Hooking up PTO w/ Engine Running

[Soundguy]

so far.. at 1:3200 the threat of being hit by space debris is more likely than the finger infection OR the pto springing to life... and I'm not gonna walk around looking up..

soundguy

 

[rtimgray]

so far.. at 1:3200 the threat of being hit by space debris is more likely than the finger infection OR the pto springing to life... and I'm not gonna walk around looking up..

soundguy

If you're on the look out for space jun then you can get a bone and joint disorder in your neck from looking up all day....

..or walk into a hole while you're looking up!

There are truly hazards to everything - it's a miracle we've made it this far.

 

[aebsmithcreek]

Don't recall ever hooking one up while the tractor was off. At the same time, I don't dispute that it is safer, but don't know how much risk you have either. Has anyone ever had it come on unexpectedly? I usually am alone when changing implements so not much risk of anyone accidentally engaging it.

Must be a 5105 thing, ya took the words right out of my mouth. they got me thinkin though.

earl.

 

[wedge40]

Soundguy,

I definitely do not disagree with you. The comments I made regarding my past experiences relative to catastrophic accidents resulting from man versus PTO shafts were not meant to indicate that it is not possible to work with PTO's safely if you don't turn the motor off. I do know that in my 35 years of responding to emergencies of all types as a member of a technical rescue team, we ran on numerous PTO and power shaft incidents and most were fatals.

As a fireman, it didn't take long in my carrier to realize that we had our jobs because somebody screwed up, got hurt, burned down a building, whatever. If it hadn't been for people making mistakes I would not have had the carrier in the Fire Service, a carrier that I enjoyed tremendously. One of my main regrets today is that I got too old to physically meet the requirements, so when my time was up, I retired and left a second family of emergency responders I cared for very much. Wish I could still be there.

In following the forum I most often agree with your reasoning and statement of good common sense. All of us do what you do, make our own decisions relative to the risks involved and move forward on that basis, reducing our exposure to injury to the best of our abilities.

The discussion appears to be degenerating to a rather nasty series of comments regarding the laws and decisions some people make relative to what is or is not safe practice.

I did say the safest thing to do is shut down your power supply prior to dealing with power shafts, but I didn't mean to indicate it is not possible to work with power shapts (PTO's) while the engine is running if you do it in a safe manner of some sort. I feel that there are usually several different safe ways of doing the same task and it is up to the individual to determine the methodolgy and make their individual judgments regarding the safety of the operation.

From reading your comments, I definitely believe you are a very safe person and that your application of common sense to your world on a day to day basis is done so at a very high level. I would be proud and feel safe in working with you any time, based on the thinking you demonstrate through your input on the various forum threads.

Nick, North West Farmer

I'll admit that it's always safer to turn the tractor off. But I have a question about your experiences. How many of these accidents or fatalities happened while hooking up the pto, or did they happen when someone was working around a running pto?

Wedge

 

[RoyJackson]

I'll admit that it's always safer to turn the tractor off. But I have a question about your experiences. How many of these accidents or fatalities happened while hooking up the PTO, or did they happen when someone was working around a running PTO?

Wedge

Most I've read were getting caught by a rotating PTO.

As I'd written in an earlier response, I always have the engine off, key in my pocket. I give the PTO wide berth, rather it's rotating or not.
Part of the reason I do that is to make it an ingrained habit so I keep wide berth without having to think about it...something akin to "muscle memory".
How others operate their equipment is, of course, their business and I am not one to criticize them (my wife will take care of any criticism...she's good at that...).

 

[indianaEPH]

Depends on the tractor. Our larger tractors have PTO brakes that are engaged when ever the engine is running. In order to turn the PTO to get it lined up you must shut off the tractor. I generally shut off any tractor when hooking up the PTO, but some I'll do with it running. Something like my Ford NAA with the manually engaged transmission driven PTO is VERY unlikely to start by itself, almost impossible I'd say. Now something with a hydraulically engaged PTO there is a chance if hydraulic pressure is lost it could start by itself. Those are also the tractors with PTO brakes often, so I just shut them off.

I would not do it, ever. Why take the chance when it is so simple to shut down? My PTO has an auto mode. When the 3pt is raised the PTO will shut off. WHat would happen if it was in auto shutoff mode and the PTO lowered while someone (not me!) was attaching the PTO shaft. I know, make sure that the switches are off....but accedents do happen. Why not reduce the chance of this. It is so simple...always turn off!!:thumbsup:

How about the other side of the question. Why would you not want to turn it off? Hard starting? Dead battery? Anyway, it is not worth the risk. PTO accidents are gruesome. I don't even like to think about them.

 

[beppington]

Do it with the engine running. I hear girls like tough guys with scars.

 

[Dead Horse]

once I have the lower links attached and lynch pinned in, I shut the tractor off. Then set up the top link and the PTO shaft.

I cannot recall doing it another way. I know a logger friend of mine who had a fight with a PTO and his heavy wool shirt...... he lost the fight. Tractor showed no sign of giving a shhhhit

 

[foggy1111]

I'm the OP. I find the discussion interesting....and lots of good inputs. I grew up around my father's implement biz in the 50's and at that time many PTO shafts were without any safety shields. Lots of PTO accidents happened in those times. BAD.

Fast forward to today.....many more safety shields in place and people more often take the rotating shaft for granted.....often not seeing the danger that lurks beyond one minor foul-up.

It's hard for us to know all the details of different electro-mechanical and clutch-pack switches today.....and understand the safety (of lack thereof) associated with them.

THEREFORE.....if you don't KNOW the system....then I say it's safer to shut down the tractor when hooking up the PTO. :thumbsup:

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Do it with the engine running. I hear girls like tough guys with scars.

Unfortunately, PTO accidents don't usually result in scars. They result in closed casket ceremonies.