All about Tractor PTO and Their Different Types

You all must have heard about and seen tractors. Many of you must have driven it. But PTO tractor is a lesser-known term. what it does and how to use it on a tractor? This blog is dedicated to PTO tractors and details regarding their uses.

What is a PTO on a Tractor?

PTO is a device, which stands for Power Take-Off and is attached to the tractor. PTO transfers the power of the tractor to another machine that doesn't have an engine. When a tractor makes use of a harvester, mower, and other implements, it is PTO that supports such implements without an engine. It was 1918 when PTO was introduced to the tractors. Soon PTO became a widely used device for tractors.

Since then, a lot of improvement can be seen in the design and operation of PTOs. The latest available PTO transfers energy to all types of implements including high momentum implements. Modern PTOs are so designed that they are compatible and safe with all types of tractor structures.

Do All Tractors Have PTO?

This is important to understand whether all tractors have PTO or only some special tractors are eligible to get this attached. So, the answer is simply yes. Today almost all the tractors have this attached. You may rarely see any tractor without PTO. Even a compact tractor has PTO attached despite its small size. However, the ability and functionality of these tractors may differ. Some PTO can work up to hours while some can last only minutes. So, the parameter for judging a PTO is the power output and its operating time.

Types of Tractor PTO

PTO comes in different types and its usage depends on the tractor build and the operating requirement. Let us see all the types of PTO listed below.

Transmission PTO

This PTO connects with the tractor from its transmission point. And so it is called Transmission PTO. With this PTO, energy is transferrable to other implements only when the gear is in action. This one is the most simple type of PTO but if you are intended to make use of it in high momentum implements, it won't work up to the mark.

It has to be noted that as the PTO is directly attached to the tractor's transmission, the level of force expected is high. High transmission is a sign of danger but it can be mitigated because nowadays tractors come with overrunning clutches. Clutches automatically disconnect the two shafts when the shaft of PTO rotates at a faster pace. This way, safety is 100% assured.

Live PTO

This is also called a Two-stage clutch PTO. This one contradicts the transmission PTO. In Live PTO, power transfer continues even if the gear is not engaged. Live PTO makes use of two different clutches, one is for engaging and the other is for disengaging the PTO. This means that a tractor operator may stop the tractor or change the gear even when PTO is engaged. Once the PTO gets engaged, the motion of the tractor doesn't make any difference. Unlike transmission PTO, Live PTO takes care of the tractor's transmission as well as protects PTO from any damage due to high momentum.

Independent PTO

Independent PTO is quite similar to Live PTO. Like Live PTO, this one also has a separate clutch. Due to the separate clutch, engaging PTO without gear is not a problem. No matter whether the tractor is moving or standing at rest, PTO can be engaged in both situations. There are two types of Independent PTO. One is hydraulic PTO and another one is Mechanical independent PTO. In both types of PTO, there is an electric switch that easily turns on and off the PTO.

A mechanical PTO in addition has a lever clutch that makes sure that the tractor operator does not engage the PTO accidentally. where as in the case of independent PTO, the position of the gear is not affected, hence it protects the transmission caused due to excessive spinning of the shaft.

Most tractor operators make use of independent PTO because of the ease and protection it offers. Plus, the output power is very high in the case of independent PTO as compared to transmission PTO. This one is ideal for continuous operation.

Reverse PTO

So far the types of PTO we have mentioned above can rotate only in one direction. However, it is possible to reverse their direction when needed. At the basic level, there is no problem caused by one-way rotation to certain implements but when it is stuck, a problem arises. To resolve this, the only solution is to reverse the direction of rotation.

Such PTOs are called reverse PTO. However, it is to be noted that PTO cannot tolerate high torsional force when it is rotating. So the 2 most important points have to be kept in mind i.e PTO must not rotate in a backward direction for long and PTO should rotate reverse when it is very necessary.

Economic PTO

This PTO allows the tractor to run and operate at lower RPM. The maximum RPM it runs on is 540. No tractor with economic RPM runs greater than this number. Economic PTO is a good and viable option for saving fuel, reducing vibration, and controlling noise pollution as well. Such PTO is used with implements like mowing, tilling, etc which creates so much noise while working.

What is Tractor PTO Shaft

The distinguishing feature of the tractor PTO shaft is to manage the flow of mechanical energy between tractors and their implements. Changing the energy of the engine into hydraulic pressure is the main function of the tractor PTO shaft. PTO shaft is a very important element of PTO and needs to be handled with great care. These shafts are used for carrying and pulling heavy loads.

Types of PTO Shaft

Every tractor owner must know the types of PTO Shaft. A few handfuls of operators know what a PTO shaft is unless they have to change the damaged PTO. So now we are going to tell you the 2 prominent types of PTO shafts and how you can identify them. The two types of PTO shafts are domestic and metric PTO shafts.

These shafts can be easily identifiable by looking at their shapes. You may find domestic PTO in 4 shapes mainly the Square, Rectangle, Round, and Splined. On the other hand, the metric shaft comes in 3 shapes which are a star, a bell, and football shapes.

Conclusion

We hope that by the end of this blog, you have enough information regarding the PTO tractor and their types. These PTOs are easily available in the market and at a budget-friendly price. PTOs are essential elements of a tractor and improve the quality of working.

You can easily get the Tractor with Required PTO at Farm Tender with complete information at a nominal price. Here you can also get all new and used tractors for sale.

From Case IH, New Holland, John Deere, Kubota, Massey Ferguson, Fiat, International, Deutz Fahr, David Brown, Ford, Fendt, Antonio Carraro, and Iseki, to many other renowned brands, go to the Farm Tender platform to find all the information you need or buy a tractor from various brands in a simple and transparent manner.