Cub PTO's

Charlie M · Oct 22, 2014

Whats the reasoning for the PTO's on Cubs turning opposite direction and odd size to every other tractor in the world. Was it done to make the implements purposely not interchangeable?

Buzzman72 · Oct 22, 2014

If you'll notice, the Cub PTO runs in the direction of engine rotation. When the clutch is engaged and the PTO is engaged, you have an in-line, direct connection to the crankshaft.

That's why the PTO turns at engine speed, instead of the more standard 540 RPM, as well.

I would guess that the Cub PTO is a non-standard size BECAUSE of the non-standard PTO rpm issue, as much as it is the fact that the PTO turns the "wrong" direction.

PeterE · Oct 22, 2014

"Standard" wasn't quite so standard when the Cub was first developed (late 1940s).

The 1-1/8 shaft size was still around. The 1000 rpm shaft and the garden tractor 2000 rpm shaft weren't considered yet.

There was no industry-standard rear hitch at the time either. Ferguson still held the patents so it was a Ford-only hitch. Everybody else had something that was at least slightly different.

I'd read once that Deere wanted to license the IH Fast Hitch which would have probably turned it into the industry standard, but International wasn't interested.

mkirsch · Oct 22, 2014

There was nothing 540 PTO-powered that a Cub could run. Why bother going to the expense of having a useless 540 PTO?

Everything either needed a much larger tractor, or was belt-driven. As time went on the 540 PTO implement situation did not get any better so there was never any reason to add the 540 PTO.

Really, what 540 PTO implement are you going to run with ~9HP? Even the smallest PTO implements need 20+ HP to run.

In the long run it was a good call because many Cubs went on to become mowing machines. The engine-speed PTO meant you only needed a ~7" belt pulley to drive the mower. A 540 PTO would require a ~21" belt pulley.

Brendon-KS · Oct 22, 2014

You stated exactly what my thoughts were. The
Cub has garden tractor power (a small garden
tractor at that) in a (somewhat) farm tractor
sized chassis. It was in a class with
relatively few competitors; the Massey Harris
Pony and the Deere L/LA are two that I can
think of off-hand. They all utilized integral
implements that were designed specifically for
them and thus could accommodate the odd PTO.
These tractor were too small to pull any kind
of drawn PTO implement so there was no reason
to add cost and complexity to make the PTO
speed and direction "normal".

Owen Aaland · Oct 23, 2014

There was an add on gear box that could be used to slow and reverse the PTO. The output shaft was the standard 540 shaft. The dealership where I worked sold a couple with Cub Cadets for customers who wanted to use them for running bale elevators. The unit for the Cub Cadet also worked on the Cub.

Cub PTO's

Charlie M

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Buzzman72

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PeterE

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mkirsch

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Brendon-KS

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Owen Aaland

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