Engaging a post hole digger on a TC29D

[Mosey]

I recently bought a post hole digger. I used it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I used it to dig holes 6’ apart to plant a row of trees (hopefully in 5 years or so I’ll have a nice natural fence). It worked nice and all, but I have one gripe about my TC29D in this situation. After I dug the first hole, I pushed the clutch in to stop the digger. Then I pushed the hydro pedal to move up to the next spot, but of course nothing happened. I had to push the clutch in, disengage the PTO, and let the clutch out so the hydro drive would work, then move up to the next spot, push the clutch in, engage the PTO, dig the hole, and repeat for each hole. I realize I’m getting spoiled to even be complaining about a hydrostat, and actually I’m not really complaining. I’m just wondering if this is what others would have expected. I do remember reading in the manual that pushing the clutch in will disengage the drive, but I just forgot.

So, now I’m wondering about how to engage the PTO. I have noticed that I don’t need to use the clutch to engage or disengage the PTO if there is nothing attached – I can just move the lever forward and it engages with no grinding or anything. I wouldn’t try this with a mower or tiller, but was wondering if this would work on a post hole digger. Since the tractor is barely above idle anyway (the manual for the digger says to only use low RPMS), it doesn’t seem like it would shock anything to engage and disengage the PTO without pushing the clutch in. Opinions? Thanks.

 

[Mrwurm]

Danny, I have noticed the same thing about my TC30 hydro 4x4. Seems that after you shell out the extra bucks to get the hydro they could at least leave the two stage clutch like on the gear drive model. Seems like a cost saving move that NH thought no one would notice or care about. A "D" model Boomer should have a two stage clutch in my opinion.
Jerry

 

[tc35dforme]

mosey,

Am I missing something????

What exactly do you mean when you say you pushed in the clutch ? Do the Class II Boomers have a clutch with the hydrostatic transmission ?

My TC35D doesn't have one...at least I haven't found it yet ?? On mine, you just slide the lever forward to engage the PTO and back to disengage. It operates fully independent from the hydro drive. I can engage and disengage the PTO while stopped or moving.

 

[Mosey]

tc35dforme - From what you said they are different. My TC29D has a clutch that engages both the hydrostat drive and the PTO. The 3pt lift is independent and works no matter where the clutch is. Once the clutch is engaged, I can drive the tractor, go forward, reverse, stop, etc using the hydrostat pedal. But, if I push in the clutch, the tractor won’t move (under it’s own power). It sounds like your TC35D uses a much different, and better, system.

 

[Steve_in_Ont]

What you're describing is the difference between a "Live" PTO & an "Independent" PTO.

Based on my sales brochure, it looks like NH makes the transition to an independent system at the TC35. Everything smaller has a live system.

 

[Mosey]

Here’s the way I understand it then:

Live PTO allows you to stop the tractor without stopping the PTO, but you can not stop the PTO without stopping the tractor (not counting coasting).

Independent PTO allows you to stop the tractor without stopping the PTO, and it allows you to stop the PTO without stopping the tractor.

I’m overall satisfied with my “live PTO”. However, I am curious as to why I can engage the PTO when nothing is attached without anything grinding. There must be some sort of syncro mechanism in there, does anybody know for sure? I know I can’t do anything of the sort on my old 1940 Farmall A or 1950 John Deere B. If I try to engage the PTO without disengaging the clutch on either one of those even if nothing is attached, it will grind and not allow the PTO lever to engage.