Power Take-Off (PTO) Drive Shaft

Design and Safety Checklist

For OEM Designers and Engineers

Agriculture is recognized as one of the more hazardous occupations. Todays farmer spends long
hours in close proximity to increasingly complex and powerful machinery. In order to avoid
accidents, everyone from the component suppliers, to the company who manufactures and
assembles the machinery, to the dealers, and ultimately the actual user must keep safety in mind.

ADMA is concerned that PTO drive shafts be used in the safest possible manner. This checklist
consists of safety information directly related to the PTO drive shafts of agricultural implements.
More information may be found in general safety literature and in the relevant standards published
by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), the Canadian
Standards Association (CSA), the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE).
DRIVE SHAFT SPECIFICATIONS The first step is to specify and test the drive shaft to operate properly
under expected field conditions.

Specify and test the proper size joints and telescoping members based upon the power required by the
implement, speed of rotation, joint angles, joint phasing, shock loads and expected life.

Design the implement and PTO drive shafts to fit all three types of common PTO (1 38-6 spline at 540
rpm,
1 38-21 spline and 1 34-20 spline at 1000 rpm) to eliminate the use of PTO spline adaptors.

Design and test the hitch geometry on primary drive shafts and check implement frame movement on
secondary drive shafts to prevent the drive shaft from:
Extending beyond the recommended maximum length.
Bottoming out.
Reaching a position which would allow the joints to lock.
Exceeding the maximum allowable angle for constant velocity (CV) joints.

Provide a proper operational clearance zone for the drive shaft to avoid damage to the drive shaft or
guard components. Some common areas of interference are:
-- Three point linkage -- Hitch jacks -- Implement tongue
-- Extended or eye loop hitch pins -- Tractor tires -- Implement frame members
-- Hydraulic hoses -- Tractor drawbar clevis / hammerstrap hitch

Follow standards recommendations and your drive shaft suppliers advice for the location of the power
input connection (PIC) on implements to avoid drive shafts that are too short, too long or have improper
joint angles.

Specify and test telescoping members considering thrust loads and expected working conditions.

Specify large enough telescoping members to prevent the drive shaft from reaching critical speed at the
designed operating speed.

Where necessary, specify and test torque limiters to control shock loads and overloads.

Where necessary, specify and test overrunning clutches to prevent inertial loads from overpowering the
tractor.

Provide a support location to secure the drive shaft on the implement when it is disconnected from the
tractor to prevent damage during storage or transportation.

On stationary implements provide a means to prevent separation of the drive shaft, such as a hitch
connection between the implement and tractor.

HAZARD REDUCTION The second step is to strive to eliminate as many hazards as possible.

Minimize protrusions on drive shafts.

For implement connections which require bolts or set screws, select and supply hardware which
minimizes any protrusions.

Select a locking device for the tractor PTO connection that minimizes protrusions.
 Do not locate machine controls, gauges or other mechanisms which require or encourage operator
presence in the vicinity of the drive shaft.

GUARDING / SHIELDING For hazards which cannot be effectively eliminated, guarding or shielding must
be provided.

The tractor PTO master shield, PTO drive shaft guard, and PIC guard should provide an effective
interactive shielding system throughout the range of expected operating conditions.

Specify and test the drive shaft guard with end bell cones which overlap, but do not interfere with the
tractor PTO master shield or PIC guard.

Specify and test guards designed to operate in the expected environmental and operational conditions.

Provide a PIC guard which overlaps with the drive shaft guard to provide guarding of the shaft coupling
and any torque limiting device installed on the drive shaft.

Make sure that secondary drive shafts (drive shafts that do not attach to the tractor PTO) are fully guarded
or adequately guarded by location. Secondary drive shafts with guards should also use PIC guards on
both ends.

Check that all routine maintenance of the drive shaft can be performed without complete removal of the
guards or shields.

If the drive shaft guards have a restraint device to prevent them from rotating with the drive shaft, provide
an attachment point on the implement.

Make sure the drive shaft meets all local regulations and standards for the region or country where the
machine will be sold.

Make sure that the packaging or shipping method for the drive shaft from the factory to the dealer does
not damage the drive shaft guarding or deform the guard cones.

WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS Warnings shall be provided for hazards associated with the machine.
Instructions should be provided for proper operation, maintenance and repair.

Provide safety signs on the implement to warn that the tractor master shield, drive shaft guard and PIC
guard must be kept in place.

Provide safety signs on the implement to alert the user to proper hitch dimensions and normal PTO
operating speed.

Check that proper safety signs are supplied with the drive shaft (replacements are available from your
drive shaft supplier).

Provide easy to understand instructions for proper drive shaft operation, maintenance (including regular
lubrication intervals), and repair in the operators manual.

Advise against the use of PTO adaptors which may defeat the purpose of the tractors master shield and
adversely affect the performance of the drive shaft.

Advise the user to use only the original equipment specification replacement parts.
Further information about PTO drive shaft specifications and safety may be obtained from
your ADMA PTO driveshaft supplier and the following ASABE Standards and
Engineering Practices:

ASAE S205 Power Take-Off Definitions and Terminology for Agricultural Tractors
ASAE S207 Operating Requirements for Tractors and Power Take-Off Driven Implements
ASAE S318 Safety for Agricultural Equipment
ASAE S331 Implement Power Take-Off Driveline Specifications
ASAE EP363 Technical Publications for Agricultural Equipment
ASAE S431 2000-RPM Front and Mid PTO for Lawn and Garden Ride-on Tractors
ASAE S493 Guarding for Agricultural Equipment
ASABE AD500-1 Agricultural tractor Rear-mounted power take-off types 1, 2, 3 and 4
Part 1: General specifications, safety requirements, dimensions for master shield and clearance zone
ASABE/ISO 500-2 Agricultural tractor Rear-mounted power take-off types 1, 2 and 3
Part 2: Narrow-track tractors, dimensions for master shield and clearance zone
ASABE/ISO 500-3 Agricultural tractors Rear-mounted power take-off types 1, 2, 3 and 4
Part 3: Main PTO dimensions and spline dimensions, location of PTO
ASAE S522/ISO 5674 Guards for power take-off (PTO) drive shafts- Strength and wear tests and
acceptance criteria
ASABE S604 Safety for Power Take-off (PTO), Implement Input Driveline (IID), Implement Input Connection
(IIC), and Auxiliary Power Take-off (aux. PTO) for Agricultural Field Equipment
ASABE AD730 Agricultural wheeled tractors Rear-mounted three-point linkage Categories 1N, 1, 2N, 2, 3N,
3, 4N and 4
ASABE/ISO 3767-1 Tractors, machinery for agriculture and forestry, powered lawn and garden equipment
Symbols for operator controls and other displays
Part 1: Common symbols
ASABE/ISO 3767-2 Tractors, machinery for agriculture and forestry, powered lawn and garden equipment
Symbols for operator controls and other displays
Part 2: Symbols for agricultural tractors and machinery
ASABE AD5673-1 Agricultural tractors and machinery Power take-off drive shafts and power-input connection
Part 1: General manufacturing and safety requirements
ASABE AD5673-2 Agricultural tractors and machinery Power take-off drive shafts and power-input connection
Part 2: Specification for use of PTO drive shafts, and position and clearance of PTO drive line and PIC for various
attachments
ASABE AD6489-3 Agricultural vehicles Mechanical connections between towed and towing vehicles
Part 3: Tractor drawbar
ASABE AD8759-1 Agricultural wheeled tractors Front-mounted equipment
Part 1: Power take-off and three-point linkage
ASABE AD8759-2 Agricultural wheeled tractors Front-mounted equipment
Part 2: Stationary equipment connection
ASABE AD11684 Tractors, machinery for agriculture and forestry, powered lawn and garden equipment
Safety signs and hazard pictorials - General principles
Other standards may apply for particular types of implements.
Standards may be found at www.asabe.org

Agricultural Driveline Manufacturers Association

Member Companies:
Bondioli & Pavesi, Inc. Comer Industries
G&G Manufacturing Co. GKN Walterscheid, Inc.
Neapco Components, LLC. Weasler Engineering, Inc.

For more information visit us at www.admausa.com Rev. July 15, 2014