How dangerous is YOUR PTO?

GreenYellow · Jun 26, 2015

Let's have a show of hands who keeps a plastic sleeve around your PTO shaft at all times. The one on my shredder is toast and I have major heartburn with the $149 price tag TSC has on a new one. (it's just a plastic sleeve!)

I KNOW how dangerous a PTO shaft can be. I have heard/read of several terrible injuries/death from people getting tangled in an engaged shaft. No one debates that they are man killers.

I suspect at some point I'll get a new sleeve on it... For now I'm just using common sense and staying the heck away from it. I get the occasional vine or tall grass stem wrapped on it.

So tell me, do you keep yours in "proper" condition? Any first hand encounters?

k0ua · Jun 26, 2015

Mine is working fine. Like you said, stay the heck away from it. They can hurt you quick.

Redneck in training · Jun 26, 2015

My are pretty beat up. I still have the guard on them but let it rotate with shaft.

looch · Jun 26, 2015

Both u-joint covers on my finish mower's shaft were disconnected from the main tube. I wove them back together with some wire. I'm old enough to know that I can't foresee every scenario - one that scares me is tripping / falling into the works.

bcp · Jun 26, 2015

Some here (and parts) cheaper than $149.

PTO Shaft, PTO Parts, PTO Adapter, PTO Power Take Off | Agri Supply

Even whole shafts cheaper than $149.

PTO Shaft, PTO Parts, PTO Adapter, PTO Power Take Off | Agri Supply

Bruce

Sysop · Jun 26, 2015

It has only been in recent years they have started such things. None of the old iron had the safety shields. You shouldn't have anyone anywhere near a spinning PTO shaft, shields in place or not. Lots of dangerous stuff on machinery, there is never enough caution around such things. Maintain shields as best as possible, but when they fail it isn't the end of the world...

I think the $149 would have had to have been a full shaft...

NC419N · Jun 26, 2015

Just replaced the one on my finishing mower, Bush hog one is there but rotates with the shaft, generator's still good as is rototiller. In a "perfect world" they would all be in perfect working order but face it our machine's do tuff work in hard applications. I think they are safer with a sleeve on them, and most are but not chained and rotate with the shaft and that's better than nothing on them at all with the shaft exposed. Just my .02.

kebo · Jun 26, 2015

Redneck in training said:
My are pretty beat up. I still have the guard on them but let it rotate with shaft.

Same here, just let them rotate with the PTO shaft on my BH and my RFM. The PTO shafts on the rototiller and PHD are in good shape so they works like they're supposed to. I just never get near them while they are turning, actually if I get off the tractor with the PTO engaged the tractor shuts off and I like it that way.

rustyshakelford · Jun 26, 2015

Every guy I've talked to that is missing his plastic cover somehow looses his lynch pins also and tears up his top link. Literally every single time!

Brett

GreenYellow · Jun 26, 2015

bcp said:
Some here (and parts) cheaper than $149.

PTO Shaft, PTO Parts, PTO Adapter, PTO Power Take Off | Agri Supply

Even whole shafts cheaper than $149.

PTO Shaft, PTO Parts, PTO Adapter, PTO Power Take Off | Agri Supply

Bruce

Thanks Bruce! I'll check them out a little closer.

GreenYellow · Jun 26, 2015

Sysop said:
It has only been in recent years they have started such things. None of the old iron had the safety shields. You shouldn't have anyone anywhere near a spinning PTO shaft, shields in place or not. Lots of dangerous stuff on machinery, there is never enough caution around such things. Maintain shields as best as possible, but when they fail it isn't the end of the world...

I think the $149 would have had to have been a full shaft...

Haha! Yes, I was surprised to pick up an empty plastic tube and see $149.99 on it too. I put it back pretty quick. They want 299 for most of the shafts with guards. Weasler PTO Guard, 902-3548 - Tractor Supply Co.

GreenYellow · Jun 26, 2015

rustyshakelford said:
Every guy I've talked to that is missing his plastic cover somehow looses his lynch pins also and tears up his top link. Literally every single time!

Brett

No joke Brett! Me too! Craziest thing...

Fawken · Jun 26, 2015

If it came with them, yes they work and I haven't tossed them. This includes the backhoe and the tiller. The Hico mower never had one. The PTO guard that came with the tractor got taken off decades ago. Couldn't see much use in it. It only covered the shaft plus 3-4 inches.

nybirdman · Jun 26, 2015

The people that remove or don't replace are the same ones that don't need that silly seat switch that shuts the tractor off when no one is in the seat.
I live in farm country and have seen the results of not using this safety equiptment;and it's not pretty at all.
I will keep mine on and what-ever replacement cost is,it's a lot less than severed arms and a thrashing death.

CalG · Jun 26, 2015

Why they make the anti-rotation chain tabs so small and flimsy is anyone's guess. I've got a couple of those torn through, but the plastic sleeve is still in great shape.

I suppose a screw and nut securing some sort of chain hook would be an easy fix.

bcp · Jun 26, 2015

Get some small 1/2 3/4 inch D-rings made for web straps and hold one on with a worm gear hose clamp.

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Bruce

ovrszd · Jun 26, 2015

Sysop said:
It has only been in recent years they have started such things. None of the old iron had the safety shields. You shouldn't have anyone anywhere near a spinning PTO shaft, shields in place or not. Lots of dangerous stuff on machinery, there is never enough caution around such things. Maintain shields as best as possible, but when they fail it isn't the end of the world...

I agree. I cannot think of ANY situation where I would leave the seat of my tractor, with PTO running, and squeeze myself between the rear tractor tire and the brush cutter, to insert myself into the spinning shaft???? What would be the goal of such an adventure???

I also don't think of it as the end of the World if my PTO sleeves aren't functioning fully or missing. But on a brush cutter, for example, my biggest concern is tall plants getting wrapped on the PTO shaft if not protected. That will upset your rhythm for sure.

My Kubota has a shrill siren that goes off if you leave the seat with the PTO running. I've never figured that out. If I need a siren to tell me my PTO attachment is still running I probably need to stay off the tractor.

ovrszd · Jun 26, 2015

nybirdman said:
The people that remove or don't replace are the same ones that don't need that silly seat switch that shuts the tractor off when no one is in the seat.
I live in farm country and have seen the results of not using this safety equiptment;and it's not pretty at all.
I will keep mine on and what-ever replacement cost is,it's a lot less than severed arms and a thrashing death.

No flame intended. Just difference in uses. I won't own a tractor that shuts off the engine every time I leave the seat. I don't even understand the need for that??? On a lawn tractor, got it, on a CUT or larger tractor, don't got it....

RoyJackson · Jun 26, 2015

There is only one implement that uses the tractor as a stationary power unit...that's my chipper. The PTO drive shaft cover does not rotate with the shaft itself and I give it wide berth (at least 5-6 feet) even with the cover.
The RFM and rotary cutter...well, if I'm going to leave the tractor, the PTO shuts the tractor down if I don't disengage it.

ovrszd · Jun 26, 2015

RoyJackson said:
There is only one implement that uses the tractor as a stationary power unit...that's my chipper. The PTO drive shaft cover does not rotate with the shaft itself and I give it wide berth (at least 5-6 feet) even with the cover.
The RFM and rotary cutter...well, if I'm going to leave the tractor, the PTO shuts the tractor down if I don't disengage it.

Good rules Roy!!!!