What is the difference between live PTO and independent PTO?

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Tractor Gyan · Accepted Answer

Both are types of tractor Power Take-Off, which sends engine power to implements like rotavators, threshers and balers.


	
		
			
			Point
			
			
			Live PTO
			
			
			Independent PTO
			
		
		
			
			Clutch used
			
			
			Two-stage clutch on a single pedal
			
			
			Separate clutch just for the PTO
			
		
		
			
			How it works
			
			
			Pressing the pedal halfway stops the tractor, and pressing fully stops the PTO too
			
			
			PTO runs or stops using its own lever, whatever the main clutch does
			
		
		
			
			Control
			
			
			Partly linked to the main clutch
			
			
			Fully separate control
			
		
		
			
			Power source
			
			
			Taken from the engine through the clutch assembly
			
			
			Taken straight from the engine
			
		
		
			
			Smooth operation
			
			
			Good, but gear shifting can interrupt the PTO if the pedal is fully pressed
			
			
			Very smooth, with no interruption while changing gears
			
		
		
			
			Safety
			
			
			Moderate
			
			
			Higher, since the implement can be stopped without stopping the tractor
			
		
		
			
			Cost
			
			
			Lower
			
			
			Higher
			
		
		
			
			Maintenance
			
			
			Simple
			
			
			More complex (often a wet multi-disc clutch)
			
		
		
			
			Best for
			
			
			Light to medium implements
			
			
			Heavy implements 
			
		
	


With a live PTO, one pedal does two jobs in two stages. With an independent PTO, the PTO has its own clutch and lever, so you can control the tractor and the implement completely separately. That is why it is safer and smoother, but also costlier.

What is the difference between live PTO and independent PTO?

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Point	Live PTO	Independent PTO
Clutch used	Two-stage clutch on a single pedal	Separate clutch just for the PTO
How it works	Pressing the pedal halfway stops the tractor, and pressing fully stops the PTO too	PTO runs or stops using its own lever, whatever the main clutch does
Control	Partly linked to the main clutch	Fully separate control
Power source	Taken from the engine through the clutch assembly	Taken straight from the engine
Smooth operation	Good, but gear shifting can interrupt the PTO if the pedal is fully pressed	Very smooth, with no interruption while changing gears
Safety	Moderate	Higher, since the implement can be stopped without stopping the tractor
Cost	Lower	Higher
Maintenance	Simple	More complex (often a wet multi-disc clutch)
Best for	Light to medium implements	Heavy implements