Abstract: Auxiliary power apparatus having particular application to motor-driven lawn and garden devices is described. The auxiliary power apparatus operates an auxiliary load from a motor power source on, for example, the lawn and garden equipment in question. A collar member is fixedly attached to the drive shaft of a rotary power source. A flexible drive shaft including a flexible driven shaft and a flexible sleeve arranged about the driven shaft is connected at one end to the mechanical load by means of a driven shaft. A second end of the driven shaft ends in a shaft extension member. The collar member is formed to receive the shaft extension member and a second locking member is arranged at the second end of the flexible sleeve for releasable engagement with a locking member on the collar. Thus, the flexible drive shaft is releasably connected to the collar which in turn is connected to the drive shaft of the power source.