Tiller broke today

[Skwerl58 805]

Today my Toro Wheel Horse tiller stopped tilling. It was doing god and it stopped turning. The pto stopped turning also.. The tiller tines  will move very little in either direction. Does anyone have any idea what may have happened. I hope to check it out next week.

[WHX?? 55,609]

Bearing seized some where. Take off the belt and check end to end. 

[lynnmor 8,672]

There is a massive pair of sprockets and a chain inside, hopefully they aren’t knackered.  Have you checked the oil?

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 12,052]

Quick look at the parts

https://www.partstree.com/models/07-36tl03-toro-36-tiller-attachment-1985/

[953 nut 64,556]

9 hours ago, Skwerl58 said:

it stopped turning. The pto stopped turning also.. The tiller tines  will move very little in either direction.

When you check for movement has the belt been removed?

Is your PTO mechanical or electric?

Is the belt slipping on the PTO or is the PTO not attempting to move the belt?

[Skwerl58 805]

I removed the belt from the manual pto and the tines move very little. I drained the lube today and it had very small, minute specks of metal but no large pieces drained out. I also can see the gear at the drain plug which means the chain is off of that gear. Hopefully just a broken chain. Hope to try to separate the case tomorrow to check it out. 

[ineedanother 1,960]

4 minutes ago, Skwerl58 said:

Hope to try to separate the case tomorrow to check it out. 

please post pics!!

[Skwerl58 805]

Will try to take some

 

[c-series don 11,630]

Here is what it looks like in there. I put new seals in mine a few years ago. 

[WHX?? 55,609]

Pretty stout chain there Don #50?   Is there a master link? 

[c-series don 11,630]

Honestly Jim, that was a few years ago and I don’t remember!! 

[Skwerl58 805]

Thanks for the pictures. I see the gear that I thought the chain was on and it is the one that drives the shaft that the chain is on. It had been separated before I got it because it has gasket maker  in the seam. 

[WHX?? 55,609]

1 hour ago, Skwerl58 said:

has gasket maker  in the seam. 

Yep sure sign and now ya gotta wonder what the PO missed or worse cobbled. 

FYI Lowell has the gaskets. 

https://wheelhorsepartsandmore.com/product/toro-wheel-horse-6851-tiller-gearbox-gasket/

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 12,052]

If you have the U-clip off the master link make sure the rounded end of the U-clip is facing the direction of rotation.

[Skwerl58 805]

Got the tiller apart and a small piece of metal had jammed in between the drive gears. I found another piece in the case. The only thing damaged was the e-clip that holds the small drive gear in place. I replaced it and cleaned up the cog where the metal was embedded. I looked at all bearings, shafts, gears and the chain and have no idea where the small pieces came from. The small piece of metal on the right is what was embedded in the cogs the other was in the case. Both of the pieces are probably combined the size of a bb. I have the two halves reassembled and it is turning great. Hopefully will use it next week to till some garden.

20260320_122456 (1).heic

[953 nut 64,556]

1 hour ago, Skwerl58 said:

have no idea where the small pieces came from.

Could the piece of metal be from one of your bearings?  Need to check them cdclosely.

[Skwerl58 805]

I checked the bearings and re-checked them. Called my neighbor over to check it out too. We could not locate where it came from. I am puzzled by it and have been "scratching my head" over it. I packed the needle bearings with white lithium grease after checking. If I missed something it will show up and hopefully with no damage. 

[kpinnc 17,456]

Looks almost like someone drove a pin out of the chain to remove a link or something. 

 

Glad it didn't break anything! 

[Skwerl58 805]

I got to use the tiller today for a couple of hours. It worked great and has no noise or other issues. The case was cool with no leaks. Hopefully it is good to go for another 30 + years.