PTO Safety Question/Experiences

[4570Man]

I don’t see any problem with starting the tractor and driving 6 feet. I don’t see any problem with hooking up a pto to a running tractor either. The danger level seems equal to walking in front of a running vehicle. Never know when they might throw themselves in drive and run over your. Nah, not so much. I’m also one that doesn’t use those stupid cones on the tractor end of the pto u-joint. They might have some use on stationary use implements, but I only have mowers and a tiller. Besides make attaching the shaft miserable they accomplish nothing. How is anyone going to get caught in a shaft that’s already shielded by the 3 point hitch, the guard on the tractor and a foot away from spinning blades?

 

[4570Man]

I find it kinda of humorous how someone who wouldn’t think twice about taking their kids swimming or drives a vehicle, but blows a gasket over a virtually non existent safety concern ( and not claiming a PTO shaft is one ) drilling a hole in a ROPS or using the FEL for a man lift is more what I was referring to.

 

[goeduck]

I shut my tractor down, put up orange safety cones, one on each corner of the tractor 5 feet away from the tractor. I also put bollards 15 feet away from the orange cones. I run yellow caution tape between the bollards with no more than 1 inch of sag. I install my portable yellow rotating beacon and hard wire it to my battery (tractor is off for safety). I have my wife as a spotter in case something goes wrong. I alert the local medics that I will be hooking up my PTO and to be on the ready. Then and only then do I hook up my PTO shaft.

..... NOT.... I do it with the tractor running.

 

[RoyJackson]

Well - it may take a little longer but count me as one who turns his tractor OFF when connecting/disconnecting any PTO driven equipment. Any mechanical device can malfunction.

Same here...

 

[BrokenTrack]

I don稚 see any problem with starting the tractor and driving 6 feet. I don稚 see any problem with hooking up a pto to a running tractor either. The danger level seems equal to walking in front of a running vehicle. Never know when they might throw themselves in drive and run over your. Nah, not so much. I知 also one that doesn稚 use those stupid cones on the tractor end of the pto u-joint. They might have some use on stationary use implements, but I only have mowers and a tiller. Besides make attaching the shaft miserable they accomplish nothing. How is anyone going to get caught in a shaft that痴 already shielded by the 3 point hitch, the guard on the tractor and a foot away from spinning blades?

I had to buy a new PTO shaft and it came with shielding. In trying to turn over a new leaf in terms of being more safety conscious, I thought I would try to use it. I even changed out the yolk and put the darn shielding back on.

Still, it only lasted one time. I am not putting up with that crap. I got so frustrated with it, I ripped it off and will proceed like I have for the next 44 years, unless some smart engineer comes up with a PTO cover that actually works.

...

I have never shut my tractor off hooking up a PTO shaft

 

[rbtjr]

I always shut down the tractor when hooking an attachment to the PTO shaft. Although whether or not to shut down the tractor is obviously a personal choice, to me shutting down the tractor is negligible inconvenience, and causes negligible wear and tear on the tractor, in return for absolute assurance that I won't get injured by the PTO.

 

[mcfarmall]

I shut my tractor down, put up orange safety cones, one on each corner of the tractor 5 feet away from the tractor. I also put bollards 15 feet away from the orange cones. I run yellow caution tape between the bollards with no more than 1 inch of sag. I install my portable yellow rotating beacon and hard wire it to my battery (tractor is off for safety). I have my wife as a spotter in case something goes wrong. I alert the local medics that I will be hooking up my PTO and to be on the ready. Then and only then do I hook up my PTO shaft.

..... NOT.... I do it with the tractor running.

^^^^This is the best answer ever!!!^^^^^^

 

[theg]

I don稚 turn off tractor. Is that the safest thing no. Truthfully I知 more worried about something falling on me, being stung by the stupid yellow jackets that made a home inside the tubing on box blade, being sprayed by skunk under mower deck, yes my fault- being Stung again by the scorpion that was on my leg cause I was standing in tall grass in shorts and sneakers hooking up the cutter, having finger pinched between the pin and 3pt arm cause I was not lined up as I should have been and decided to man up and force it on, unfortunately when fire came from my finger tip, it also came out of my mouth to the shock of my daughter. We take risk everyday, evaluate what and how much risk you are willing to take and stay in your comfort zone. Own it. Be safe!!!!

 

[LouNY]

To those that seem to think their tractor is going to attack them for connecting a pto shaft with the engine running :laughing:
Many of our tractors actually have an activation switch on the rear of the fender,
a quick tap on it the shaft will just turn a bit to aid in connecting it,
once connected holding the button for 3-5 seconds activates the pto just like the cab button.
Very handy for stationary operation of pto power equipment, such as unloading self unloading wagons,
pull up, park, jump out connect pto shaft, start pto, engage wagon clutches set unload speed, monitor operation.
So connecting a pto do I shut the tractor down? heck no....
In a separate vein servicing pto powered equipment, greasing shafts and rotating pieces, yes it gets shut down,
except for the operations which require it to be running, which are done with extreme care.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I shut my tractor down, put up orange safety cones, one on each corner of the tractor 5 feet away from the tractor. I also put bollards 15 feet away from the orange cones. I run yellow caution tape between the bollards with no more than 1 inch of sag. I install my portable yellow rotating beacon and hard wire it to my battery (tractor is off for safety). I have my wife as a spotter in case something goes wrong. I alert the local medics that I will be hooking up my PTO and to be on the ready. Then and only then do I hook up my PTO shaft.

..... NOT.... I do it with the tractor running.

Love it.

I turn my massey off to hook up pto, has nothing to do with safety.
When tractor is off, the tractor pto can be turned by hand to line up with the shaft. If the tractor is on, it doesnt turn, making you turn the shaft to get it to line up. So much easier to hook up with the tractor off.