It gets more effective with use, at least it does for the first thousand hour or so. It is a nice relatively wear-free design but it doesn't clamp the shaft as tight as some that have band brakes. Just as you say and if it is like my 5445, there is a specific position for the brake, but normally the PTO shaft doesn't turn at all even when the brake is not applied. My NH 8360 on the other hand, has a system where the brake normally applies but it has a switch to release the brake temporarily where there is a high inertia implement with no over-run clutch, but mine does drag the shaft around when the PTO should be braked, partly because the brake does not apply or is broken. A slight load like a fertiliser spreader or a vacuum tanker pump on it is enough to stop it creeping though.arion ptos will free spin all the time unless the brake button is pressed, the brake is poor though as all it dose is put load on the bearings