Pony Drive Shaft

Pulled '52 Pony out of woods in August. It was there approx 20 years. Pulled engine and am overhauling, but I have another problem. When I pulled the engine, and clutch I saw drive shaft for first time. Long, maybe 40" and just loose. You can rotate it and pull it out about 2 feet, so it is not connected to transmission. Is it snapped? How does one get back to see the point where drive shaft connects in transmission? It looks like you have to unbolt the tractor into two halves to do that? Is this Pony doomed? Sorry for all the questions, but would appreciate any guidance. Thanks. For the ongoing story of this train wreck of a restoration, visit www.thatidiotictractor.com

Never done much work on a pony, but from looking at the parts book online, it shows the shaft as about 40 inches, as you said..

Parts book reads:
850067M31 1 Drive Shaft, With Welded Parts, 1" Dia., 39-1/8" Overall

The picture looks like the "welded parts" could be the splines on the end that go into the clutch, and it appears to have a "splined coupler" on the opposite end (may be welded there also?)

Link to where I found this (DOES NOT WORK ON FIREFOX.. I have to use IE to open any of the agco stuff, says so on their website):

http://www.agcopartsbooks.com/EpsilonWeb/book.aspx?book=agco/650097

That will open the table of contents for the pony parts book.

I'm thinking if the shaft is pushed all the way in, and it mates with the transmission input shaft like it is supposed to, and the tractor is in neutral. the shaft should spin by hand pretty easily, with trans in gear a bit harder. You may have a broken or stripped splines.. Stripped splines should still get a bit of a bite though. Something tells me that the shaft just isn't hitting onto the transmission input like it should.. I'm not sure what (if anything) in the torque tube helps keep the shaft straight in the tube, and when pulling the engine, it may have pulled out the shaft enough that it came loose of the input shaft allowing it to "move" and now not be in line with the input shaft.

I have a friend who has a "parts" pony hanging around, don't know if he'd sell parts from it, but I could surely ask once you figure out what the problem is.

Hope I helped, don't give up on the project just yet.. Pony's are neat little tractors, IMO.

Brad

Thanks a lot Brad. I'll check out the link you have supplied.
I'm just really (literally) in the dark on what Ive got going on at
the other end of the drive shaft. I really like your answer of it
just having fallen out of alinement. That's what I'll be hoping
for.
Anyone out there that has an idea on what has to be done to
get a better look in there, I'd sure appreciate hearing.
Thanks.
Www.thatidiotictractor.com

I asked the friend with the parts Pony today about the shaft (as they have 1 restored, and 2 "working" tractors).. He commented that the restored one was done by someone else, so he really don't know how the shaft goes either, but he too thinks the alignment could be the issue.

We're going to try to get to his parts tractor one night this week and see if we can't figure something out.. He and I were both pretty busy trying to get equipment put away and other jobs around our farms this afternoon.

I'll let you know if we figure anything out.

Brad

Thanks again, Brad. I really appreciate this. I'll stay tuned, but understand you are busy guys. In the meantime, I've got plenty of engine work to do.

If the shaft came off the transmission shaft it will turn freely. The shaft has a cotter key that keeps it on the transmission shaft. The key may have come off, that is why it turns freely if transmission is not in gear. Take bolts out of transmission housing and it will slide out about 4 inches to replace key or take housing off transmission and tractor apart.

Thanks. The picture gets clearer. I feel like we're getting somewhere. Really appreciate it.