When / How do you engage the PTO on your DK?

[rd_macgregor]

I don't use auto and pretty much always idle down before activating the PTO. I'm pretty sure that there is an internal PTO clutch. My evidence is that I have had a chipper jamb that did not shear the pin, but slowed the tractor revs way down without stalling it. I don't consider this situation a good thing, but do take it as evidence that the PTO has some sort of slip clutch internally.

 

[s219]

Engage at idle. Also, I think it's good to disengage clutch at full speed and then throttle down before disengaging. Reason being, the flywheel mass of some implements (ie, wood chipper) will stress the engine and gearing if you cut the throttle all of a sudden. So I push in clutch on my Kubota, and then throttle down independently. When the implement stops turning the gears on its own, I disengage the PTO. This is with a mechanical setup, so it may be different for a more sophisticated system.

 

[k0ua]

Some of us don't have a clutch, but anything you can do to relieve stress on driveline components sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[kiotiken]

I don't use auto and pretty much always idle down before activating the PTO. I'm pretty sure that there is an internal PTO clutch. My evidence is that I have had a chipper jamb that did not shear the pin, but slowed the tractor revs way down without stalling it. I don't consider this situation a good thing, but do take it as evidence that the PTO has some sort of slip clutch internally.

I don't think it does. I sucked a chain into the impeller of my snowblower at PTO rpm. Stopped the blower and killed the engine instantly. I was sure that was going to be a $10K mistake but I didn't so much as shear a pin.

 

[Coyote machine]

I don't think it does. I sucked a chain into the impeller of my snowblower at PTO rpm. Stopped the blower and killed the engine instantly. I was sure that was going to be a $10K mistake but I didn't so much as shear a pin.

Imagine if you'd done that on your prior Kioti?! Bet it woulda' ended that problem once and for all, eh?!

 

[rd_macgregor]

I don't think it does. I sucked a chain into the impeller of my snowblower at PTO rpm. Stopped the blower and killed the engine instantly. I was sure that was going to be a $10K mistake but I didn't so much as shear a pin.

That is what I expected to happen with mine when the chipper jammed, but the engine kept going, albeit at considerably reduced rpms. I hate the thought of some internal part slipping; it raises the specter of some future costly repair involving major surgery on my tractor.

Bob

 

[Beezz27]

Thanks for the replies guys, Kinda what I was thinking I'll keep using the auto feature for the tiller but when mowing and such I'll stick to the throttle down method.

 

[nc redneck]

I always slow down to idle before hitting PTO button, but do confess to a few times towards the end of a long hot day of mowing hitting it at 1800 rpm to hurry and finish up.
I find around 2200 rpm is sweet spot for me. 540 Pto speed as marked on tach just burns more fuel and makes little difference in cut or performance.
I am sure others would disagree. I am mowing with Woods RM 990.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Add me to the list of those who reduce the throttle to idle before engaging the PTO. I never use the auto-PTO engagement. Seems like a bad idea to me.

 

[kco]

Like others I go to idle before engaging and disengaging the PTO and don't use the auto feature.

But, I have a sprayer tank and roller pump that I use to water young trees and shrubs. I don't go back to idle for that.