Stupid PTO question

[californiacentralcoast]

Hi, I am new to this forum and very new to tractors; thank you in advance for your help and patience. Just got a L2501 and a 5' brush hog for my property. My place is pretty hilly and I think I will have to do a lot of backing up/down the hills to brush hog them. Can the PTO be run while the tractor is going backwards (up hills) or does the PTO only run with the tractor going forward or stopped? Basically, can I keep the PTO engaged and back up the hill or do I have to disengage the PTO every time I'm backing up and then engage the PTO and brush hog coming down? Thanks again.

 

[Goz63]

Welcome. You are going to love that tractor. I love mine. Short answer is yes. Whether you are going forwards or back, as long as the pto is engaged the blades turn. They don’t reverse direction when the tractor does. I use mine in reverse all the time backing around trees etc. Enjoy your new machine.

 

[californiacentralcoast]

Thanks, love the tractor but just figuring out what it can do. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply

Welcome. You are going to love that tractor. I love mine. Short answer is yes. Whether you are going forwards or back, as long as the pto is engaged the blades turn. They don’t reverse direction when the tractor does. I use mine in reverse all the time backing around trees etc. Enjoy your new machine.

 

[19thSF]

Hi, I am new to this forum and very new to tractors; thank you in advance for your help and patience. Just got a L2501 and a 5' brush hog for my property. My place is pretty hilly and I think I will have to do a lot of backing up/down the hills to brush hog them. Can the PTO be run while the tractor is going backwards (up hills) or does the PTO only run with the tractor going forward or stopped? Basically, can I keep the PTO engaged and back up the hill or do I have to disengage the PTO every time I'm backing up and then engage the PTO and brush hog coming down? Thanks again.

Welcome to the forum. You will find a number of very knowledgeable people who will glad to help with questions. Goz63 is giving you good information. Read your manual and engage and disengage the PTO as described.

Slam, Bam, Thank you mam is not good PTO procedure.

 

[Roadworthy]

The PTO will continue to turn the same direction no matter which way the tractor is going. I'm not sure about mowing while going backward. The deck is designed to be pulled, not pushed. The stabilizers on the lift arms will try to hold it but it may put an unusual strain on them. In any case it is NOT recommend to leave PTO engaged while the mowing deck is raised.

 

[Russell King]

Since you’re on hilly terrain be sure you loosen (or remove) the top link. Going through the swales can drive the top link into the rear end of the tractor and break castings or bend the top link.

 

[californiacentralcoast]

Thank you all for the very helpful advice.

 

[marrmanu]

On steep slopes that I have to mow by backing up, no access from the top, I will rise the mower until I get to the top of the slope and then lower it to the mowing position and go down the slope. Otherwise the back of the mower has a tendency to dig into the bottom of the slope. I do not disengage the PTO while backing up the hill, it is awkward while stopped at the top of a steep slope trying to use the brake, the clutch, the PTO engage/disengage, and dropping the mower back down.
Be careful on the slopes!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

rule #1. ALWAYS mow slopes going up or down NEVER sideways
rule#2. if you break rule #1, have life insurance paid up.

 

[californiacentralcoast]

Thank you everyone for the advice. Follow up stupid question. Most of my hills will be easier for me to back up them and then come back down them forward. How bad is it for the transmission (HST) do to a lot of reverse mowing up hills? Tractor's powertrain is still under warranty for another 3 years but I want this tractor to last so I can give it to my son or daughter

 

[johnjk]

I wouldn’t be too concerned about a lot of work in reverse. I do a bunch of plowing in the winter in reverse along with brush hogging tree lines, backing in as far as I can then pulling forward. Biggest thing I would watch out for is the height of the brush hog. I use the valve under the seat to hold the height but if you are lifting the attachment, you will have to open that valve to lower it back down. You also didn’t say if the mower has a slip clutch or shear bolt on the PTO shaft. If you have bolts, buy a bunch and keep them in the tool box under the seat with a couple wrenches. Easy to change in the field or just drive back to the house. Lastly, follow the maintenance and change your fluids and filters as recommended. Don’t forget to check the gearbox oil on that brush hog.

 

[NCL4701]

I also do a fair amount of brush hogging backing up slopes. It is possible to get it in a bind when going from a flat to a slope if it isn’t a gentle, gradual transition. That’s one of the reasons I went from the standard turnbuckle type toplink to a hydraulic toplink attached to a float detent valve so I can float it to kept it from binding. Some use a chain in lieu of the toplink for the same reasons. Some decks have a flex link on the toplink to prevent binding. Mine doesn’t.

Particularly the first time you mow a new area, and particularly when backing up, take it slow and be careful to not get it in a bind.

 

[Goz63]

I tend to mow backwards (or bushog) backwards in higher vegetation. That way if you hit something or run over it it is on the attachment and doesn’t damage the tractor. Go slow if unfamiliar with what is underneath. You can get underneath trees and obstacles better going backwards as well. Your rotary cutter works great in both directions with increased risk mechanically. Like I said go slow until you get familiar.

 

[californiacentralcoast]

Just wanted to update. Tractor did great on the hills, brush hogged forward and backwards and other than needing 4WD (its pretty soggy here), everything went well. I went prohibitively slowly out of caution but felt in control the entire time. The rotary mower has a built-in float for the top link so no jamming on the inclines. Thanks again for everyone's advice.