Hooking tractors together via PTOs?

kylemorley · Feb 17, 2013

I was poking around the net today looking for a PTO shaft assembly (the one that connects to implements, not the internal one) when I noticed the following in a description:

"It is also useful for connecting 2 tractors together by the pto, as it has a 1 3/8 " splined adapter at each end."

I have been racking my brains every since trying to figure out why I might ever need to connect two tractors via the PTOs (unless it is perhaps a new sport, sort of like arm wrestling for tractors?). Can anyone explain? Or might the OP have been posting tongue in cheek?

old · Feb 17, 2013

One thing comes to mind if it has a reverser set up and that would be to use one tractor PTO to start the engine of another that had starter problems but as I said there would have to be a reverser in it so the engine would spin the right way to start it

FLAcharlie · Feb 17, 2013

Yikes ! Sounds like a very destructive sport !

NY 986 · Feb 17, 2013

Not intended for hooking up 2 tractors but years ago there were farm implements had had a male 1 3/8 inch 6 spline PTO stub and the shaft attaching the implement to tractor had two female couplers. Dad's old International table-type silo blower was like that. I saw something like that shaft at the neighbor's one time and meant to ask where his came from. Most likely the person in question inherited it when he bought a small farmstead where the buildings were still chuck full of goodies like that. A show about that would blow American Pickers away in my mind. Someday I want to find implements like what dad had years ago. Some of the old stuff stayed but some things left a long time ago, unfortunately.

Deere Mark · Feb 17, 2013

Starting one tractor from another through the PTO:
Do not try this if the safety police are around;
Using an MF-35 or similar tractor that has a "ground speed" PTO lever position. Place the two tractors back to back and connect the PTO shafts together.
Make sure that the "tractor to be started" is in neutral.
Jack and block both rear wheels of the MF-35 (rear wheels must be clear of the ground because they will be turning in reverse).
Place the MF-35 PTO lever in the "ground speed" position. Run the MF-35 in reverse-low. This will cause the MF-35 PTO shaft to turn in reverse direction.
This can now be used to start the other tractor.
I have done this just once to start an old Cletrac.
Stay clear of the PTO shaft and of the rear wheels and please don't report me to the safety police.
Surely I am not the first one to try this method.
This may also work with an older tractor such as a Ford 8N with PTO tied to transmission speed and direction (non-live PTO).

Welding man · Feb 17, 2013

Never tryed hooking 2 PTO's together,but we did used to start a iron wheel Fordson with a belt on the belt pully.Used a 3600 for power.

notjustair · Feb 17, 2013

I saw a video on YouTube once of someone that was using one to start a tractor with another. I don't recall how he reversed the pto, but I seem to remember they were both Farmall M's. Might have to look that up again.

Hooking tractors together via PTOs?

kylemorley

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old

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FLAcharlie

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NY 986

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Deere Mark

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Welding man

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notjustair

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