Can you manually turn the pto hookup on the back of the tractor?

[Indian Territory]

The bigger my implements get, the harder it becomes to line up the splines on the pto shaft at hookup. I've taken to setting my tiller up on blocks so that I can turn the tines with my foot and gradually rotate the pto shaft for alignment. I was unaware that you could simply turn the splines on the back of the tractor with a big wrench. This ad shows a tool for doing just that. Is there any risk of driveline damage if I force my tractor's back pto splines to rotate against their will? They are definitely NOT freewheeling.

 

[usmron]

If i can't rotate the tiller or clipper to line it up, I turn off the tractor and the spline on the tractor will turn freely to line up with the shaft on implement that you are trying to line up.

 

[Indian Territory]

If i can't rotate the tiller or clipper to line it up, I turn off the tractor and the spline on the tractor will turn freely to line up with the shaft on implement that you are trying to line up.

Does this work on all tractors? Have I missed it all these decades‽

 

[9973720wb19]

Despite having a button on the rear fender to turn the PTO, it never works out right so on my JD, if you turn off the engine, you can turn the PTO by hand - this is how I do all my hookups now.

 

[Harry in Ky]

Not all tractors are created equal. With some the there is a PTO brake that works only when the engine is running. On some it's spring applied and only releases when the PTO is engaged with the engine running. Some have no brake at all. There is no standard that applies to all tractors.

 

[oldballs]

IIRC, The three Kubotas that I owned/own.....(BX & Bs HST) The splines can turn by hand at the tractor PTO . And maybe the shifter has to be in neutral as well???

Cheers,
Mike

 

[dodge man]

I can turn mine by hand. I’m not sure if I have to select the mid pto so the rear is in kind of a neutral or if I just have to shut off the tractor.

 

[Indian Territory]

I can turn mine by hand. I’m not sure if I have to select the mid pto so the rear is in kind of a neutral or if I just have to shut off the tractor.

When I had my smaller tractor, I could turn my rear pto if I had the mid pto selected. But my current tractor has no mid pto.

I wish they came with a dedicated neutral. We can already change gears to economy pto. Why not also add the option to shift to neutral? My arthritis would gladly pay a pretty steep premium for such a luxury.

 

[old and tired]

Standard L, HST tractor's PTO are free to move... not sure about manuals.

 

[Jstpssng]

I do that all of the time... Including 3 hours ago when hooking up the mower. I also keep both parts lubed with 00 grease so that it goes together better. My tractor won't start with the PTO engaged and while I do leave the engine running while hooking up the 3pth, I shut it off before hooking up the PTO.
Call me paranoid if you want... You'd probably be right.