3-Point Hitch 3 Point tid bit

[grainger12002]

PTO Tip: If you are mowing and disenagage the PTo slowly and not all the way back to the end it will free wheel instead of braking. Once it has slowed you can move it the rest of the way forwad and the brake will stop it. Almost as handy as an overide clutch. Food for thought...............Happy mowing and be safe. P.S. Too bad they put the fuel tank in the back, make it hard to see over when mowing !!

 

[tc35dforme]

I have noticed that also...only problem is that I haven't been able to master the slow slide to get it to freewheel all the time. Sometimes I could...and sometimes the brake would kick in. I just gave up and added the over-running clutch. I figure its cheap insurance.

Thanks for the thought....

 

[djradz]

I now do that too, thanks to the sage advice here at TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Also however, and I think just as important, is to slow down the engine RPMs whenever possible before disengaging the PTO. In doing so, most of the torque from the attachement is absorbed by the engine. It's kind of like downshifing in your car or truck when going down a very steep hill while pulling (or should I say, being pushed by) a trailer, instead of relying solely on your brakes. The engine has huge potential to slow everything down in either case and take the load of the braking mechanisms whether we're talking about cars, trucks, or tractor PTO's. With the hydro trans, it's easy and the cutter's not going to push the tractor like with an old gear drive without live PTO.

 

[markie61]

Good tip! I have found the "neutral" zone, plus I power down to idle before disengaging the PTO. The only time I didn't was when a branch caught the PTO lever at full throttle /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif....
Mark

 

[jinman]

I actually broke a shear pin on my mower from braking the first time I thoughtlessly "popped" the PTO out at full speed and the brake engaged. That one instance convinced me to power down and disengage slowly. ...the bolt may have been previously weakened, but it was still a good illustration to me of the power in a rotating cutter. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif