Question About engaging PTO

[n4khq]

I have a new Kubota, L3240DT and LandPride 6 ft cutter (bush hog). If I just disengage the PTO and allow the cutter to spin down, the blades to not swing in to the center. The PTO is a 1" inch yellow twist knob. It seems to be on or off with no in-between. The clutch does not disengage the PTO when depressed. With both blades in cutting position and the tractor at idle, engaging the PTO with the cutter attached, It sounds like hitting the cutter with a sledge hammer. I get some bouncing of the cutter like a blade was not in the cutting position. Once started, the LandPride cuts well. I think the problem is the PTO can not be engaged slowly. I know this can't be good for the cutter. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[ProScape]

Engage and disengage at a lower engine RPM. Always run the unit at the full 540 pto speed but when engaging and disengaging bring down the throttle briefly and then advance back to the proper RPM. Also, don't engage in tall grass.

 

[n4khq]

Thanks for the reply, the problem occurs with the tractor at idle.

 

[wmonroe]

On my 5240 I usually depress the clutch, then turn the yellow pto knob to engage, then slowly release the clutch which gently engages the pto implement. Are you saying the clutch on your tractor does not disengage the pto?

I almost always engage/disengage the pto at idle.

 

[n4khq]

I am idling down as low as possible before engaging. I have been disengaging at about 1500. First use was today. I stood up and the kill switch killed the tractor. One blade slid over the other blade attachment bolt. I had to beat it off with a hammer. I started watching, disengaging the PTO allows the cutter the spin down and blades stay out in cutting position.

 

[n4khq]

On my 5240 I usually depress the clutch, then turn the yellow pto knob to engage, then slowly release the clutch which gently engages the pto implement. Are you saying the clutch on your tractor does not disengage the pto?

I almost always engage/disengage the pto at idle.

I use the clutch with some of my other tractors but depressing the clutch on the 3240 does not disengage the PTO. I assume it would not help when engaging but I have not tried.

 

[wmonroe]

Is yours a hydrostatic? If not I'm not sure how the clutch interfaces with the pto. I know the electric pto clutch engages a bit rough for my taste and that is why is use the clutc on mine (but I have a hydro).
Hopefully someone here can help you out.

 

[n4khq]

Is yours a hydrostatic? If not I'm not sure how the clutch interfaces with the pto. I know the electric pto clutch engages a bit rough for my taste and that is why is use the clutc on mine (but I have a hydro).
Hopefully someone here can help you out.

I have two L3240s, one is a DT Manual transmission and the other is and HST. The new tractor this thread refers to is a manual transmission.

Thanks

 

[SDT]

I have a new Kubota, L3240DT and LandPride 6 ft cutter (bush hog). If I just disengage the PTO and allow the cutter to spin down, the blades to not swing in to the center. The PTO is a 1" inch yellow twist knob. It seems to be on or off with no in-between. The clutch does not disengage the PTO when depressed. With both blades in cutting position and the tractor at idle, engaging the PTO with the cutter attached, It sounds like hitting the cutter with a sledge hammer. I get some bouncing of the cutter like a blade was not in the cutting position. Once started, the LandPride cuts well. I think the problem is the PTO can not be engaged slowly. I know this can't be good for the cutter. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Reduce engine speed to idle before disengaging PTO.

SDT

 

[wngsprd]

You've already stated that you engage/disengage at idle. If you think a slower engine speed would help prevent the shudder, and you have a slope/hill, you could engage while in gear, slowly moving up a slope...this should slow the RPMs down some, based on the steepness.

 

[n4khq]

Reduce engine speed to idle before disengaging PTO.

SDT

Thank for the reply. I don't have any problem disengaging, the problem is engaging. I don't understand.

 

[n4khq]

You've already stated that you engage/disengage at idle. If you think a slower engine speed would help prevent the shudder, and you have a slope/hill, you could engage while in gear, slowly moving up a slope...this should slow the RPMs down some, based on the steepness.

I have some real steep hills but I should have to go to a hill to engage the PTO. Besides it would just stall the engine.

 

[Notforhire]

I had a L3240GST, and I know just what your going through. What your doing, slowing to idle, is about all you can do IMHO. I actually tried a 5ft mower, and it helped quite a bit, there is a little less weight flying around.
You say yours will coast down when you shut it off? Mine had a brake, and would slow real fast when the PTO switched off. I have never been a fan of electric clutch PTOs, but I see them now even on utilitys. They are fine with most attachments, but not slashers.

One blade slid over the other blade attachment bolt.

This should not happen. I have only owned Bush Hog brand cutters. You can reach under and rotate the blade around it's mounting bolt 360deg without it contacting anything. This is not the case with yours?

The guys with HSTs don't have the problem because the clutch disconnects the PTO, and they can apply power slowly. The new HST units, with the brakes on the left and no clutch will have the same problem your having, I would think.
Sorry I couldn't offer more help, but I think that's the nature of the beast.

Bill

 

[whistlepig]

Thank for the reply. I don't have any problem disengaging, the problem is engaging. I don't understand.

If you don't properly disengage the blades will tangle up. And they will stay tangled up until the next time you engage them. Don't idle down to disengage. Let the cutter coast to a stop with the PTO off.

 

[MHarryE]

I don't think you have a problem. Since the blades pivot, the chances of them being perfectly straight out on startup is almost zip, and when you start the main hub starts rotating but inertia makes the tips of the blades lag until centrifugal force pops them straight out. Maybe other brands are different and defy the laws of physics but your LandPride startup sounds just like my 1872 and it is going strong after 3 years of heavy use. I assume when you start at low idle it does so with a short unbalanced wiggle plus some blade banging and quickly smooths out. Now my finish mower is a different animal because of non-pivoting blades.

 

[Notforhire]

I don't think you have a problem. Since the blades pivot, the chances of them being perfectly straight out on startup is almost zip, and when you start the main hub starts rotating but inertia makes the tips of the blades lag until centrifugal force pops them straight out. Maybe other brands are different and defy the laws of physics but your LandPride startup sounds just like my 1872 and it is going strong after 3 years of heavy use. I assume when you start at low idle it does so with a short unbalanced wiggle plus some blade banging and quickly smooths out. Now my finish mower is a different animal because of non-pivoting blades.

I would agree that what you describe is normal start up for any slasher. I think the OP may get a little more banging or shaking than normal because of the sudden engagement in his type of PTO. I don't think it will hurt the slasher, no mater what, but the suggestions for engagement at lower rpm would save wear and tear on the PTO clutch.
The only thing in his post that raises questions to me is;

One blade slid over the other blade attachment bolt. I had to beat it off with a hammer.

Does that sound normal? Because of offset built into my cutter blades, they can bang together, but I don't think a blade can contact the opposite pivot bolt.

 

[whistlepig]

They won't hit the pivot bolt. But both blades are level with each other and they pivot. They will tangle up if disengaged or are engaged improperly. Every time you use them no matter what brand they are.

 

[robbyr]

They won't hit the pivot bolt. But both blades are level with each other and they pivot. They will tangle up if disengaged or are engaged improperly. Every time you use them no matter what brand they are.

I've had that happen twice with King Kutter 6'. Made awful racket and found one blade had somehow gotten jammed on top of the other. Took a 3lb hammer and landscape timber to break it loose. Had hit a sizable stump that I didn't see.

 

[n4khq]

I had a L3240GST, and I know just what your going through. What your doing, slowing to idle, is about all you can do IMHO. I actually tried a 5ft mower, and it helped quite a bit, there is a little less weight flying around.
You say yours will coast down when you shut it off? Mine had a brake, and would slow real fast when the PTO switched off. I have never been a fan of electric clutch PTOs, but I see them now even on utilitys. They are fine with most attachments, but not slashers.

This should not happen. I have only owned Bush Hog brand cutters. You can reach under and rotate the blade around it's mounting bolt 360deg without it contacting anything. This is not the case with yours?

The guys with HSTs don't have the problem because the clutch disconnects the PTO, and they can apply power slowly. The new HST units, with the brakes on the left and no clutch will have the same problem your having, I would think.
Sorry I couldn't offer more help, but I think that's the nature of the beast.

Bill

Thanks Bill, my cutter has brakes but at low RPMs they work great and do not tangle blades. Yes probable bad design on the land pride blades causing the lockup. The seat on the L3240 has a kill switch. If you stand up with the PTO engage, the tractor engine is killed. The blade lockup only occurred when I stopped the tractor by standup. I disabled the switch and I think the lockups will not be a problem. I think your reply is correct but still hopping to fine a better solution. Thanks again

 

[n4khq]

If you don't properly disengage the blades will tangle up. And they will stay tangled up until the next time you engage them. Don't idle down to disengage. Let the cutter coast to a stop with the PTO off.

I understand but as long as I don't stop using the kill switch on the tractor seat, blades are not tangling up. I have disabled the kill switch. Thanks