PTO Safety Question/Experiences

TheMan419 · May 21, 2018

I turn my tractor off simply because it takes me a while to hook up. I don't want to waste the fuel. Seriously I get distracted. Realize I need to grease a fitting, have to find the grease gun. Realize it is a good time to go to the bathroom, get a drink of water etc etc.

crashz · May 21, 2018

The older I get, the more I'm getting like TheMan419. I spent the entire day walking in circles yesterday doing the same thing. Pool to the tractor to the bathroom, to the garage and repeat. Half accomplished like 36 things!

When I first got the 770, I found this website. Plenty of threads in the safety section focused on PTO injuries. I watched a lot of video and saw a lot of gruesome photos. From then on, I've shut down the tractors.

ericm979 · May 21, 2018

I used to leave it running but I got to thinking how embarassing it'd be to be the subject of an "Local Man Killed by Tractor" acticle in the paper.

buckeyefarmer · May 21, 2018

CobyRupert said:
Pardon the sidetrack, but..
This seems odd to me. Does it have a PTO brake that "de-energizes"/releases when tractor is off? Do you need to install an overrun PTO clutch when running a rotary cutter, etc..

I was wrong, shaft turns by hand if tractor on or off. Maybe it is the kubota thst i can turn by hand if engine is off, didn't try it.

I was brave and connected pto with tractor running tonight. got some mowing done.

goeduck · May 21, 2018

In all seriousness, the PTO is a very dangerous thing when operating. All cautions are real when it is spinning and whatever impelement you have is running. Not so much when the PTO is not operating.

Getting in or out of a car is not dangerous when the car is stationary. Getting in or out of a car when it is on the freeway at the speed limit is very dangerous. Same difference.

Tractorable · May 22, 2018

I shut the tractor down because I’m not a fan of exhaust blowing in my face while I hook up an implement.

BHD · May 22, 2018

If your lawn tractor gets something stuck up under the deck and you need to reach under and free it, do you shut off you lawn tractor to do it or leave it run? even tho the PTO is off.

4570Man · May 22, 2018

BHD said:
If your lawn tractor gets something stuck up under the deck and you need to reach under and free it, do you shut off you lawn tractor to do it or leave it run? even tho the PTO is off.

I’ve done it without but I usually shut it off. A cheap electric clutch isn’t as fail proof as mechanical engagement.

CobyRupert · May 22, 2018

BHD said:
If your lawn tractor gets something stuck up under the deck and you need to reach under and free it, do you shut off you lawn tractor to do it or leave it run? even tho the PTO is off.

Depends. Is it like many lawn tractors where the "PTO clutch" (pulley) is mounted under a moving engine pulley and drive belt?

btw: Lawn tractor PTO clutches will typically "fail open" (off). I use to own an old Cub Cadet 582 lawn tractor that once every few summers the mower belt would shred and clean out the wire going to the PTO clutch every time. Definitely fail open.