!!! Let us know how things go for you and I'll do the same. Maybe we can learn something from each other. Good luck!
Rick
Rick