How much PTO is enough?

[Highsmith]

I am shopping for my first tractor. Some good information on another thread made me consider the value of PTO horsepower. I plan on owning several PTO driven attachments including an auger, brush mower, tiller, and chipper. All of the tractors I am considering have at least 42 PTO HP.

1. Am I buying enough PTO HP to power 5'-7' implements?
2. What is the greatest width brush mower that could be powered with a 42-45 HP PTO?

 

[LarryD]

I can say I run a 5' tiller on 28 PTO HP without any problem. Could go even bigger depending on how many passes I want to make, but the current setup lets me get pretty aggressive with "never been tilled" areas.

Sorry I can't help on question 2. I'm currently shopping for a RFM in the 6' range and I have no doubt I'll have enough HP based on how I'm going to use it.

 

[greg_g]

1. Am I buying enough PTO HP to power 5'-7' implements?
2. What is the greatest width brush mower that could be powered with a 42-45 HP PTO?

1. yes
2. rule of thumb for general duty rotary cutter use is 5hp per foot of swath

//greg//

 

[vallyfarm]

if you are going to be chopping corn, at least 100 HP. If you are going to bale hay, at least 50 HP. Other than that, almost anything can be done with around 30 HP or less. I'm not saying an 8 foot tiller, but a smaller tiller. With all the compact and SUT out there almost every piece of equipment is made for that HP rating. Even have seen small chisel plows...2-3 bot. for them. Mike

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I am shopping for my first tractor. Some good information on another thread made me consider the value of PTO horsepower. I plan on owning several PTO driven attachments including an auger, brush mower, tiller, and chipper. All of the tractors I am considering have at least 42 PTO HP.

1. Am I buying enough PTO HP to power 5'-7' implements?
2. What is the greatest width brush mower that could be powered with a 42-45 HP PTO?

40 to 45 hp (pto) will run a 6' tiller in most conditions. No idea on the chipper. As far as the mower... As a rule of thumb, most 40 to 45 hp tractors will be big enough (weight) to EASILY handle medium and heavy duty 6' mowers. If you don't mind a pull-type mower where weight isn't an issue, you might have enough power for a 7'er. A lot depends on WHAT YOU'RE MOWING. (i.e. Thick heavy weeds and brush, or.......clipping a few inches of pasture grass)

 

[Soundguy]

I agree with Farm. you can pull a bigger mower if it is drag style vs 3pt. 7' probably be ok in average situations.. and even 8' if you just clip pastures.

Soundguy

 

[heymack]

Follow the link to see a handy little chart that a local dealer made and posts on his website. Remember that the HP ratings shown on the chart are engine, not PTO.

http://www.billstractor.com/mahimplementschoice.doc