Electric PTO advice

[Bar Nuthin 1,485]

I picked up a '73  16 Automatic. It has an electric PTO clutch.  The clutch seems to be working properly with the tractor not running and no load on the pulley (the tractor currently has the rearend removed).

 

My question is, are there any preventative maintenance measures I should take (with the PTO) before I put the tractor in service and hook up a mower deck for testing under load?

[ri702bill 10,050]

I for one, am not a fan of Electric PTO clutches. As they come from the factory, it is an "all or nothing" instant engagement; you cannot ease into it.

There IS an aftermarket electronic gizmo that allows you to do that, all of mine are manual PTO's. Someone else may chime in...

Edited Monday at 08:20 PM by ri702bill

[peter lena 9,455]

@Bar Nuthin  also not a fan of instant on  winches , the only thing I would recommend  is to get some , SPECIFIC , CHAIN AND CABLE , LUBRICANT  ?  serviced a lot of  winches in the N/G  , used to finish  service with a full length  pull back , of truck , to winch . MACKS CHAIN AND CABLE  AT NAPA  , is a good buy  when you  pull back a cable , its constantly flexing , you want  lubrication into every strand  of that wire , keeps it  softer  , also lube up any related , movement areas . that lube is also excellent  in / on  cars trucks , for rustproofing . personally  spray in a lighter  creeping  lubricant  ,3/1 penetrating oil to highest  closed areas , day or two later , its on the full length of  lowest body panel , thats your leader  for  rot free  body seams . over that with the MACKS , all my  stuff has that . zero  rust , just an oil film at every seam . pete    

[pfrederi 18,970]

I don't like the sudden engagement for some things.. Mower decks I have learned to engage at idle or slightly above.  Lots of equip uses electric PTOs  they don't all explode.. I do not want electric PTO for something like a snowblower that may be jammed with Ice...Listen to it there are 2 bearings in it.. They will talk to you if they are shot.    Do NOT attempt to pull the PTO with out understanding the correct way to do it.   If they are noisy check out this thread.

 

 

[Bar Nuthin 1,485]

43 minutes ago, pfrederi said:

If they are noisy check out this thread.

 

Excellent reading there!

 

I don't even know if this tractor will drive itself, but it came with a working e-clutch so I'd like to not destroy it for simple neglect.

If I want to destroy it, I could always hook it up to my Mighty Mac! 

Edited Monday at 10:47 PM by Bar Nuthin

[8ntruck 8,152]

  That would do it!

[kpinnc 15,702]

I will say this about my soft start clutch controller:

 

It's on my Scag, so it gets worked hard and for long hours. For 6 years now it has worked flawlessly, and my electric clutch and belts (and my nerves) are much better for it. Worth every penny! 

[Bar Nuthin 1,485]

10 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

I will say this about my soft start clutch controller:

 

It's on my Scag, so it gets worked hard and for long hours. For 6 years now it has worked flawlessly, and my electric clutch and belts (and my nerves) are much better for it. Worth every penny! 

 

Which distributor do you purchase from?

 

https://www.gdimeters.com/products.cfm?Page=Products&Product=SoftStart Clutch Controller

[kpinnc 15,702]

1 minute ago, Bar Nuthin said:

Which distributor do you purchase from?

 

I ordered mine directly from GDI. As I said about 6 years ago, but it was about $60. 

 

I had to specify the brand of clutch, which in my case was Ogura (spelling?) But otherwise it was an easy part to install. 

[Bar Nuthin 1,485]

2 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

I ordered mine directly from GDI. As I said about 6 years ago, but it was about $60. 

 

Stored in memory banks. Right now, I'm just hoping the old beast will pull itself once I get the hydro put back together.