What is a "live" PTO?

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What's the difference between a regular PTO and a live PTO?

Thanks much...

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), April 08, 2002

Answers

Live PTO or live hydraulics refers to how they work in relation to the foot clutch. Some tractors work where the hydraulics will work no matter where the clutch is. Some have a 2 position clutch where the PTO will run in the first position and the tractor will move in the second position. I have a Ford 8N in which nothing will work unless the clutch pedal is fully released. Ig I disengage the PTO by moving the engagement lever, I also am shutting off my hydraulic lift. With my type of tractor if you use the PTO on something like a bushhog that will keep spinning when disengaged you have to install a one way roller clutch on the PTO output spline or the momentum of the blades spinning will drive the tractor even though you have stepped on the clutch pedal.

-- Emil in TN (eprisco@usit.net), April 08, 2002.

Thanks much. Makes perfect sense.

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), April 08, 2002.

A live PTO?? Gee, I thought it meant a PTO that is not dead..it still works...LOL!

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.

Guess I better get off the old homestead more...I thought PTO was Parents Teacher Organization !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), April 08, 2002.

Not to sound like a worry-wart, but I guess a safety reminder is never out of place---it's easy to get used to working around a tractor but we should ALWAYS be extremely careful around a PTO---for example don't wear long, loose sleeves, or even gloves when you are near one. The stories I've heard of what happens when that PTO "grabs" you are horrifying.

-- Jeff (lorianandjeff@aol.com), April 09, 2002.


I've known several farmers who have been killed or maimed in PTO related accidents.Especially if you are working alone never get off the tractor with the PTO running.

-- Gary (burnett_gary@msn.com), April 09, 2002.

Thanks for all the answers and the word of caution. Will indeed be heeded and I'm also printing this out for my wife to read, who will also be using the tractor.

Jerry

-- Jerry Hatchett (temp@jerryhatchett.com), April 09, 2002.


For safty issues & what is & how to use a tractor without a 'live' pto, check out the archives at www.ytmag.com - there are several very good discussions of Over Running Clutches there, which you need on heavy implements without live pto.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), April 09, 2002.


Yup, always use an override clutch on a tractor that you can't "declutch" the pto from the rear end. It CAN drive you through a fence or worse.

Horror story of my own. Was hauling silage as a kid for the neighbor who hat the pto guard off a Minniepolis Moline hand clutch tractor. The bolt on the yolk caught the cuff of my jeans. My foot was against a piece of angle on the platform so insteat of wrapping me up on the shaft it wound my jeans up. Ripped them completely off! So there I was half nekkid when the guy's two daughters came driving up with their silage rigs. Most embarassing. But the guy got that guard back on in record time!

-- Dennis (westwoodcaprine@yahoo.com), April 10, 2002.


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