Live vs Independent PTO: Gear vs HST

[bigbull338]

i never clutch my tractor engaging or dissengaging the pto.now i slowly get the rpms up on the pto to speed.

[Baby Grand]

I wonder how many of the younger generation of tractor jockeys learned to drive a car with a clutch and gears. Picture Richard Gere behind the wheel of a Lotus in "Pretty Woman"

Thank you, no.

[crazyal]

I've got one of the newer Kubota's with the PTO switch over the lever. I guess being able to feather the cable or clutch at speed would be nice but I doubt it's good for the clutch. Would you rev your car up to 2500 rpm and then slowly let the clutch out and expect not to wear the clutch out sooner?

So I always just idle the engine, push the clutch in and engage the PTO. Then rev the motor up slowly. Overkill, probably but for the few extra seconds it takes could translate into years of extra life.

As far as live or independent clutch on a HST, does it really matter? With HST you don't use the clutch for driving.

[RoyJackson]

I've got one of the newer Kubota's with the PTO switch over the lever. I guess being able to feather the cable or clutch at speed would be nice but I doubt it's good for the clutch. Would you rev your car up to 2500 rpm and then slowly let the clutch out and expect not to wear the clutch out sooner?

Actually, when I did engage (using the clutch), I had the RPM set at about 1000-1200 RPM and used the foot throttle to speed it up a bit if the engine started to stall ("blipping" the throttle).
Very little wear involved...no more then any gear shift.

[crazyal]

Actually, when I did engage (using the clutch), I had the RPM set at about 1000-1200 RPM and used the foot throttle to speed it up a bit if the engine started to stall ("blipping" the throttle).
Very little wear involved...no more then any gear shift.

That's basically what I do. But having a lever and cable style PTO over a switch style really is pointless. The only advantage I could see is would be if you wanted to keep moving and engage the PTO and not idle down your engine.

[RoyJackson]

That's basically what I do. But having a lever and cable style PTO over a switch style really is pointless. The only advantage I could see is would be if you wanted to keep moving and engage the PTO and not idle down your engine.

The deere 670 and 790 I owned had a short lever directly to the PTO gearing in the transmission...short and sweet. Very easy PTO engagement.
The 4400 I own now has the lever and linkages. Even though I engage at a low RPM, I just prefer that direct linkage (no good reason, BTW). I just think the direct lever engagement will be more durable over the long term.

I rarely, if ever, engaged the PTO when moving. This was for using a finish mower, rotary cutter or chipper.

There are some tractors with a "soft start" PTO engagement. Don't ask me how that works. I know I've read about them on TBN, but cannot recall the tractor brands or threads.

[TripleR]

No matter whether I am using the button or lever, I always lower the RPM to about 1200-1500 before engaging. I guess being able to slowly engage by the lever as per manual just makes me feel better. I am sure the new button models are well designed.

[crazyal]

I like the button on the Kubota but it could have been designed differently. It's hard to operate (turn on) while wearing gloves (like when snow blowing). The plastic is slippery and there's only one indicator that points to on or off that you can use for leverage. However to turn it off you just tap it and it releases and rotates back to off all on it's own. Kind of like an EMO switch on a tool. I think that's why companies are going to it over a lever, simply tap down on it and it shuts off. But that's a whole different topic.

[Soundguy]

wow is it that time of year again where the hst vs gear threads start?


soundguy

[Don87]

wow is it that time of year again where the hst vs gear threads start?


soundguy

Did it ever stop since last spring?