PTO Settings

southla · Aug 21, 2013

Hi All! I recently purchased a 70s Satoh Beaver 15 HP. It has a Woods finish mower and a 4 foot bush hog. Recently while testing the implements, I had to operate in 1st gear low or the tractor would bog down and smoke. My PTO settings sticker is missing so I am not even sure if I am in the right setting for the implement used. Can someone post a picture or explain the different settings of the PTO (I know there is an N,1,2,3 but not sure where they are located) and what number you would suggest to be in for operating each type of deck. Thanks in advance...

Ilikeurtractor · Aug 21, 2013

I'm not familiar with that tractor's lever settings, but a 4' bush hog is a pretty big implement for that tractor. I read somewhere where it is recommended to have around 5 hp/ft of mower. Your PTO hp is probably around 13hp at 2700 rpm on the engine. One of my tractors struggled with a 3' bush hog with the KE70 engine (what yours has) but my engine appears to have issues with low power anyway.

southla · Aug 22, 2013

Thanks for the response. The bush-hog may not be 4 foot. It is a smaller one. The bad part is I saw the 2 implements work with the old man operating the tractor. He was cutting grass, throttle was good, no smoke and moving along at a decent pace. I just cant come close to replecating that. Cant ask him about it either. If anyone can share a photo of marked pto lever, I would be greatful.

Irishman73 · Aug 25, 2013

As soon as I get home I will take a pic of mine. With the lever all the way forward it is in 1(540), then one click back is neutral. The next click up is 2nd, then another neutral. And the last closest to you is 3rd.

oliver28472 · Aug 26, 2013

I run my 470 in 1 for bush hogging and 2 for mowing with a Woods mower.

skylarkguy · Aug 26, 2013

Irishman73 described the same position arrangement as my MT372. The operators manual lists the following speeds for those positons:

Position 1 (first) 565 rpm, position 2 (second) 832 rpm, Position 3 (third) 1364 rpm. this is all at an engine RPM of 2700

The "standard" pto speeds listed are 540 in first at engine rpm of 2580, and 1000 rpm in third at engine rpm of 1979.