How to engage rear PTO

[quedogf94]

I just bought a Kioti ck35hst. I want to engage the rear pto for a 4ft bushog, I'm about to exchange for a 5ft bushog. The rear pto lever has 540 an 1000 speeds. Which one do I use? The tachometer says to operate the pto 540 at 2600 rpm. Do I engage at 2600 rpm or at a lower rpm. Which implements would use 540 rpm and which would use a 1000 rpm.

 

[DAP]

I just bought a Kioti ck35hst. I want to engage the rear pto for a 4ft bushog, I'm about to exchange for a 5ft bushog. The rear pto lever has 540 an 1000 speeds. Which one do I use? The tachometer says to operate the pto 540 at 2600 rpm. Do I engage at 2600 rpm or at a lower rpm. Which implements would use 540 rpm and which would use a 1000 rpm.

Off the top of my head, I'm not sure what type of PTO this unit has (live, independent, etc.) but anyway ...

Your bushog will run at 540 (2600 rpms). Do you absolutely need to be at 2600? No. It really depends on what your cutting (grass, brush, height, thickness, overall mass). 540 is the OPTIMUM PTO rpms for that cutter, in fact, most rotary cutters run at 540.

I often cut at 2200 (instead of the 2600 indicated) if I'm cutting pasture grass under 10 inches or so ... this is a feel thing that you will learn after logging some hours on your machine and implements.

The 1000 PTO speed is for completely different implements and unless you have one, I would not worry about it. Certainly do not use it for a rotary cutter.

As a rule, if youve got a PTO with a foot clutch, you will probably have a clutch. Depress the clutch at low RPMS, engage the PTO using the PTO lever, slowly let out the clutch (this will start the cutter rotating) and THEN increase RPMS to PTO speeds (obviously the cutter rotation will accelerate). For example, my Kubota B7800 has the clutch, however, the B3030 (same frame and engines) has no clutch.

To disengage, I like to clutch and immediately use the PTO Lever to disengage, then throttle down (if needed).

Becareful when disengaging that your PTO shaft is not at extreme angles. The process of immediately removing ALL of the torque load to the shaft which is connected to your tranny, if your shaft is severly angled up (as in not close to level) can produce quite a shock to the components involved.

Others may have different advice or different setups, but this I've found to be fairly universal.

 

[RoyJackson]

If you haven't done it yet, read the manuals for the tractor and rotary cutter thoroughly. The answers to your questions are there.

You'll want to use 540 RPM for your cutter (unless your cutter manual specifies otherwise, which I doubt).

Once your tractor is warmed up (temp gage will read normal or in the green...), engage the PTO at around 1200-1500 RPM. If your Kioti has a foot throttle, be prepared to give it a little more fuel if the tractor starts to stall.

The cutter will vibrate and you may hear a "clunk" as the blades pivot out. I always let it run for about 10 seconds, then increase RPM to PTO speed (2600 RPM in your case). Then I engage the gear I want to use.

I suggest you use a lower gear and go pretty slow until you get used to it. Also, make sure you have your seat belt on and wear ear plugs.
If the field is overgrown and you've never cut there before, go slow! There may be debris, stumps, ruts and all kinds of things under that growth.

This is also a job to do with no kids or other people around. The blades of that cutter can really throw objects (stones, branches) at a high velocity.

When you're done or want to break, slow the engine RPM down to an idle (1000-1200 RPM) before disengaging the PTO. That will help slow those big blades. Don't be surprised if the cutter blades keep turning for a minute or so...there's a lot of momentum left in them.

Good luck and remember, SAFETY FIRST!

 

[frank_f15]

I engage the PTO at low RPM then bring up the engine RPM to 2600 and disengae by lowering the RPM then putting the clutch in AND then disengageing the pto.
On my tractor implemnts that run off the rear PTO run at 540 speed (2600 engine RPM) and any thing running off the MID PTO operate at 1000 rpm normally a MID MOUNT MOWER or a front monted snow blower. I am assuminng that your tractor would be the same but not sure.

 

[jbrumberg]

Quedogf94:

Welcome to TBN ! DAP, RoyJackson, and frank f15 are right on with their advise . I will also advise you to keep your pets inside as well. If you have a FEL and choose to keep it on (I do to help balance the rig) keep it low to help lower your center of gravity and find obstructions. Simple things like ant mounds can seriously strain the tractor and rotary cutter as the RC levels the mound out; ground dwelling wasps like yellow jackets can make things interesting if your run over a hive; small stumps and saplings can make a lot of noise, but most RC's can handle them to some degree. Mow high the first time in an unknown area to help you find and hopefully clear obstructions. Try to mow when the field is dry. If you have hills or slopes use your FWMD. Mow with the slope if possible. CUT's are tippy, I pucker up whenever I start to exceed 10+ degrees. Let your pucker meter dictate how you mow across slopes. Mow slow and keep things low. Jay

 

[Grrrr]

All the other guys have given you really good advice but one other thing that I have found with my RC is that engaging the PTO when the shaft is almost straight (IE. When the cutter is on the ground) reduces some of the 'shock' of starting the blades spinning. Also be carefull of the blades continuing to spin even after the PTO is disengaged and the tractors is stopped.

 

[RoyJackson]

I've never seen any Category 1 implement rated for 1000 RPM. The only one I could even imagine would be a direct drive wood chipper, but that's sheer supposition on my part.

I know some of the BIG utility tractors have 1000 RPM PTO's, but that would be a category 3 machine. I've also read of folks running the high RPM PTO's at a very low engine speed for 540 RPM rated implements. If that's true, I'd consider it rather unsafe.

quedogf94, in your case...just make sure you use the correct PTO speed (540). A higher speed could cause a very dangerous catastrophic failure of your cutter.

 

[Grrrr]

I've never seen any Category 1 implement rated for 1000 RPM. The only one I could even imagine would be a direct drive wood chipper, but that's sheer supposition on my part.

I know some of the BIG utility tractors have 1000 RPM PTO's, but that would be a category 3 machine. I've also read of folks running the high RPM PTO's at a very low engine speed for 540 RPM rated implements. If that's true, I'd consider it rather unsafe.

quedogf94, in your case...just make sure you use the correct PTO speed (540). A higher speed could cause a very dangerous catastrophic failure of your cutter.

It is quite common practice to use 1000 RPM PTO speed for driving light duty attatchments like hay tedders in England atleast. I've never done it myself though and it is normally only when big tractors are driving too small a rake.

The David Brown 950 tractor had two positions marked on the tacho so you could use the higher geared PTO speed at lower engine revs.

 

[quedogf94]

I would like to thank everyone who answered. The manual talks about engaging the rear pto, but not starting at a lower engine rpm just operating at 2600 rpm.
It does not tell me which rpm to choose 540 or 1000, but now I know. I've already tried using the rotary cutter at 1000 rpm, my rational was hey, the faster the rpm the better. I was lucky nothing bad happened.
I've had my tractor for a week and its been raining almost every day, just my luck. My house is on a hill so I wanted to test at the performance of my tractor at the end of a dry day. The tractor really performed well, I had to engage the 4wd when things got slippery and locking the rear differentials really help.

 

[Grrrr]

I would like to thank everyone who answered. The manual talks about engaging the rear pto, but not starting at a lower engine rpm just operating at 2600 rpm.
It does not tell me which rpm to choose 540 or 1000, but now I know. I've already tried using the rotary cutter at 1000 rpm, my rational was hey, the faster the rpm the better. I was lucky nothing bad happened.
I've had my tractor for a week and its been raining almost every day, just my luck. My house is on a hill so I wanted to test at the performance of my tractor at the end of a dry day. The tractor really performed well, I had to engage the 4wd when things got slippery and locking the rear differentials really help.

I think you are very lucky you didn't damage your RC gearbox operating it at 1000 RPM.

Be carefull when operating on your slopes especially when is wet and slippery. You can start to slip sideways easily when it is wet. Rollovers can happen fast.

Be carefull and happy tractoring