The end of July we purchased a 4 foot tiller from Wilco Farm store. After using it about 6 times, the shaft broke completely off. What is the warranty or ? on this?

Most PTO shafts are a square shaft inside of a square tube to allow for it to go in and out of itself as the mower goes up and down across the ground. You should be able to unhook from the tractor and the gearbox to remove it. In the USA we have farm stores that we go to for the U Joints and halfshafts and connectors to repair them. Some of the parts are also used on trucks so Truck Repair places also. Any parts house can get you a u joint if you bring them the old one to measure.There is also round shaft models but there has to be a slip joint in all of them so no to removing the gearbox off of the mower deck.

sounds like the timing is off.
need to remove the pull cord cover and take the nut off on the shaft and take the cover off and see if the key on the shaft is broke and put a new one on.
when you hit something solid the key will shear.

Craftsman tillers usually use a chain drive transmission. Sears does not usually offer individual parts for these transmission. They want you to replace the entire trans assembly. If the gear shaft is available (www.searspartsdirect.com) , then yeas, you would have to split the case all the way open to replace it. This is not an easy job. Most major repair shops would charge 4 or 5 hours of shop time for this repair. It generally requires complete dissassembly of the tiller to remove the transmission.

You did not give a model # for your tiller, so I am only giving you general solutions. Please look up the parts. Many times it is more cost effective to replace your tiller than it is to repair it. Remember that all of the other gear shafts are the same age as the one that broke and have been through the same stresses.

Good luck!

USE SAY A BROOM STICK AND ON THE OUTSIDE ON THE DECK YOU CAN USE IT LIKE A STETHOSCOPE AND PUT IT TO YOUR EAR AND LISTEN TO DIFFERENT SPOTS ON THE DECK TO HELP YOU ZERO IN ON THE CULPRIT .. IF'N I WAS ANY HELP VOTE FOR ME ...THANKS.. JAY

http://www.youtube.cohttp://www.everythingattachments.com/Tractor

http://www.everythingattachments.com/Tractor-3-Point-Hitch-Tillers-Rotary-Tillers-s/76.htm

go to the second site first, it will explain your "problem.". Your problem is you need to adjust the length of the pto shaft to your particular application. not all pto shafts fit all attachments "out of the chute"
once the shaft is adjusted OR prio to modifying it, view the first video. both or very well presented. i've been there!
Happy tilling!!

steve wood
Rancho de Suenos
Albuquerque, NM

if its is the transmission fluid cooler lines to the trans, you just need basic tools and a quick disconnect tool. Pretty straight forward job.

At least once a year back the clutch bolts out at least 3 turns and engage PTO at operating speed a couple times.Once thats done turn bolts back in the same amount of turns.By doing this you burnish the disc's and prevent them from rusting/seizing together with the plates.

Just about any engine with a 3/4" horizontal shaft that is internally threaded on the end and has the four bolt mounting pattern around the shaft will work. I have gone to Harbor Freight and purchased their 6.5 H.P. engine that is a Honda clone and it will work fine and only costs $100-150 dollars. The only difference is that it uses a metric bolt to hold the pulley on the shaft,the four mounting bolts are metric and you have to disconnect the low oil shutoff or the engine will die when you are tilling deep. It is a good low cost option for the Horse tillers.

Frank

If you go to the Simplicity Homecare website and click on Accessories, that will take you to their e-store for parts. I broke an upper looper needle on my SW432 last Saturday, ordered on Wednesday, and already have the replacement!