PTO

What is the difference between a non-live PTO and a live PTO.
How do I find out what year my John Deere model D is, I was told it is a 1938.
Woody

There are 4 basic PTO realities.
1) Early PTO systems in most cases were driven from gears in the power train after the primary engine clutch. These are PTO at its most crude.
2) Some mid century tractors had a system that put a secondary clutch after the transmission (usually after the differential, and before the bull gear reduction final drive. This allowed the tractor to be stopped and the PTO to continue to power the attachment. It also was still turning all the trans gears, so shifting gears was not reasonable when the differential clutch was used. A major improvement, but no shifting without clashing unless the main clutch was used.
3) A two stage foot clutch was offered as well by some manufacturers (and still can be found on new tractors of some makes) this clutch stopped the tractor with the main clutch when the pedal was about 1/2 way depressed. Pushing it all the way down disengaged the PTO. This was and still is very useful, but not independent from the operator control with the pedal.
4) a IPTO or independent PTO, is driven by a separate shaft from the engine and has its own built in clutch and usually a brake as well. The control lever is moved from stop to run with these systems, and they can be far more handy than the above for most applications. JimN

Hi,,,,Give me your serial # and il look it up for ya,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

There is non-live, live, and independent. If you can stop tractor motion without the pto stopping, you have live. If you can START the pto irregardless while the tractor is moving, you have independent. There are different ways of getting to live- foot and hand clutch like on AC, or two-stage clutch like on some Ford tractors, but it is still live.

Good explanation by Janicholson. His #3 is what is normally referred to as "live". Independent PTO (and that sweet 6 cylinder engine) is what made Olivers so great for baling.

My dad had to JD D's, a '34 & '42. Both were non-live. The PTO operated off of the clutch. PTO was an optional add-on that bolted to the left rear of the transmission housing, and protruded onto left side of the operators platform, about ankle high. It was engaged by pulling back on a lever on top of the unit. C.L.