Power take-off shaft stabilizer unit

Abstract

A power take-off shaft stabilizer unit for maintaining a relatively constant distance between an engine crankshaft and a PTO shaft has a bracket attached to the engine. The bracket receives a bearing unit comprising a casting having a bearing seat or a bearing mounted therein and a plurality of taps formed in the casting. The bearing unit receives the PTO shaft. At least three studs are connected to the casting via taps formed therein. The studs are utilized to connect the bearing unit to the bracket through a plurality of holes formed in the bracket. A first spring loaded bracket arrangement for maintaining an approximately constant belt tension between the engine output shaft and the PTO shaft during rotation thereof is operatively connected to the bearing unit via the two studs. A second spring loaded bracket arrangement for maintaining the position of the PTO shaft relative to the bracket approximately constant is operatively connected to the bearing unit via the other stud. With the location of the stabilizer unit and the construction thereof, the belts utilized to selectively transmit the rotation of the crankshaft to the PTO shaft can be easily changed by an operator.