New cub cadet 882 and driveshaft issue

[IHCC1250]

Well I got what I’ve wanted for a long time. A diesel cub!
It’s an 882 that needs some proper paint and work done to it. Has all the starting upgrades done to it (gear reduction starter, 12v glow plug relay, ngk glow plugs, 2nd ground, etc. engine runs great and transmission has had all new rear seals between pump and rear end, and everything. Front axle needs tightened up (with a huge breaker bar! Will not budge with a normal socket), needs new rod ends, steering box needs adjusted, I had to adjust the neutral on the hydro, even that still needs some work, the paint is rattle canned and chipping. (Gonna turn this into a 782D with auto paint), and currently the biggest issue: the driveshaft.
https://youtu.be/SvwUwMekvpM

The driveshaft has grade 8 bolts in all the holes for the coiled pins. And there is a CRAP ton of slop in it as you can see in the video. The driveshaft is just about wallowed out at every point. The coupler bushings are also toast. I know these diesels are hard on the driveline. I’ve looked at a few options to fix and none appear to be a good solution. I however thought of a solution that may/ may not work. If the driveshaft holes are wallowed out and there is no other pin that can fit it tightly, why not weld it? The only disadvantage I see is having to pull the engine, or maybe not even to remove the shaft. I could weld the actual driveshaft to the coupler, or fill the wallowed hole with weld, binding the shaft to the coupler with zero slop. And if it needed removed, I could just drill out the hole that is filled with weld. If I even need to remove it at all. Same goes for the hydro pump input shaft. That hole is very wallowed out. But I could fill that hole with weld, and have no slop in the shaft at all. I find this much more appealing than paying a lot for a CV joint shaft. If all slop is eliminated the only real disadvantage would be the couplers are fixed to the driveshaft. Unless I drilled the weld out/ cut it out/ etc. What do you think? I need a solution for this driveshaft without having this issue they all have pop up again. Thanks
https://youtu.be/xW08W-qHTSw


And I WILL be turning this into a 782D with a full engine/ transmission out. Frame up restoration. If this had original paint I would have kept it. But you can see marks where it’s been grinded to bare metal and repainted with spray.

[esean]

Once you start adding up the cost of OEM driveshaft components the CV joint option might not seem so expensive, and should last a lot longer.

[Oak]

I'm pretty sure you can't weld the hole shut on the input shaft because it's hardened. My 882 had a grade 5 bolt for the pin on the input shaft for years because the hole was wallered out. One day when I was plowing my garden something locked up in the pump and the coupler broke and took out all the hydro lines and filter.


Parts by Jeff (in the little box up top)can hook you up with what you will need either way you go.

[finsruskw]

Sounds like some new parts are in order.
My 882 had the same issues until I replaced the driveshaft.

[jcubtroy]

order some driveshaft 4140 from Mcmastercarr make your own.