How To Measure/Cut Tractor PTO Shaft THE EASY WAY!! 

Tim I'm sure you already know this but for anyone who doesn't, wrap a piece of paper around whatever you want to cut and line the edges of the paper where they overlap. This ensures a straight line around the object to be cut. I was a pipefitter and now I'm on the internet which means I know everything regardless of being right or wrong ! :)

“This time, I’m going to do it right” if I had a nickel for every time I’ve said that very thing!!! Great job Tim. 🙏

You are the best Tim. Thank you. Ive watched so many of your videos that youre beginning to feel like family!😀

When I purchase an implement with a PTO shaft, I will now know the correct way to measure & cut the shaft. Thanks Tim for the awesome info. Keep up the good work

Tim, thanks. I bought my tiller 21 years ago to go on the back of my Kubota B1700. When I sold the tractor and upgraded to a BX the lift arm to PTO output length was shorter. The shaft is about 1/4 inch too long to install after 3 point hookup. So, for 15 years I’ve struggled with installation… Additionally, I tighten my top link to get more ground clearance when loading it on my trailer. If I forget to lengthen it before I till, the shaft actually bottoms out. By luck, I haven’t damaged the PTO unit or drive yet! You’ve inspired me to “do it right” and shorten the PTO. It’ll be one less thing to worry about, easier to connect and a disaster averted! Again, thanks.

Great video Tim. I used a Diablo extreme metal reciprocating saw blade. Cut like a hot knife through butter. No chatter, no sparks and no turning the shaft. Cut in 10 seconds or less.

Great video Tim. I would caution you on your method of measuring the length to cut. It worked for you, because your shaft was horizontal going into your implement. If the shaft sloped down going into your implement and you measured and cut your shaft, it would be too long when you raised up your 3 point hitch, potentially causing some damage. In addition, depending on the attachment, adjusting the angle of the quick hitch by changing the length of the top link could also shorten the PTO shaft and cause a problem. You do mention to test the length by raising and lowering the 3 point hitch to check the length, but it is better to check that before you cut. Because of these issues, I always leave more than one inch gap, test raising and lowering the 3 point hitch to see how much the shaft length would change, and ensure that I also test adjusting the top link. One other thing to test when cutting the PTO shaft is that after cutting, you still have the minimum overlap of the two shaft parts that is required throughout that range of motion and adjustments. Minimum overlap depends on what the manufacturer of the PTO shaft says it should be.

Great video!!! Thank you, I just bought a used brush hog and I’m having to cut down my PTO shaft. It’s been years since I had to cut one down and needed the reminder. You guys rock.

Tim, outstandingly good video and instruction. I learned a lot of useful information. I appreciate also your reading of the Proverbs. The bloopers are priceless too.

Hey Tim. Great video, the pto is compressed the most when it's level so as you go up or down it should extend out. That being said for a attachment like a rotary cutter it would be important to cut the shaft more then just a half inch past the tractor shaft because you need to take into account that when you go through a swale the angles change the pto could compress even further. Cutting the shaft on a rotary cutter isn't as fussy because it's such a long shaft you still have tons of overlap.

Fortunately for me, I’ve never had to cut one, or had a problem. But after your episode with the catastrophic damage to the PTO on the tractor, it made a lasting impression of the consequences of not measuring. Valuable info. Blessings.

Very nicely explained simpler procedure. Hated having to struggle to remove and reinstall the plastic sleeve. Thanks!

When I bought my tiller, I did some measuring. Then I went and bought a quick hitch. I still had to cut more of the shaft than I wanted, but that extra 4.5" made it doable. Now, I'm enjoying the benefits of the quick hitch.

Well done, Tim! A step-by-step instruction, reasoning and execution always ends with the "best functional and safe solution". Having cut many PTO shafts in my near 74 years, I enjoy a detailed explanation. Great job, my friend! Muchas "goodoo"! (A Little Tex-Mex for ya!)

Awesome job explaining how to properly cut the shafts , truth is I never had to cut any yet. I'm not going to lie I thought off the top of my head I only need to do the one end lol. Learned something new today and I appreciate you taking the time to teach us all! God Bless you both

Great job, Tim! I appreciate the tip to disengage the rear PTO so it is easier to align the splines.

Nicely done, course I had watched your previous video when I had to cut pto for my new tiller. It made sense to me and I got it cut just fine. Thanks again nice video. God Bless

Hi Tim, Great video as always. One thing I do, is to use standard engine oil on the PTO shaft connection versus grease. It makes the connections easier, especially in cold weather.

Great video Tim. I would have only cut 2.5" off the inside shaft. But after watching this video and listen to you explain why you need to cut both shafts I now understand cutting only one shaft would be wrong. The light bulb clicked on. Thanks for taking the time to go over the proper way to cut a PTO shaft and why.

I just purchased a chipper and was worried about cutting the pto shaft, You saved the day😂 A real easy way to cut it. Thanks for all your videos

Nice video I like the way you explain the process. Just watched the video from 3years. It was very good. Have to fit for a new 4ft brush hog. Thanks again for video.

Wow , Mr. Tim that was the best explanation of that I've ever seen . I'm about to have to do that , so thank you very much

Fantastic job, nice and easy instructions,very detailed.

Real good video. Saving time, equipment, and sometimes life or limb. Thank you for illustrating "by doing" all these things.

Nice hose clamp collection and stand you have there. I’ve always worried and measured for maximum pto shaft length with the implement in the shortest position. It’s not easy, so I like your way, thanks for the demo.

Tim as someone who uses a grinder for a living and don't want you to get hurt, always have the sparks going twords you, because if it pinches (caught in the metal) it will go twords you ( possible cut or worse). If the sparks are going to you and catches it will go away from you so no injury. Stay safe and have a great Christmas

Good timing. I will soon be cutting my first PTO shaft. I leant my bush hog to my nephew and......he broke the PTO shaft. He did replace it, but it fit his tractor, which is bigger than mine, so I will need to cut it down. I wasn't quite sure how to go about it so I appreciate the video.

Super informative, clear and concise...great video Tim. (Enjoy the outtakes as well.)

Thanks for the video. Your father must have known my dad. Whenever he cut something 3 times it was still too short. When I cut my PTO shaft I took the cover off the shaft and cut them separately. Keeping them together and cutting is a much simpler process. I also love my Masterforce grinder. One safety hint, when using power tools tuck your hoodie strings inside so they don't accidentally get caught in the tool. Oh I almost forgot. I just got my Ken's extended top hook for my imatch. Keep up the great videos and have a joyous Christmas from Minnesota.

i do not have any PTO powered equipment but your instructions make sense to me. It would complicate things but I think that safety tube is easily removed. If it is steel shaft could be held more securely in the vise. Rotating that steel shaft while cutting looked good.

Great job Tim. I’ll definitely use this way to measure next time!

Great Video Tim. Am looking at getting a tiller and this video will definitely help.

Tim, you should do a video on everything that's wrong about the Pto Link system. It adds length, screws up dimensions for pull type implements and drawbar length, adds another joint in the rotating mass to cause more runout, moves the universal joint and shield away from the tractor shield, and on and on. I can't believe this dangerous contraption is actually on the market.

Good morning Tim from North Dakota! Good Video. I would maybe include a comment on if a person uses a quick connect PTO. Often everyone forgets when they pick one of those up.

Thanks! Great video! I like how you explain extra things. Like why the PTO shaft is not symmetrical to keep joints aligned properly.

Hi Tim, one important thing when measuring is to check the shaft at ALL positions - lowered, horizontal, and fully raised. Not all tractors maintain an even arc, and you want your cut to suit the shortest distance through that arc. There'll still be plenty of overlap then for the longest distance.

Now that's a beaut I can remember my Grandpa going to auctions and buying ole Army truck's for his logging/forestry business I got the task of driving most of them home good times. God bless y'all from South Carolina viewer.

Good job Tim well explained pretty easy to follow

Thanks for this video! Cutting down my first pto shaft

Improved great tips. The only suggestion I can make is that after you cut and file the (metal) shafts, stand it up and tap it on the table to knock out the metal filings that might come back to haunt you later. Keep up the great work. I learn so much from your channel.

I used a reciprocating saw and it worked great.

Very informative video, I even understood!....Well done,Tim!!

I appreciate this video it was very helpful. Thank you for your time and effort.

You do a great job Tim. Thanks Larry

It is refreshing to learn new things without having to listen to profanity and crudeness. I love that you add scripture to your videos. You have an amazing RU-vid ministry.

Thank you for this video Tim. It was a good one, so was the verse at the end.

Nicely done. I removed the plastic sleeves by pressing in the white tabs. I then sawed the plastic separately. This allowed me to get the shafts in the vice securely. Then you can cut the shafts with whatever cutting device you may have. It is a good idea to protect the surface of the male shaft to prevent interference with the female. Also a good idea to make sure the shafts do not “bottom out” at the furthest reaches of your lift.

Very good information Tim it will be very helpful have a day love from TEXAS

Good explanation Tim, thanks for sharing.

Informative video, thank you. Merry Christmas!

Awesome video!!!!! I have never cut one of my shafts but feel I could do it now. Thanks!!!

Thank You sir. This video was everything I was looking for +2 unexpected little tips.

Very helpful. And important.

Thanks Tim for making this detailed video Its extremely helpful! Oddly enough, I just purchased a Frontier RT3049 tiller for my 2025R and the dealer said I should see it an a few days. I have been nervous about cutting the shaft correctly. I'm much more comfortable after watching this video. I have the I match quick hitch also. Now to remove the backhoe for the first time....

Just used your instructions worked perfectly.

Nice.. Will do it sometime this week.

This is a great, easy to understand video on how this is done! So far we've only had to cut ouor wood chipper pto, since it was too long for oour New Holland. I'm not sure how Erik measured it, but I think he had to cut it twice if I remember right! It's always a a scary idea since new PTO's are so dang expensive! But this approach takes much of the fear factor out :)

When I first got my B2410 I bought a tiller and finish mower, I set them both up without a QA. Later on I got a QA and the FM PTO was usable, but the tiller was too short. Instead of replacing the PTO with a new one and cutting it to fit, I found a PTO adapter with same inside 1 3/8" 6 spline with the same outside spline. So if you plan to add a QA and get new attachments first, wait until you get the Quick Attach mounted before cutting the shaft.

Tim you can take the outer plastic sleeve off quite easily. The red tab unlocks the white plastic ring from the outer plastic shield allowing it to slide off of the metal shaft.

I agree, this one was better (more detailed) than the one released on 12/4/18. When I saw the title, I thought you had covered this before.

Looks good . A very informative video. You could put the part that you are cutting off in the vise. That may cut back on the marring of the plastic guard.

The only thing different I would do is cut the implement end first, if there is a changes it will be the inside part of the shift, not the outside... (you came out with the same results). Have a great day...

Great episode. Guess only thing I'd do differently is using a paint marker vs a blade and soap stone. Sharpies are great in silver or gold and marks pretty much everything.

Thanks, Tim. You made it look easy.

Thanks Tim, getting prepared for a tiller. I guess I should get a 3 point quick hitch...

I appreciate the way to teach.

Great video. Something don’t have to do very often but good review how to.👍❄️Think Snow❄️☃️

I just got a yanmar rs1200 tiller had do matanance on it 1 bearing on the tiller end shaft now its fixed ready to use

Excellent how to video thanks

I'm about to do this but a tip from cutting with a grinder, wrap the plastic tube with tape all around to cut evenly all around. Second part to the tip is funny stupid, but put the tape on the waste part of the tube so you don't have to take it off or mess with melted glue if it gets hot :D Thanks for the video.

Glad you did another video on this and you hit on some additional points that you did not previously. Regarding the PTO shaft length - Every particular tractor model is obviously going to likely have its own dimension from the end of the PTO shaft to the three point arm attachment point center. Likewise, every implement is going to have its own dimension from the PTO input shaft to the three point attachment point center. But variation of implement usage happens - either between tractor models or even between a single tractor's configuration at any given time. Given your experience with damage to the 2038R because of the PTO shaft being too long, other than trying to keep the PTO shaft as long as possible as you described in this video, is there a reason you do not base your PTO shaft length on the straight line distance between the tractor PTO output shaft and the implement when the implement is attached without a quick hitch? When I received my 2038R in mid-September this year, and as I got each of my various PTO driven equipment pieces (new and used), I made sure to attach the implement directly to the three point to establish the PTO shaft length. I did this because I wanted to ensure that the PTO shaft length was not too long regardless of how the implements may get attached to the tractor, with or without a quick hitch. Once I ensured that the PTO shafts would not be too long when directly connected to the three point arms I then verified that the PTO shafts would not be too short and have too little engagement between the inner and outer portions of the shaft. My approach to this issue was to protect the tractor at all costs in a "worst case configuration" consideration. You example in this video clearly would be a very short PTO shaft if this particular implement were directly connected to the three point without a quick hitch. In the event that an implement is used with multiple tractor models, or multiple configurations of a single tractor, it may in fact require having multiple PTO shafts for that implement to operate safely as well as to protect the tractor(s).

Bought a new brush hog today and are preparing for the process & procedure for checking & cutting my PTO shaft mating lenghts. Have done it several times before but always enjoy a "refresher course" as reinforcement for doing it right. Great job, Tim. Always appreciate your clear and concise "how-to" instructions. I would add one small item....make certain your PTO shaft mating surfaces are fully greased so that "slip & slide" works when it is suppose to!

It looks very good. Just make sure that you don't forget to put the PTO shield on your tractor.

Hey Tim, great video. I have used a sawzall for my first time. Ok, but not as easy as a cut-off wheel on a grinder. To mark the line, I wrapped a piece of colored electrical tape around the shaft. Easy to follow the tape edge. Great videos.

Maybe I'm nitpicking but its commonly called Extended and Collapsed length. Also Tim, consider a Portable Bandsaw for your tool arsenal. They cut smooth and quickly with no grinder wheel dust. I got a cheap one from HF and it cuts just as good as a Milwaukee.

Dang learned something! Put the pto selector in mid to spin the rear shaft, been struggling with that

Excellent guide thanks as always amazing quality videos. Have you tried using a band saw to cut the shaft ? Thanks 🙏

Good morning fron North Carolina.

Tim, MasterCraft also makes a cordless bandsaw that works real well. It uses the same batteries as your grinder. I'm amazed how much I do use mine. It does create a lot less mess and flying debris. Just a thought for you.

Tim I would have said extended and retracted. What a interesting language we have we said the exact same thing too totally different ways. And I'm sure there's several other ways it could be said too!

Great how to, thanks

nicely done thanks

very informative video

Thanks Tim. If you'd let me add one thing, that would be to do the raise and lower measurements before you cut the shaft. Believe it or not I've had a JD implement that the shortest PTO position was the raised position and not the lowered position.

I clamp the exposed end of the PTO shaft in the vice to cut the plastic cover first, that way you can rotate it while cutting. To cut the shaft, I clamp a piece of pipe in the vice and slide the shaft over it so it can be rotated while cutting it with the grinder. Using a piece of tape for a guide also helps to keep things square.

An easy way too make your cutting marks is to use painters tape.. you can use brake cleaner prior so the tape holds, but it will be a good guide and easy to see as you go to cut.

Tim, thinks for doing video over I’ve just pick up my new bush hog from homestead implements and I’ve been real nervous about cutting it. I will watch it several times to make sure I can cut it with out Messing it up. Lol. Here hoping I can .

Use a hose clamp to mark your cut line and leave on when making cuts. This will ensure good even cuts!

Tim, I use a small cut off saw to cut my PTO shafts. It allows you to clamp the shaft during cutting and a miter saw to cut the plastic case. The cut off saw is about $50.00 at harbor freight and has been worth the cost because of other projects.

Its shorter than it needs to be because you failed to account for the length of the PTO coupler from the nose to the detent pin. If you put the shaft on and pushed it up to the detent pin (without pushing it in) and then measured it would be more accurate and you wouldn't have to fumble with the holding the shaft.

All makes sense. When I did mine, I did a lot of "nibble and test". That takes considerably longer, but I could neither move the tractor (8000+ lbs) or the implement (1000 lbs) easily. So, I hooked up the snowblower to the 3-point and attached the PTO to the blower. I played with the 3-point height to see where the shaft was most overlapped (being careful not to pinch anything) My first cut was purposely short. I had a bout 1/2" as I moved the PTO around the tractor's output before it would clear. I cut again just under 1/2" and while I was able to jam the connection on (and would have had no issues if I lowered the blower) I decided to take it apart again and just grind some more length off. This allowed an easy attachment in the shortest position. Since when you slide the PTO on, you automatically get some buffer, this looked good. Then I dropped the blower, marked the tube and pulled it apart again to see how much I still had overlap in the long position. With nearly 18" of metal overlap, I felt good. The only issue I have is that when the blower is down, the PTO angle is a bit steeper than I would like. I used it last season without any failure. It looked OK when I regreezed it a few weeks ago, but at 20+ degrees, I'm not happy with it. I'll run it again this season as other projects prevented replacing. Fingers crossed. I'm beginning my quest to find a solution with CV joints on each end. If anyone has a source that they can recommend I'd be very grateful. The PTO shaft in question is a T50.

I took the plastic off mine before cutting. Just a couple clips to remove. Made it a lot easier. Also used a metal blade in a "Sawz-All" which made short work of it.

Perfect timing. My flail mower showed up today.

Bandsaw works well for cutting driveshafts

Thank you

Thanks I just cut mine off 2" on my yanmar 155d to my tiller

Nice vid. If you are like me, and hate nicking the paint? Wrap the shafts with blue painter's tape--- wrap on the side you are keeping, and cut just along the outer edge of the tape (you don't care about scarring the cut off piece). This works on both the plastic cover, and the metal shaft. Nice work-- I'd have used a Dremel tool instead of a file, but that's because I have no actual files... :)

Good clean cut on plastic cover if remove and cut on miter saw

I like to trim my PTO's to a length such that I can unhook the shaft from the tractor at any position in the 3PH range of travel. I remove the guard sleeve and end bell from each half of the shaft. Cut the sleeve in my power miter saw for a perfectly square cut. Shafts get cut in the horizontal band saw. Deburr everything, wash in solvent, reassemble guards, apply fresh grease and let 'er rip.

A word of safety!!!! No matter how tempting it is, NEVER use a cutting wheel for grinding. The cutting wheels are not made to handle the side forces needed for grinding and they will practically explode without warning. Get two cheap grinders from Harbor Freight; put a grinding disk on one and a cutting wheel on the other. Its cheaper than getting stitches in the Emergency Room. Ask me how I know.