Going SLOW with PTO engaged

[Deberosa]

OK, this might be a silly question but...


I want to go forward much more slowly than I am currently tilling with the PTO. I have the tractor in the low range first gear, but the RPM has to be 540 for the PTO on the tiller. At least that's what I was told but that dictates the speed of the tractor which is faster than I want to go.

Is there a solution to this?

[DM]

OK, this might be a silly question but...


I want to go forward much more slowly than I am currently tilling with the PTO. I have the tractor in the low range first gear, but the RPM has to be 540 for the PTO on the tiller. At least that's what I was told but that dictates the speed of the tractor which is faster than I want to go.

Is there a solution to this?

Yup, trade it in on a tractor with "creep" gears, OR trade it in on a hydrostat tractor...

Didn't want to hear that eh? No matter, because i think it's better to make two passes with a tiller at a slower speed than one pass at a "very" slow speed... But, your milage may vary?? :)

DM

BTW, you was told right...

[Deberosa]

Yeah - I probably was told! ;-) Didn't sink in till I was out there trying to go slow with the PTO engaged though. HEHE


Well, My next tractor will do it right! ;-)

Truth be told, I miss my hydrostatic transmission even if it isn't as tough - oh well! Guess I got spoiled.

[raytwnmt]

You need a tractor with a "live" PTO. Push clutch 1/2 way down to disengage power to tractor, All the way down to disengage PTO. You can ease along at a VERY slow speed. Older tractors don't have it,don't know when it was first available. Have fun

[DM]

I do believe her tractor HAS live PTO, but that doesn't do anything for first gear being a bit higher than she wants...

DM

[randallhilton]

Is there such a thing as a "step up" gearbox that can go between the PTO and the equipment. If there is, you'd sacrifice torque for rpm but it might work. (Yes, I'm clueless on this one but it seems interesting).

You could also try smaller diameter drive wheels. ;o)

[DM]

Yes some tractors come with multi speed pto's, BUT, when you shift the pto into a higher speed, it takes a LOT more hp to run the pto. SO, in effect, you have lowered your pto hp. They are NOT designed to be used with a tool that takes a lot of pto hp.

Many Howard "rotavators" come with "multi speed" gear boxes so you can speed up the tine speed, and that is very much like slowing down the ground speed. Thing is, when i turn my rotor speed up, i also increase the ground speed of my tractor, and that lets me get more done per hour.

DM

[raytwnmt]

If you have a "live" PTO, use the clutch to go slower or faster with the PTO engaged all the time. Your leg will get tired working the clutch all the time. Tractors were made for this kind of use...very heavy duty clutch. Have used many tractors,all brands all attachments and the only one I ever saw with a "creeper gear" was an old ford with a trenching machine used to dig foundations for houses. Yes I'm telling my age, it was before backhoe's became the available.

[DM]

If you have a "live" PTO, use the clutch to go slower or faster with the PTO engaged all the time. Your leg will get tired working the clutch all the time. Tractors were made for this kind of use...very heavy duty clutch. Have used many tractors,all brands all attachments and the only one I ever saw with a "creeper gear" was an old ford with a trenching machine used to dig foundations for houses. Yes I'm telling my age, it was before backhoe's became the available.

Farmers around here would FIRE you on the spot, if they caught you slipping the clutch to hold a slower speed! And i'm talking back when i was a kid too... I remember one farmer fireing a guy for slipping the clutch on his Deere, causeing it to need clutch job.

I'm going to get in trouble here, but suggesting someone slip the clutch to go slower is one of the dumber things i've read on this forum... (and yes i know about the oil cooled hand clutch on a WD Allis and their roto baler) And while i'm at it, i'll expand your horizons a bit.

Here's one of a couple modern tractors i own with "creep" gears in it,

http://fototime.com/FF7944C50125A77/orig.jpg

It had a 16 speed tranny, with the first 4 "creep speeds", it barely moves in low, low, creep.

DM

[cinok]

Do you want the speed is for each gear with your tractor. Also remember with a tiller it can be pushing the tractor cuaing it to "go faster" this can also happen with brush hogs an other pto driven Equipment. Does the tracor seem to go slower with tiller not engaging the ground. You might look into a slip clutch for the PTO it may help if the above is true.

[Anon001]

When I was growing up, we had several large tractors. I know without doubt that our dad would have beat us within an inch of our lives for slipping a clutch. lol

A lot of the old tractors such as the WD's I have, had hand clutches which would work for this. Some of the tractors have a neutral between the "Hi" "Low" lever that can be used instead of having to slip the clutch.

Paul

[cinok]

One thing my boys know is your foot is either all the way up or comming all way up off the clutch. There foot is not riding the clutch they may cover the clutch with their heel on the footrest but those toes best not be touching the pedal. This goes on the tractor or the old truck.

[Deberosa]

OK, you guys beat me to it but I was told by the people who sold this tractor to me that I don't want to use the clutch to slow the tractor because I will wear it out. I use it enough going forward and backward!

I don't think the tiller is pushing the tractor. I may just have to get used to the speed it's going - it's not horrible, just would like to have a choice sometimes! I could reverse the rotation on the tiller but I think I'll just leave it for now.

Tiller is back home today - they brought the wrong plow though so now they have to make another trip! Too cold and rainy and windy here to get out on the tractor anyhow until the end of the week.

[Cuznguido]

It won't hurt a thing to reduce the engine rpm a little to slow the thing down. That PTO speed is really more important to speed sensitive equipment such as a haybaler. Slow the engine down just a little and make multiple passes if you need to. Whatever you do DON'T slip the clutch--either in or out.

[keydl]

The engine rpm needs to be above peak torque, the manual should have a page or 2 on operation below hi idle, the roto wont care unless there is a bunch of vegetation.