Power takeoff device

A power takeoff (127) having an output shaft (131), an output gear (139) and a connect-disconnect clutch mechanism for connecting the output gear to the output shaft, the clutch mechanism, including a clutch hub (161), a disc stack (149,151) slidably mounted between the output gear and the clutch hub and a piston (155) for compressing the disc stack thereby to bring the output shaft into rotatable engagement with the transmission of an engine; in which the clutch hub is normally biased by a spring (165) away from the piston but is confined by snap rings (141a,b,c) to limit the hub's movement along the output shaft in such a manner so that substantially no operational force is placed on the snap rings during compression of the disc stack.