shaft drive question

[dodge trucker]

I have a couple of shaft drive Ariens machines. they all have this fiberglass-ish, plastic disc bolted to the flywheel hub and to the driveshaft. I have heard of these self destructing, Shorty, wasn't that you that had this issue? Mine show no cracks or deterioration, but are 40+ years old. Would it hurt anything to cut these discs out of ~ 1/8" steel and substituting those in there?

 

[Cvans]

Those discs were meant to flex. 1/8 inch steel won't flex. I've used heavy belting like the cub cadets and a stack of five 24 ga. Sheet metal discs on the front Kubota pto shaft with good results.

 

[Shorty]

Yup, she broke and gutted herself. I am slowly getting that one closer to fixed. Planning to use belting instead of the fiber disc.

 

[Shorty]

Those discs were meant to flex. 1/8 inch steel won't flex. I've used heavy belting like the cub cadets and a stack of five 24 ga. Sheet metal discs on the front Kubota pto shaft with good results.

Did you use the metal with the belting or is that another spot? A parts tractor I have only had the discs of belting without any metal. Would you add that? I haven't worked with this before, so trying to learn all I can.

 

[TAHOE]

My Allis Chalmers has one of those thin plastic discs, always wondered how they lasted so long and never broke.

 

[Toomanytoys84]

If you need some I think I have several of them floating around a milk crate with left over parts from my Ariens GT17.

I have the shaft that runs from the front or rear PTO to an implement some where too.

 

[dodge trucker]

Ok, the one in service seems to be alright but wondering about it because of the age. I put it back in there for now.

 

[Cvans]

I did not mix sheet metal and belting and would not recommend lt.