Method for making a shaft coupling with tapered spines for a pull-type forage harvester

A method of constructing a coupler having a tube for receiving a first and second drive shafts of a pull-type forage harvester comprising the steps of:

• a. grooving the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft for a retaining ring;
• b. cutting a plurality of tapered splines into the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft;
• c . creating a tapered bore in the tube;
• and
• d. cutting a plurality of internal splines in the tube;
• e. affixing a first retaining ring into the groove in the first drive shaft and affixing a second retaining ring into the groove in the second drive shaft;
• f. placing a first retainer into contact with the first retaining ring and placing a second retainer into contact with the second retaining ring;
• g. inserting the first tapered splines and the second tapered splines in to the coupler;
• h. inserting a retaining bolt into the first retainer and the second retainer;
• and
• i. tightening the retaining bolt.