makes perfect sense, being a new tractor owner I was complete amazed that someone thought chaining the sleeve so it is constantly being tortured by the spinning shaft was in any way a good idea. never considered hooking them up on my new rig....now I feel like I'm not the only sensible one about this "false sense of security"

Totally agree! I don’t use my chains for the reasons you stated - there’s more of a hazard from a chain that breaks loose spinning around than a PTO shaft cover.

Good episode Sir. While I currently don't have any PTO driven equipment yet, I do thank you and other commenters for the tips.

Gid day Martin. Interesting perspective. I'll have to think about that. Thanks for sharing - some good points there.. Cheers!

Wowzers... that's brilliant! No chains fer me from now on!! Plus, I've seen covers melt from all the excess friction - if they ain't just perfectly lubricated. Thank you for this important tip, never thought about this before watch'n your video. Well done!!

Interesting. Makes sense now that you show me it. Thank you, sir!

Learned me something new today. I’m inclined to agree with you. (And did not know there are serviceable bearings inside the cover) Great information all the way around! 👍 pun intended…

Sounds logical to me. My other pto shaft doesn't even have a safety cover and shroud, it's Old school. I probably should update that one. But, I definitely see your points on why not to use them.

Very good video Martin! I don't run chains for pretty much the same reasons as you. Glad you did this video. Have a good one Martin! See ya!

Excellent video. I agree. When I hook up the PTO, I ensure the cover spins freely and keep it lubricated. I have never used a chain on the cover and never will. I also removed the bell covers from the implement gear box that seems to have no purpose other than making it difficult to get to the grease fittings, and I never mess with a spinning PTO. I grew up on a farm and operated many PTO operated implements from a very young age and was taught to respect anything spinning. Big brother cannot protect you from everything, sometimes common sense and person accountability comes into play. I wonder how many lives have been saved by the tag on the hair drier cord warning us not to use it in the shower?

Makes too much sense for good ole backwoods logic! I’m with ya!!😁👍🏻

Good video, agree 100% plus, the plastic clips on the cover always break anyway so I do not use chains either

Fantastic video. Thank you.

I concur. I remember standing at a passenger train station that also shared the line with fast freight. My friend warned me to stand back. A band from the lumber cars could snap loose and cut you in half so quick you'd never have time to pick up your armadillo.

The PTO safety equipment. Growing up on a farm, I remember running loads of silage in John Deere Chuck Wagons to the blowers at the harvestors. Most of these PTO shafts had metal guards, if guards at all. None of them had chains installed. In addition, you had a blower tractor with PTO shaft, and open gears, chains, and blower paddles. All of the controls were in arms reach of something that could tear you apart. I see the point of having chains, I understand why you don't use them (and agree with your analysis). No amount of guarding, shielding, and stickers are going to prevent all accidents, so you also need to just use caution when working around any piece of machinery. Great Episode. Take Care, Jason

Good points. I only had one PTO with a shroud and it came from the factory on a Bush Hog brand finish cut mower with no chains. I’ve never seen the need for them. So I’m with ya on this one buddy !! Btw… the Missus was looking over my shoulder and for some reason she said she was going to subscribe to your channel now… Musta been a hidden message in there somewhere. LOL. Good one Martin. I liked it.

You are so very right sir!

Hey, Martin. My Land Pride finish mower did not come with chains. My Woodland Mills wood chipper did, but they broke free and started spinning as you demonstrated (so I took them off). I feel the same way - the sleeve has so little resistance that it's safe to not use chains. I do want one of those remote control tractors, haha. Another great job! -Ed

Another well presented video, Martin. My jury is still out on using the chains but you have certainly elevated my sensitivity to PTO safety. BTW, I read through all the comments. You attract some smart, thoughtful, civil, and articulate subscribers

I tend to agree with you..very good video!

This is a new thought for me . Sounds reasonable as the sleeve bearing will eventually wear out and break the chain. Also a person needs to be alert and keep clear of anything spinning at all times ,chain or no chains. When I bought my tractor I was thinking those chains looked like a bad idea. Now that I’ve seen your video I know why.

I guess that all of my implements are so old, none of them came with guards or previous owners removed them. I just try to abide by the eleventh commandment ( and the other ten as well ). I have hunted and hunted for your video demo on how to make your tractor work by remote control, that was a goodern. Thanks for sharing

Well considering I haven't even had the plastic cover on the chain was never an issue!! I have looked at getting a cover but I can't see the advantage of the chains as you demonstrated by stopping the spinning cover by hand, though I wouldn't recommend doing that either. subbed.

I go back to when most tractors only had belt pulleys. Don't remember shields at all on the early PTO shafts. Then they had metal telescoping tunnels with open bottoms, one end fastened to the implement and the other had a spring latch that clipped to the slot in the tractor PTO shield to cover the shaft. Next came the tubes around the shaft except they were made of metal. No chain with those. When the plastic ones came out, it took me a number of years to figure out what the little chains with the snaps on each end were for. Never have used them. Never got near a running PTO either. If your tractor won't start after you shut it off to hook something up or make repairs you need to fix the tractor first.

Hey Martin! When I bought my finish mower I asked my dealer about the chains he mentioned the pros and cons as you did. I took my chains off. Good information. Later

Certainly makes alot of sense...thx for vid

Thank you for another great video! I am going to clean and lubricate my PTO shaft today--and I think I'll remove those chains.

Loved the interruption for the subliminal message Martin.

How's she goin'? My guard cover chain broke the first time I was using the PTO shaft. Then every spring I reconnect or repair the chain and start over. I have yet to make a full season with the chain intact, so I guess I'm on your side on this Martin. A spinning PTO shaft guard is not the worst thing that can happen. Thanks for posting and take care!!

I agree no chains needed, I have never used them, just for the main fact that they are a pain to prepare every time you use your implements. And the fact that not using them is necessarily a Hazard. Great explanation.

I totally agree. Just bought a new brush hog, first thing I did was remove the chains.

Martin I am going to start doing the same Thanks for sharing : )

Sir you are the Bob Ross of tractors 🚜

I agree fully. Through many years I have used the chains regularly but have experienced them coming loose multiple times. I never had any injuries or damages but realized how easily things could have gone very bad. I had noticed on newer implements I have acquired in the last couple of years some no longer came with chains and when I asked about this I was told that manufacturer's had experienced some lawsuits over loose chains and had decided to discontinue providing them but had not publicized the change. Maybe that is true, maybe it is not. But it makes sense to me. I no longer use these safety chains with any of my implements.

Bush Hog brand, company says they do not install safety chains on their shields anymore! Purchased a new rotary tiller recently, no chains.

My thoughts exactly. I was concerned initially when my rotary cutter didn't come with chains... but then I got to thinking about it. Let's be honest if someone gets close enough to touch a PTO driveshaft on a rotary cutter you've got bigger fish to fry.

When my Kubota tractor was delivered, the dealer did not have any chains on the PTO shields for the reasons you described.

Agree completely! I let mine spin and spin and spin. Much like the "20 fans a-turning". Several are over 10 years old showing little to no wear! Chains rusted out long ago!

Good consideration Martin! I agree with your thinking. By spinning the guard constantly, that is a risk it fails sooner. But yet, it will fail if not maintained properly. The same will apply if no chain is used, the only difference, the guard might be harmful. Anyways, that small chain and ESPECIALLY the small plastic loop on the guard is going to fail whenever the guard does not spin freely. With a chain, you will know your guard is failing to spin freely if that happens. Without a chain, you have a clear visual sign of the danger... Do I sound hesitant??? Lol! Thanks!

I never use the chains either Martin and pretty much for the same reasons. PTO shafts are nothing to be taken lightly. A friend of mine was workin g for a local farmer (also a friend of mine) while he was in high school. Part of his chore routine on that farm was grinding feed with a PTO driven mixer mill pulled behind the tractor. This tractor happened to be a big Farmall with way more than enough power to run the mixer mill. One of these 2 guys had removed the protective guard for the PTO from the tractor. My friend doin g the chores tried to climb over the PTO shaft while it was running and his loose clothing got caught by the end of the spring loaded pin that locks the PTO shaft to the tractor. Seconds later he had his leg all but completely separated from his body and he had to be life flighted to MAYO for emergency surgery. He had numerous surgeries on that leg and his knee, and over two years of physical therapy. The farmer that he was working for was hit by a loaded semi while hauling grain and also had multiple surgeries and a couple years of physical therapy. The father of another close friend of mine was killed while we were in junior high school. He was hurrying chores so that they could go to a funeral and got tangled up in the PTO stepping across it while it was running. The family found him dead when he failed to show up to get ready for the funeral. I say all of this to point out that there are things that you just don't take chances with. Spinning PTO shafts are near the very top of that list. My Dad's rule was "DON'T EVER DO IT"!

I have used chains for many years and have never had one break or come off. You can get away without them if you regularly grease, check, and generally maintain your sleeves, but how many people will do that?? If they’re not maintained, the sleeves seize to the shaft and then you have a major safety hazard that is as bad as no sleeve at all. I know someone who was caught in a seized sleeve and although he still has his arm, he has reduced mobility. Here’s a bit of simple logic: if a safety chain breaks or becomes detached, it is fully visible and will no doubt make lots of noise as it whacks things while spinning. Anyone with eyes and ears isn’t going to go anywhere near it without shutting down the PTO. However, if a safely sleeve bearing is seized from lack of grease and maintenance, you cannot see or hear that it is seized, so it is a far more dangerous hazard than a loose or broken chain. I respect everyone’s personal decision, but this is truly a no-brainer for me. I’ll continue to use chains on all of my pto shafts.

I agree with your logic.

Makes sense to me!

Bought my first tractor last year with a brush hog and the dealer did not recommend chains... His rationale was the same as yours!

Talk about safety When I was little, the thrashing machine came to do the stalks of wheat and was powered by a long belt to the stationary tractor. There was no safety devices with that setup. I used to get a lot of warnings about staying far away. Huge straw stacks, great time in my life.

Can't argue with your logic

Agree!

Thanks for the video. I just got a WoodMaxx wood chipper. The pto came with chains. I have never used chains before with my implements. Still won't.

I like it !

First implement I ever used tore the safety chains right out of the shroud. The plastic was so thin that it couldn't hold.

Our snowblower has a plastic shroud, but didn't come with chains nor do I recall seeing any place to connect a chain. So I don't think this design is meant to continually spin independent of the PTO shaft. I haven't gotten close enough to test how easily the shroud stops spinning in contact and while I am curious, I don't think I am going to test it anytime soon. I prefer a respectful distance between me and the PTO shaft.

I watched a episode on ask tractor Mike and a lot of manufacturers stopped putting safety chains on equipment. I think it had to do with lawsuit with the chains.

I go to say im guilty of having some brand new shafts with the chains still in the packaging taped to the cover, maybe ill make it a point to ditch the chains, could easily repurpose them to hold pins somewhere where you dont want to lose them!

Any ideas on the Big tool rack?

I'm gonna go one better... no PTO cover at all. Oh my. My used rotary cutter didn't come with one. Easy safety thing I do is don't get anywhere near it when it's engaged. I couldn't if I tried with Kubota safety switch. Maybe one day I will buy one .just to make me feel better. Thanks good points and video

Another pro of not using chains: You can easily SEE if the PTO shaft is spinning.

All this messing around with shields, chains, and fussy PTO shafts is proof that implements should be hydraulically powered. You put a hydraulic pump at the stub shaft, a hydraulic hose after that, and a hydraulic motor at the implement. Hoses are flexible and never spin, and they transfer plenty of power.

I do not have any pto driven implements. If I buy any the bearing will be checked and chains removed.

Interesting. I guess my question is: How did you know you could touch an UNchained pto shaft cover and that it would stop like that? I see your point, but my concern would be someone not knowing whether the cover was, or was not, greased properly and then get into trouble by thinking it was one way (or the other) and then finding out the hard way that it didn't behave like they expected. (Hopefully that sentence made sense!) :) Bottom line is, like others have said: Stay away from the PTO shaft!

i agree with you. Think its just another way a engineer came up with a way to make more money. He probably doesn't even know how to operate a tractor. lol

As I see it, if the cover bearing seizes, it can cause a major safety issue. That unlikely potential danger seems worse without chains than with them. As you demonstrate, the chains can whip around but they have very little torque since as you also demonstrate it takes very little force to stop the sleeve and chain. I think one could create arguments for both sides of this one but what's most important to me is just thinking about the dangers and being aware of the potential hazards of however you choose to operate your equipment.

Never have used them

I don’t use them but admittedly I didn’t know how to use them

My Bush Hog is so old it doesn't have a shroud. I think I will notice anyone standing on it and politely suggest that they aren't in a safe location. I'm going to mow 1.5 acres with it tomorrow. It's that time of year. I'll report back if someone jumps on there and rips their legs off.

It's better without the chain ⛓😌 thankbyou for the video

I never use chains and I still feel safe

I cut my chains off too sir.. totally agree

I feel compelled to subscribe and I'm not sure why. I'm mean the content is awesome, but this compulsion good beyond that. 😬

So why run a shield? It is minimally safer with a spinning shield as a bare spinning shaft. Folks watch your PTO power implement, or listen for the noise, it should not be hard to figure out if the implement is working. If you have a slip clutch, one more item to receive visual feedback.

Without doubt always use the safety chain, if the guard fails and spins with the shaft you will not know until you are entangled, do a search on PTO accidents than decide. A friend of mine lost his arm in a baler incident. Use the guard as designed please. I follow several you tube farmers, I am always surprised of how many unprotected PTOs there are especially on static machinery such as augers. I accept your PTO is well maintained, but it is not worth the risk.

No chains

Old school safety, shut the tractor off.

break thoze chainz

I don't use the chains

But I thought Trump wants to put you back in chains... Lol

Makes sense to me!