Restoring & Installing a Rear PTO Setup

Jeeps are like Legos for big kids, there are always cool pieces you can add to them to make them cooler.  One of the neatest accessories you can add is a rear Power Take Off (PTO) to run farm equipment and power tools.  These setups are getting harder to find and the prices are going up accordingly.  The PTOs I've seen go for about $50-$100, the driveshafts for about $100, the rear gearbox for $250, and the rear belt pulley for about $400.  I got VERY lucky and found all four pieces for $400.   

Here are the main components:

PTO

Rear Gearbox

Belt Pulley

 

Here's my setup and the restoration process:

Here's my rear gearbox.  It was in excellent shape and just needed a good cleaning and paint.

The gearbox is incredibly simple and disassembly is a snap.

The front and rear are identical.  Begin by removing the bearing access cover.  This will expose the shaft retaining nut and lock washer.

Once the nut and washer are removed, then the gear access plate can be removed. 

After removing the three retaining screws, each of the shafts can come out.

Here's a view inside the case.  Mine still has the orange primer.  The gears look great as well.

I let the parts soak overnight in a 50% solution of industrial degreaser, rinse, then air dry.  Reassembly is real easy and everything gets a coat of paint.

The gearbox attaches with 3 bolts.  Originally there was a reinforcement crossmember that could be added to help strengthen the frame.  I fabricated two large pieces of flat steel to reinforce the two side bolts.

Here's my PTO.  The data tag is still in great shape.  I also got an original shifter and knob.

Here is what the PTO looks like engaged.  The female gear slides forward to accept the male end of the output gear inside the transfer case.

Nothing too exciting, just some fresh paint.  Here you can see the PTO installed on the back of the transfer case.


Original Willys bodies have the access hole for the PTO shifter.

Instead of buying a PTO boot ring, I modified my access cover.

Here's my boot ring in the rough stage.  I will get a new boot from Northstar Willys.

My driveshaft was in excellent shape and just needed some paint.

My final project was the Belt Pulley.  Once again, it is extremely straight forward disassembly.

I let the parts soak overnight in a 50% solution of industrial degreaser, rinse, then air dry.  Reassembly is real easy and everything gets a coat of paint.

This is a shot showing the input gear.  The right side of this bolts to the output shaft of the gearbox.  Here you can also see the shims.

After some paint, here is what is looks like installed!

Here's the final shifter installation.  The shift boot is from Army Jeep Parts.

Gary Keating sent in these photos of the rear PTO shield.