Heavy-Duty PTO Shaft for Krone Round Balers — Size 4 & Size 6

Heavy-Duty PTO Shaft for Krone Round Balers — CV & Standard, Size 4/6, Friction & Cutout Clutch

Product Title: PTO Shaft for Krone Round Balers | CAT3/CAT4 Constant Velocity Driveline, 1000–1800 Nm Clutch Options

Compatibility with Krone Round Baler Models

This Krone baler driveline covers eight confirmed model families — KR100, KR125, KR130, KR155, KR160, KR1250, KR1260, KR1500, and KR1550 — using Size 4 (CAT3) or Size 6 (CAT4) CV shafts with a standard 1.375‑6 spline tractor connection. Both constant velocity (CV) and standard universal-joint configurations are stocked so operators can match the Krone baler driveline spec sheet exactly without adapters or shimming.

Clutch type varies by model: KR100‑160 use FT34 friction clutch at 1,000 Nm; KR1500/1800 step up to FT32 (1,000 Nm) or FT42 (1,450 Nm); and the 1500V / 1250MC variants require a K64/2 cutout clutch rated at 1,050 or 1,500 Nm. Confirm your baler serial-number prefix before ordering to select the correct torque bracket.

Engineering for Heavy-Duty Performance

Krone round balers are among the highest-throughput machines in the round-bale segment, with pickup widths up to 2.20 m and bale chambers generating continuous torque spikes each time a new crop slug enters the rotor. The PTO shaft must absorb and redistribute these pulses without fatigue cracking at the yoke weld zone — the most common failure point on lower-grade shafts.

Technical Specifications & Key Components

Constant Velocity PTO — Base Part Numbers

FT Friction Clutch Options — 1.375‑6 Spline Input

Installation & Maintenance Guidelines

1. Measure working length before fitment. With the baler hitched and the three-point linkage at its lowest and highest travel positions, verify that the shaft sliding section maintains a minimum 150 mm overlap at full extension and does not bottom out (compress past the minimum closed length) at any hitch angle. An incorrect length is the leading cause of yoke pull-out failures in the field.
2. Grease CV joint and cross-bearing kits every 8 operating hours. Use NLGI Grade 2 EP lithium-complex grease injected through the nipples on both the CV housing and each cross-bearing cap until fresh grease appears at the lip seal. Do not substitute with general-purpose grease — the EP additive package is required at the ball-track contact stress levels of 1,000–1,800 Nm operation.
3. Verify and re-calibrate clutch torque at season start and after any slip event. For FT-type friction clutches, use a static torque wrench on the adjustment ring; the target is the value stamped on the clutch housing label (e.g., 1,000 Nm for FT32/FT34, 1,450 Nm for FT42). Spring relaxation after the first 50 hours of use is normal — re-check and adjust accordingly.
4. Inspect the guard before each use. A cracked funnel end or a missing bearing cup allows the guard to co-rotate with the shaft, creating an entanglement hazard. Replacement guards are stocked separately by size (S4 / S6) and can be fitted without removing the shaft from the baler.
5. Lubricate the sliding (telescoping) section each season. Apply a thin coat of NLGI Grade 2 grease to the inner and outer sliding profiles before storage and again at the start of the baling season. This prevents corrosion bonding that forces operators to apply excessive axial force — a common cause of yoke cracking at the tube weld.
6. Store horizontally with yoke ends supported. Vertical storage displaces grease from the lower CV ball tracks over 60–90 days, leading to dry-start wear on first seasonal use. Use the provided storage chain hook or a flat wall bracket to keep the shaft level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Ordered Together

Customers fitting a PTO shaft to Krone balers typically order these components at the same time to complete their drivetrain service: