How to Engage PTO to Prevent Breaking Shear Bolts

At the time I'm posting this video its the brush hogging season. Everyone is slicking up their fields with rotary cutters and I can tell because I'm getting a lot of questions and comments about what grade of shear bolts to use so I can tell folks are breaking them. I think most people who break shear bolts are wanting me to tell them to go ahead and move up one grade on the bolt. Before I do that (and, admittedly, I had to do that with my cutter), let's look at how we're engaging the PTO and see if there's a way we can "feather" it so the shear bolt that's in there stays intact. I like to give the tractor just a little throttle so the engine doesn't bog when I engage the cutter, but not so much that the sudden motion kills the shear bolt. Then really gradually move that lever until I feel the cutter spinning, then shove it all the way forward. That generally works for me and the only time I'm installing a shear pin is when I forget to go through the process. Now, there are three groups of you that this video won't benefit. If you have a tractor with a two stage clutch, or one with an electronic PTO engagement, this video won't work on your tractors. With a two stage clutch you can "feather" the PTO by gradually letting off the clutch, with the electronic engagement, there's not much you can do, it's either on or off. Finally, it you have a cutter equipped with a slip clutch you avoid this problem altogether, which might be a good reason to spend the extra money and get a slip clutch equipped cutter in the first place. SUPPORT THE TRACTOR MIKE CHANNEL:   / tractormike   Visit the Tractor Mike website: http://asktractormike.com/ Subscribe to YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/tractormi... Visit Facebook Page:   / ask-tractor-mike-312112962245304   Buy Stuff I Use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/tractormike