PTO Shafts
PTO shafts are the connection points for
transferring the power from larger tractors to implements. PTO (power take-off)
shafts are splined shafts sticking out of the rear of the tractor (compact
utility tractors), splined recesses in the rear of the tractor (garden tractors)
or splined shafts protruding from some point underneath the tractor. There are
industry standards for the speed of these shafts. The recessed PTO on garden
tractors turns at 2,000 rpm. It uses the recessed design to prevent connecting
an implement designed for the 540 rpm PTO used on compact utility tractors.
Midmount PTO shafts (Figure 3) may be specific to a given mower deck, but they
should normally have a speed of 540 or 1,000 rpm. Implements connect to the PTO
shafts using a drive shaft with two or three universal joints to provide
flexibility.
