Stalled PTO

[Dascro]

Hello! I am a new member, but a long time tractor user (grew up on a small farm).

I have a BX1800. A fine machine that I use to till and work about a 1/2 acre garden, clear and maintain a 350 ft driveway (snow removal and grooming), mow a 1.5 acre yard, and keep surrounding areas cleared and cut. I have a FEL, rear blade, MM mower, rotary cutter, and tiller.

Yesterday I was rototilling a newly opened garden section. Twice I "encountered" rocks large enough to immediately (instantaneously) stall the tractor out. I thought I had the slip clutch on the tiller adjusted properly, but apparently not. It is now though!!

In all the years of operating pto driven equipment using much larger tractors I have never experienced an instant stalling as described above. Has any else, especially on the BX models? Everything seems fine and I continued working the garden with no problems what-so-ever. Both the tractor and tiller seem fine. Any informed, experienced perspectives on the potential for any damage from these occurances?

Thanks for any and all knowledgeable opinions and perspectives. And sorry for such a long, first-time post.

 

[Partsman2]

Dascro,

Welcome to TBN. This is a great place to gain info!

Concerning your question, I have stalled a tractor with the PTO. It was a Ford 2000 35 HP diesel and I was mowing in very tall brush and hit a huge stump. I thought it had ripped the crankshaft right out of the engine the way it sounded and shuttered and shook./forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Those things are very hard to stall too. But it started right back up and ran fine.

To answer your concern I wouldn't make a regular practice of this. It is hard on the engine and PTO driveline etc. Doing this on a regular basis could cause some major damage. I wouldn't worry at this point if everything is working fine.

 

[Dascro]

Thanks Partsman2,

Yeah, no doubt its not my plan to make that kind of stuff a regular practice.

I appreciate you sharing your experience, especially the part about not causing any damage on a much larger machine. Hidden stumps, like hidden rocks, can really get your attention fast!!

I was also thinking that the relatively low torque of the BX engine (compared to the larger tractors I have operated) may have actually helped out in this case.

 

[RonR]

I've done that with my BX2200 when running at lower RPM and the tiller hit a tree root. Not an issue with mine.

I suspect higher RPM in my case would have helped the slip clutch to work.

You might want to back off the slip clutch springs a little if it really bugs you. Otherwise, just enjoy your fine machine.

ron