2025-10-10 – Weekly Ranch News : PTOs pose surprising dangers

Last week on the Ranch community forum, members engaged in thoughtful conversations about safety and efficiency on the ranch. Discussions centered around the surprising risks posed by PTOs compared to bulls, and practical safety refreshers were shared. The community also explored skills essential for ranch success and the role of technology in improving pasture management. Historical insights into cowboy culture and shared experiences of unusual livestock behaviors added a touch of intrigue to the discussions.


This Week’s Hot Topics

PTOs injure more than bulls
This discussion highlights the often underestimated dangers of PTOs and why safety measures need to be taken seriously, perhaps even more so than when dealing with bulls.
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Short PTO safety refresher that works
A practical thread offering quick tips and effective strategies to ensure safety around PTOs. It’s a must-read for those on the ranch.
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What Skills Do You Need to Succeed on a Ranch?
Members share their insights on the essential skills needed for success on a ranch, from hands-on tasks to management techniques.
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How are GPS-guided fencing tools improving pasture management efficiency?
Explore how technology, like GPS-guided fencing tools, is revolutionizing pasture management and boosting efficiency.
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Do You Know the Origins of Cowboy Culture?
Dive into the historical roots of cowboy culture, a fascinating journey that enriches our understanding of ranch life today.
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Weirdest Livestock Behavior You’ve Ever Seen?
A light-hearted thread where members share their most memorable encounters with peculiar livestock behavior.
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Can You Name That Ranch Tool?
Test your knowledge and perhaps learn something new about the various tools used on the ranch.
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FAQ/Guidelines
A useful resource for both new and seasoned members to understand the forum’s guidelines and expectations.
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Admin Guide: Getting Started
A helpful guide for administrators new to the platform, ensuring a smooth start.
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So You Want to Work on a Ranch? Here’s Where to Start
A great starting point for anyone considering a career on a ranch, with practical advice and resources.
Read more here


Looking forward to another week of engaging discussions and shared experiences. Until next time, take care on the ranch.

1 Like

Got spooked last fall when net wrap started winding and the PTO freewheeled; since then my rule is β€œkey in pocket before you get down,” and I put a $3 blaze‑orange cover on the tractor key so I can’t miss it. PTOs feel tame next to a bull until you forget that one step, and the two minutes it adds beats a hospital bill.

β€Œβ β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β β€β€Œβ€β€‹β β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ β€β€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€‹β€‹β β€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β β€Œβ€‹β€‹

I painted a thin white tick on the PTO stub and a matching one on the guard β€” if those marks drift, I know the shield’s failed and it’s time to kill it; β€œif it spins, you don’t” has saved my sleeve more than once. Worth a look: https://extension.psu.edu/power-take-off-pto-safety. Caveat: it only helps if you replace cracked guards and keep chains tight, otherwise you’re just painting a rattlesnake.

β€Œβ β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β β€β€Œβ€β€‹β β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ β€β€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€‹β€β€Œβ€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€β β€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β β€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β β€Œβ€‹β€‹

After last week’s thread, I keep the PTO shield chain tight β€” β€œchain tight, shield right.” Cheap insurance.

β€Œβ β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β β€β€Œβ€β€‹β β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ β€β€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€β€Œβ€Œβ β β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β β€Œβ β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€β€β€β€Œβ€Œβ β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β β€Œβ€‹β€‹

More nervous around a PTO than any bull; I flick the shield before every hookup β€” if it won’t free-spin, I don’t engage: β€œno free-spin, no go.” I keep a $12 guard bushing kit in the toolbox so a seized shield doesn’t turn into β€œjust this once,” though in mud season I’ll swap the whole guard instead.

β€Œβ β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β β€β€Œβ€β€‹β β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ β€β€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β€‹β β€Œβ β€Œβ€β€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€‹β β€β€‹β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€β€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β β€Œβ€‹β€‹

I clip a neon tag to the PTO control anytime a guard is off or the shaft’s unhooked β€” β€œkeys out, PTO out” β€” so nobody bumps it alive while I’m at the implement… It’s low-tech, but it’s saved me more than once, and I still shut down and pocket the key before pulling twine. If sensors are your thing, great; a $2 tag beats my forgetful brain most days.

β€Œβ β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β β€β€Œβ€β€‹β β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ β€β€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β€β€‹β€β β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€‹β€Œβ€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€β β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β β€Œβ€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β β€Œβ€‹β€‹

I paint a white stripe on the shield β€” easier to see coast-down; β€˜count to ten.’ Night work needs a headlamp.

β€Œβ β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β β€β€Œβ€β€‹β β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ β€β€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β β β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β β€Œβ€‹β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β β€Œβ€‹β€‹

I paint a red band on the PTO’s inner tube at the minimum overlap; if I ever see it while turning, I stop β€” β€œred ring, no swing.” It saved me from a pretzel shaft once, but it doesn’t replace rechecking length after swapping implements.

β€Œβ β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β β€β€Œβ€β€‹β β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ β€β€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β β€Œβ€Œβ β β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€β β€Œβ€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€‹β β€β€‹β€‹β β€‹β β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β β€Œβ€‹β€‹

Added a spring-pin through the PTO lever gate; $3 fixes bumps. @tony_j58’s tag’s smart, but I like a hard stop.

β€Œβ β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€β β€β€Œβ€β€‹β β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ β€‹β€‹β€Œβ€β β€‹β€Œβ β€β€Œβ€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€β€Œβ€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β€‹β€‹β β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€β€‹β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€β€β€‹β€β€‹β€β€‹β β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ€‹β β€‹β β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β€Œβ€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β€β€Œβ€β€Œβ€β€Œβ β€Œβ€‹β€Œβ€β€β β€‹β β€‹β€β€Œβ€‹β€‹β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β β€Œβ€β β€Œβ€Œβ€‹β€β β€Œβ€β β β€‹β€β€‹β€β€Œβ β β€Œβ€‹β€‹