PTO Load on a Baler
The load a baler draws from the power take-off shaft, which is pulsating rather than steady in character. On piston balers the torque peaks with every compression stroke; the flywheel smooths these pulses, while the slip clutch limits the peak torque and protects the shaft and the transmission.
Pulsating load shows why it is misleading to decide by looking at the average power figure: even if the average power is within the tractor's capacity, the torque peaks can overstress the drive components. That is why a protective element on a baler is not optional.
- The flywheel works like an energy store; it absorbs the peak load at the moment of the stroke from its own inertia.
- The slip clutch should be checked at the start of the season and stuck plates should be freed.
- Do not force it while the PTO speed is dropping; as the speed falls, the energy stored in the flywheel decreases rapidly.
This concept has no direct relation to the retrofit kits: the LFT20, LFT54 and ELF-812 do not connect to the power take-off shaft or the power transmission components, they only make the linkage control electronic. When using a baler, the presence of the kit changes none of the rules on the PTO side.
Context in which this term is used: Converting a tractor hydraulic lever to electronic control