How does one use a PTO chipper with an electric PTO clutch?

Rock knocker · Feb 5, 2019

I've been around a ton of engine driven chippers, and the huge flywheel of a chipper means you really have to feather the clutch in. How do people do it with modern electric PTO clutches which don't allow a feathering? Or do the manufacturers install a mechanical clutch on the chipper itself which is user adjusted?

ericm979 · Feb 5, 2019

The electric over hydraulic PTO clutch on my Branson gives a bit of a soft start by design. The tractor does not stall when I engage it with a Woodmaxx 8H chipper hooked up and the tractor engine at idle.

There's no clutch on the chipper. It's got a 200 lb flywheel that's geared up to turn twice as fast as the pto (effectively the same as a 400 lb flywheel at pto speed).

3Lfarms · Feb 5, 2019

Ditto what Eric said.
There is still a hydraulic clutch that soft starts the PTO and gets it up to speed as quickly as possible without bogging down the tractor engine. Engaging the PTO at idle means the clutch slips as little as possible and should make it last a long time.

LouNY · Feb 5, 2019

Yes, idle it down and engage your pto,
I have had a few implements that would slip their slip clutches engaging the pto.
I concern I have with heavy flywheel effect loads is the wear on the internal pto brakes.
But unless you use an over riding clutch there is not much you can do other then bring
your tractor down to idle before disengaging or engage your pto.

ptsg · Feb 5, 2019

Some tractors have 2 PTO speeds with a neutral in between.

I usually bring the RPMs down to idle while also applying at the same time just a tiny bit of pressure on the PTO gear selector to move it to neutral, then it will coast to a stop and I can turn the PTO off on the switch and save the PTO brakes from all that momentum of the mower, in this case.

oosik · Feb 6, 2019

I engage my tractor PTO by soft engagement at idle. Mine is completely mechanical engagement. NO PTO braking system. The heavy 'ol chipper flywheel will continue to spin for a loooong time after PTO disengagement. Even as I disengage at idle.

My riding mower is electric engagement. Engage at idle with an almighty - "clunk".

Industrial Toys · Feb 6, 2019

I have a 14" chipper with a thousand pound flywheel. It troubles me to engage the electric pto clutch. There is a slip clutch on the chipper, but it only helps so much. I give the pto a kick, then release and re-engage. Don't know why, but this seems easier on the tractor.

mjlennon · Feb 6, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
I have a 14" chipper with a thousand pound flywheel. It troubles me to engage the electric pto clutch. There is a slip clutch on the chipper, but it only helps so much. I give the pto a kick, then release and re-engage. Don't know why, but this seems easier on the tractor.

Wow, would you mind posting a pic of that beast? The gyro effect of that bad boy must alter the planet's rotation!

Texasmark · Feb 9, 2019

Rock knocker said:
I've been around a ton of engine driven chippers, and the huge flywheel of a chipper means you really have to feather the clutch in. How do people do it with modern electric PTO clutches which don't allow a feathering? Or do the manufacturers install a mechanical clutch on the chipper itself which is user adjusted?

I have Ind. PTOs in my 6530 and 3910. The 6530 is electrically activated and has 24 discs to spread out the transitional stress of on-off operation. The Ford has 16 I think I recall. Point is, many discs are used and the torque is spread out over the engagement times of the different contact areas which mitigates to some degree the impact.

Owner's manuals suggest that engagements are to be done at idle rpms. The chippers may have an overrun clutch in the PTO shaft, like is on my drum mower that allows the load to spin faster than the power source, like you would need if you were running the chipper, disengage and reengage with the chipper still running, or when you shut off the drive to quit what you are doing and the load is still spinning.