Another Rookie Question

[ecard]

MikePa - I am also not afraid to ask a rookie question. When I am turning off the tractor with the PTO engaged as in finish mowing, should I disengage the PTO prior to turning off the tractor or can I just turn off the tractor with the PTO still turning - I will wait for the answer before I tell you what I have been doing??????

Eric

 

[bpence]

Real simple. ALWAYS turn off power take off equipment before shutting down the tractor. AND, make sure the PTO driven equipment has stopped spinning before shutting down the tractor. This procedure will remove many opportunities for injury or worse. The easiest/worst thing that could happen by shutting down the tractor without properly disengaing the PTO - you start to dismount the tractor with a PTO still spinning and get entangled - somehow. ALWAYS disengage all power equipment, make sure it has stopped running/moving/spinning, and then shut down the tractor. Be safe.

Bob Pence

 

[scotd1]

I always leave my pto engaged and take the engine down to an idle, then disengage the pto and then turn the tractor off. This just seems safer to me as I don't have the implement running wide open and out of my control. On my rotary cutter it takes a long time for it to "run down" to a stop if you just turn the pto off at full speed.
I do the reverse when starting a pto powered implement: idle engine and engage pto then increase engine speed to desired level. This has to be much easier on the engine, clutch and etc.

 

[ecard]

Thanks for the replys - Well it looks like I have been doing a bad thing. I normally go to idle and disengage the PTO on my bush hog or tiller prior to shutting off the tractor, but the finish mower takes a long time - as mentioned above - so I have been just shutting off the tractor to speed up the process - it just seemed easier than waiting for the shaft to stop spinning - I hope this hasn't hurt the tractor.

I agree - Saftey First is always the best practice

Eric

 

[TerryinMD]

Don't feel too bad. I think that most (all?) of us have had the newbie problems. Every time I get on the tractor to do something is a new experience.... just try not to repeat myself. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Terry

 

[Bird]

I can't say whether you would actually hurt anything or not, but I do exactly as scotd1 does. Seems to me to be the best way.

Bird