How Many pto speeds do I need?

[texbaylea]

I had a Kubota B6100E (14hp) that I bought 22 years ago that had 3 PTO speeds available. Never use anything but 540. I have a PTO generator that I used with it . Tried it with the 1000 rpm setting but that put the engine speed too far below the torque peak that it was self defeating. Couldn't carry the load.

Vernon

 

[leaddog]

I have a Century 3045 that has 40pto-hp. It has the duel 540 and 1000 rpm pto. I use the 1000rpm all the time because on alot of the things I do I don't need the hp and I can run the tractor at 1600 rpms and it works great. Less noise, less wear and tear and gives me even slower gear options. I use it even when I brushhog with my 6ft cutter. I have hogged 6ft high grass and it doesn't hardly work the engine. I used a 5ft snowblower last winter and ran it in the 100rpm-pto all the time. and never had it lug down the tractor. I don't like to run my engine at 2600rpm all the time. of course mine is a gear tractor so I don't have to run it high to run the trans. One other advantage to gears
But then you need to be aware and not speed up the engine as then you will over speed the pto and that can be BAD. But for me that hasn't been a problem.
I think that the two speeds are a big plus.
leaddog

 

[ThistleKop]

Tim thanks for the explanation of the mechanics(physics). I thought it was appropriate. Unlike one of the responses.

TK

 

[Robert_in_NY]

When I talk about 1000 pto being a better system it makes no difference what size machine it is on. All I am trying to say is all tractors should be 1000 pto but it will be hard for many companies to change in the compact industry because there are very few implements offered at the time. The reason there are no implements is because it isn't offered and it keeps going back and forth till some company takes a chance and starts putting the 1000 pto on small tractors. It needs to be a larger company like Deere or CNH in order to get the implement companies to take notice. As for current implements designed for 1000 pto most are for larger Utility class and bigger but with "compact" tractors getting into the 50 hp range you know people will be using them for haying and such where they will eventually find a 1000 pto implement and they won't be able to use it.

 

[RalphVa]

Most implements for the 3 pt are designed for the 540 rpm PTO. Some CUTs and compacts have a mid point PTO that runs higher speed, with implements designed to use that speed.

My Gravely has 2 speeds for its front (and only) PTO: about 540 and about 840. I haven't noticed any big differences in bush hog performance. It seems to give a more even cut at the higher speed but seems to slough through high grass better at the lower speed.

I don't use the higher speed on the rotary plow, because it throws dirt all over the place. Slow is better. The snow thrower will sling snow about 70' or so even at the slow speed.

Ralph