PTO Safety Question/Experiences

[gardner175]

I have a question about safety practices for connecting equipment to my tractor PTO drive. I have a 2014 Mahindra 4550 4WD. The PTO is mechanically activated. I need to depress the clutch, move the PTO lever to the on position (which some times requires a bit of effort and futzing), then let the clutch out to engage the PTO.

The tractor safety instructions state that the tractor must be turned off to safely connect implements to the PTO. My problem is that in my machine shed I can not park the tractor so I can close the door and also have enough room to move my brush hog or rototiller behind the tractor and connect them to the PTO. (I store the brush hog and rototiller on dollies so they can be moved in and out of storage easily to save space.) To mount and connect either implement I need to start the tractor (a diesel) move it forward about 6 feet so the FEL is outside the shed so I have room to mount the implements. This is the first diesel I've owned and a 都tart-short run to move 6 ft-trun off doesn't seem smart for the engine.

I am looking for some information from you experienced tractor owners/operators with mechanically operated PTOs.

Is it really a safety issue to connect the PTO while the tractor is running? Is any one aware of a mechanically activated PTO, like the one on my tractor, ever activating without the operator intentionally moving the activation lever?

I understand feasibility of an electronically activated control going rogue and starting without operator action. And while I don't want to take unnecessary chances or do something stupid, it does not seem feasible that my PTO can activate while the tractor is running without me, or someone in the drivers seat, depressing the clutch and engaging the activation lever. It seems the safety precautions may be a bit overblown just because they legally need to be. I also recognize I don't have a lot of tractor experience, and don't have anywhere to go for answers/advice on this question.

Any help, experiences, stories, or knowledge you could share will be greatly appreciated. I want to be safe and not be injured, or worse, from a bad decision on equipment operation.

 

[Agvg]

Should be no problem to let it idle, it's physical impossible that the PTO should engage it self.

 

[LouNY]

Should be no problem to let it idle, it's physical impossible that the PTO should engage it self.

I'd second that, the manufacture is insuring that they are not liable when some one really screws up,
such as trying to connect a pto shaft to a rotating pto.
It has been done, usually by the same people that will routinely climb across running pto's with loose and floppy clothing and hair.

 

[Cougsfan]

Any one who would tell you to attach an implement to the PTO with the tractor running would be extremely negligent in our "safety at all costs" society. Therefore I am not going to tell you that I have indeed attached a driveline to a PTO with the tractor running countless times over the years on all types of PTO's without an incident. (I will probably get flamed by some safety advocate for admitting that If anyone else were even around the tractor I would be extremely cautious of any of it's powered appendages though. As an example, they could easily accidentally drop the three point while you are attaching the PTO drive and lower a mower onto your foot. All in all your common sense is your best protection.

Also, out of curiosity, how many factory installed PTO Guards do you actually still see in place on a tractor that has been in use for a year or more? Most of those **** things are a total PITA, making access to attach things to the PTO much more difficult, therefore dangerous.

 

[Jstpssng]

I never really thought about it with my last tractor I often would lift the front tires off the ground so that I could use the loader to move it back and forth to line things up. Other times it's handy to engage the PTO and shut the engine off, so that the shaft doesn't turn as I try to line up the splines. It did have the PTO cover on when I sold it after 15 years. My new tractor has the electric PTO so it's a moot point; I shut it off for the reasons the OP suggested.
What I would like to find is a cover for the PTO shaft to keep dirt off it when nothing's attached; I keep a coating of grease on it which gets caked with dirt when I'm harrowing.

 

[oosik]

Well - it may take a little longer but count me as one who turns his tractor OFF when connecting/disconnecting any PTO driven equipment. Any mechanical device can malfunction.

 

[BHD]

all it may take is for a bearing to mess up and that PTO is turning,

yes the probability is so low that it may be nearly 0, but still it is your arms and legs and life, if it does for some reason malfunction, and there may not be anyone around to rescue you,

My brother in law, was unhooking a three point blade on a new tractor, just like the old tractor and even tho he had done it many many times in the past, he reached in and manually manipulated the three point lever from the back of the tractor,(under the shielding), he had the top link unhooked, the arms rose very fast and caught his arm tearing his muscles from the elbow down to his wrist,
pinning him for about three hours in freezing weather, (the cold was probably why he did not bleed to death), his wife came in from town and saw the tractor running and could not find him and went to investigate, found him pinned, (the blade pulled forward and would not slide back down even tho he could still touch the lever,

short cuts can be very dangerous, and you may get by with them for hundreds if not thousands of times before it gets one,

kind of like bull riding it is not IF you will get hurt, but when and how bad,

 

[TheMan419]

In answer to your unasked question it is not a big deal to fire up the tractor, move it 6 feet and turn it off.

 

[newbury]

In answer to your unasked question it is not a big deal to fire up the tractor, move it 6 feet and turn it off.

Best answer

/edit - but I'd let it warm up before I turned it off and hooked up the PTO.

 

[aczlan]

Well - it may take a little longer but count me as one who turns his tractor OFF when connecting/disconnecting any PTO driven equipment. Any mechanical device can malfunction.

This. I do my best to not get close enough to the PTO that I could fall in it and get stuck with the engine running.
If it concerns you to hook up the PTO in the barn, hook up the 3 point, leave the PTO disconnected and pull out of the barn. Then shut down the tractor and connect the PTO.

Just remember, whatever the cost of the wear and tear that running for a short time puts on the tractor is MUCH less than what it will cost you to get healthy again if the PTO somehow turns on while you are touching it...

Aaron Z

 

[4570Man]

I don’t see any problem with starting the tractor and driving 6 feet. I don’t see any problem with hooking up a pto to a running tractor either. The danger level seems equal to walking in front of a running vehicle. Never know when they might throw themselves in drive and run over your. Nah, not so much. I’m also one that doesn’t use those stupid cones on the tractor end of the pto u-joint. They might have some use on stationary use implements, but I only have mowers and a tiller. Besides make attaching the shaft miserable they accomplish nothing. How is anyone going to get caught in a shaft that’s already shielded by the 3 point hitch, the guard on the tractor and a foot away from spinning blades?

 

[4570Man]

I find it kinda of humorous how someone who wouldn’t think twice about taking their kids swimming or drives a vehicle, but blows a gasket over a virtually non existent safety concern ( and not claiming a PTO shaft is one ) drilling a hole in a ROPS or using the FEL for a man lift is more what I was referring to.

 

[goeduck]

I shut my tractor down, put up orange safety cones, one on each corner of the tractor 5 feet away from the tractor. I also put bollards 15 feet away from the orange cones. I run yellow caution tape between the bollards with no more than 1 inch of sag. I install my portable yellow rotating beacon and hard wire it to my battery (tractor is off for safety). I have my wife as a spotter in case something goes wrong. I alert the local medics that I will be hooking up my PTO and to be on the ready. Then and only then do I hook up my PTO shaft.

..... NOT.... I do it with the tractor running.

 

[RoyJackson]

Well - it may take a little longer but count me as one who turns his tractor OFF when connecting/disconnecting any PTO driven equipment. Any mechanical device can malfunction.

Same here...

 

[BrokenTrack]

I don稚 see any problem with starting the tractor and driving 6 feet. I don稚 see any problem with hooking up a pto to a running tractor either. The danger level seems equal to walking in front of a running vehicle. Never know when they might throw themselves in drive and run over your. Nah, not so much. I知 also one that doesn稚 use those stupid cones on the tractor end of the pto u-joint. They might have some use on stationary use implements, but I only have mowers and a tiller. Besides make attaching the shaft miserable they accomplish nothing. How is anyone going to get caught in a shaft that痴 already shielded by the 3 point hitch, the guard on the tractor and a foot away from spinning blades?

I had to buy a new PTO shaft and it came with shielding. In trying to turn over a new leaf in terms of being more safety conscious, I thought I would try to use it. I even changed out the yolk and put the darn shielding back on.

Still, it only lasted one time. I am not putting up with that crap. I got so frustrated with it, I ripped it off and will proceed like I have for the next 44 years, unless some smart engineer comes up with a PTO cover that actually works.

...

I have never shut my tractor off hooking up a PTO shaft

 

[rbtjr]

I always shut down the tractor when hooking an attachment to the PTO shaft. Although whether or not to shut down the tractor is obviously a personal choice, to me shutting down the tractor is negligible inconvenience, and causes negligible wear and tear on the tractor, in return for absolute assurance that I won't get injured by the PTO.

 

[mcfarmall]

I shut my tractor down, put up orange safety cones, one on each corner of the tractor 5 feet away from the tractor. I also put bollards 15 feet away from the orange cones. I run yellow caution tape between the bollards with no more than 1 inch of sag. I install my portable yellow rotating beacon and hard wire it to my battery (tractor is off for safety). I have my wife as a spotter in case something goes wrong. I alert the local medics that I will be hooking up my PTO and to be on the ready. Then and only then do I hook up my PTO shaft.

..... NOT.... I do it with the tractor running.

^^^^This is the best answer ever!!!^^^^^^

 

[theg]

I don稚 turn off tractor. Is that the safest thing no. Truthfully I知 more worried about something falling on me, being stung by the stupid yellow jackets that made a home inside the tubing on box blade, being sprayed by skunk under mower deck, yes my fault- being Stung again by the scorpion that was on my leg cause I was standing in tall grass in shorts and sneakers hooking up the cutter, having finger pinched between the pin and 3pt arm cause I was not lined up as I should have been and decided to man up and force it on, unfortunately when fire came from my finger tip, it also came out of my mouth to the shock of my daughter. We take risk everyday, evaluate what and how much risk you are willing to take and stay in your comfort zone. Own it. Be safe!!!!

 

[LouNY]

To those that seem to think their tractor is going to attack them for connecting a pto shaft with the engine running :laughing:
Many of our tractors actually have an activation switch on the rear of the fender,
a quick tap on it the shaft will just turn a bit to aid in connecting it,
once connected holding the button for 3-5 seconds activates the pto just like the cab button.
Very handy for stationary operation of pto power equipment, such as unloading self unloading wagons,
pull up, park, jump out connect pto shaft, start pto, engage wagon clutches set unload speed, monitor operation.
So connecting a pto do I shut the tractor down? heck no....
In a separate vein servicing pto powered equipment, greasing shafts and rotating pieces, yes it gets shut down,
except for the operations which require it to be running, which are done with extreme care.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I shut my tractor down, put up orange safety cones, one on each corner of the tractor 5 feet away from the tractor. I also put bollards 15 feet away from the orange cones. I run yellow caution tape between the bollards with no more than 1 inch of sag. I install my portable yellow rotating beacon and hard wire it to my battery (tractor is off for safety). I have my wife as a spotter in case something goes wrong. I alert the local medics that I will be hooking up my PTO and to be on the ready. Then and only then do I hook up my PTO shaft.

..... NOT.... I do it with the tractor running.

Love it.

I turn my massey off to hook up pto, has nothing to do with safety.
When tractor is off, the tractor pto can be turned by hand to line up with the shaft. If the tractor is on, it doesnt turn, making you turn the shaft to get it to line up. So much easier to hook up with the tractor off.