2022 Compact Tractor Buyers Guide #3 PTO Differences. Independent vs. Live PTO, Mid PTO

I have to watch this again. The PTO issues you went through have been the least clear of anything wrt tractors, although I don't think it was your presentation per se.

My 4 series JD has the electric PTO switch. It is one of my few dislikes on the tractor because it doesn't feather the start at any RPM, in my experience. Have to remember not to throw it in gear at high RPM or it feels like every bolt on it is going to fly off. Experience with the 2-stage clutch back in my youth was anything but pleasant. Good video.

Hey, Tim. I'm really enjoying your buyers series but I feel compelled to stand up for those of us that like the gear drive tractors. You mentioned the Deere D series tractors in the video. I have a JD 3043D and it absolutely serves my purpose here at the small farm I live on. I've been running all sorts of equipment for years so I've spent plenty of time on hydro tractors. And I agree with you that they are superior if their primary purpose is loader work. Well, sort of, anyway.

Personally, if my reason for owning a piece of equipment was primarily loader work I wouldn't have a farm tractor. I'd have a skid steer. They move faster, are more maneuverable, more stable and can lift a lot more for their size. A farm tractor is a compromise as a loader. I believe that the farm tractor has very specific strengths and that the gear drive tractors play to those strengths.

The reason I chose the 3043D is because of the way I use a tractor around here. I maintain the roads where I live and the weight and power to the ground that a gear drive provides are a big advantage to me. Also, I really like setting the throttle, choosing the gear, letting off the clutch and just eating up the ground. I don't have to hold down a peddle or think about speed.

I mostly use the PTO to run my wood chipper. It has a 150 pound flywheel and needs plenty of power to grind up those 4" logs. A gear drive transmission makes the most of the available power at the PTO. And again, the weight of the tractor helps to keep everything stable and solid when all of that mass is spinning around. I do have a brush hog and I use it every once in awhile. The PTO works well for that. Again, put the tractor in gear and let it eat.

The D series does have a shuttle shifter on it, though it isn't a power shuttle. In other words, the clutch has to be depressed to shift from forward to reverse. I don't find this to be cumbersome in any way at all. If it adds a second or two to the reverse/ forward process in comparison to hydro I'd be surprised. And, quite honestly, I'm not trying to win a race on my tractor. Here's where I guess a lot of years on tractors comes into play. Compared to all those old Fords I've run for years, having the shuttle is a game changer. No more reaching down between my legs and making the long shift from a forward gear to reverse and back again!

And that brings me to what I think might be the central piont here and it's the point I believe you are making. With tractors, experience counts. For the new tractor owner, or the guy that isn't using the machine nearly every day, a hydro makes sense. It is easier to operate, especially for someone that might not even be able to drive a stick shift car. But, for all of us old guys out here, I think that the gear drives still hold a lot of attraction when it comes to those sort of brute force jobs that we ask our tractors to do.

And they cost less to buy and own, too!

Thanks again for all the good content you're putting out there. I look forward to your videos and watch them all.

My opinion. Live PTO’s are a good thing as they are cheaper both to buy and likely to maintain over the long term. Yes they are more awkward to use, but that’s mostly a practice thing. What the do is give buyers a bigger choice between easy use and lower price. Price maters a lot to some people.
It’s like when you looked at the Mahindra rage a few years ago. They had a basis solid and quite large framed 50hp gear tractor for about the same price as a 23hp subcompact JD. It wasn’t for you at the time, but it’s sales showed it was good for some people.

Hey Tim. I have the 2 stage clutch on my gear drive Kubota. The shuttle shift lets you go smoothly from F to R with engagement. Great video

Good informative video on PTO's. I'd like to see you touch on the various speeds available such as 540, 540E, 1000 and 1000E. I really enjoy using the 540E and getting to throttle down a bit on lighter work.

Ground driven I believe is what they call it

Hey Tim. I was hoping you were going to touch on the ECO PTO option. 540 rear rpm but engine speed lower.

👍

The manual for the JD 3038E states that you reduce RPM to less than 1100, I seem to recall, when engaging equipment. I usually run it down to around 900 or so, engage, then power up.

My tractor has a 2 stage clutch and having the PTO engaged makes no difference when selecting gears. A good production.

You should make videos of different side by sides!

Current Mahindra Max 26 tractors all have foot clutches. Hydro versions has a live PTO controlled by the foot clutch. Shuttle shift gear models have what they call a Trans PTO which I think is what you were calling a manual PTO. .

I know on the Kubota BX machines the PTO is engaged manually and you have full control over the engagement speed…I believe the B series shares the same engagement. The electrically engaged PTO on the larger machines I gather is the culprit to the hard start of the PTO…pretty stupid idea I think, regardless what color machine you buy, I don't want a PTO that slams into engagement for any reason, there's no reason for it, and you really don't want it as yes, it can shear off shear pins/bolts and the sudden shock to the tractor itself can't be good either for the life of the tractor. I like how easily you can engage a PTO implement on the BX, simply move the lever forward slowly till it engages. Don't engage the PTO at high engine RPM either LOL.

Kubota says the BX machines have a live independent PTO….the B series machines just say Independent PTO. The BX uses an internal wet clutch for engagement, the B series I assume does as well.

Transmission PTO I think its simply called, where the inertia pushes you even with the clutch pushed in. Never experienced it, but I've seen it happen.