stationary PTO work

I have a triple range 511B, and was wondering if I was running my PTO firewood processor, should I release the hand clutch to run the pto? my thoughts are, why spin tranny gears when I am only running the pto. Will this do any damage by not splashing oil around? I would like to get as much power to the processor as possible, I am a little light on ponys for the processor. My other option is a DC, but I think they are about the same HP. Whatda you guys think? Thanks Dan

Keeping the clutch disengaged ought to be pretty
hard on the throw out bearing I would think.

would be interesting to see if that is covered in an operators manual.

The tranny gears are made to run continuous, and I doubt take much more than a tiny fraction of a hp once oil is warmed up, whereas the clutch throwout bearing is basicly designed to be loaded just a fraction of the operating time, ie the time that you would shift gears basicly. I would never run a clutch disengaged like that for hours. This is of course assuming it has a throwout bearing which I guess it does since another poster mentioned it. There are some industrial clutches like Twin Disk and Rockford that snap over and are not loading the throwout bearing when disengaged so that would be a different case and it wouldn't make much difference.

The function of the hand clutch is to engage/disengage the transmission for ground travel. The engine clutch (foot) engages the drive shaft that powers the pto directly and the transmission via the hand clutch. Ground travel is controlled by the hand clutch and has no effect on the pto. This is what Case calls a “constant running pto”.

The hand clutch is made up of friction discs that are compressed and released by an over-center mechanism operated by the hand clutch lever. There is no throw out bearing.

The hand clutch resides in the torque tube just in front of the triple range gear train. When disengaged nothing moves aft of the clutch except the pto shaft. Pic is 300-300B, 500B is the same configuration.

On level ground moving slowly, disengage the hand clutch and stop the tractor with the brakes. Some creep is common when releasing the brakes that may go away when the oil in the torque tube warms up. Do a trial run with your processor. Release the brakes check for creep and any evidence of overheating in the hand clutch area.

The clutch is submerged in oil and I have seen pto used with creep w/o any ill effects but overheating the friction discs can cause warpage and future failure to disengage at all.

If strong creep, friction disks may be warped or the clutch may be out of adjustment (most common). Adjustment is pretty simple but can be confusing without a service manual or some pointers. If you need help post back, lots of us guys have done several.

Joe

No matter what you do with the hand clutch when doing stationary work ALWAYS put the 4 speed and/or triple range in neutral. This way if for some reason the hand clutch has any drag or would lock up the tractor would not move.

I agree with Eagle Doc as well! my thoughts are always keep it locked in, like others said you will not loss a 1/4 of a horse turning the trans shaft

I just checked several Op. Manuals & no where is stationary work mentioned. When I'm doing stationary work, I always put the range selector in neutral. Now, I'm wondering if I'm causing damage because, if the 4 speed upper shaft is not turning, then neither is the oil slinger. Also, my opinion is that in cold weather, the HP needed to spin the 4sp., churning that 90W or 85W140, is more significant than one might suppose.

Thanks for all the replies, sounds like it doesn't matter too much if I leave the clutch engaged or not, I will definitely put the triple range in neutral.

I don't see the point of turning the triple range and main transmission gear train input shafts when you have a hand clutch that that stops all motion aft of the clutch drum.

No lubrication is required as nothing is turning except the pto shaft. The pto shaft is submerged in torque tube oil all the way back to the main shaft/pto shaft seal in the transmission differential and splash lubricated in the pto unit.

Creep can be a problem as stated. Of course you have brakes applied. I put transmission in neutral also.

Joe