PTO Guard replacements

[Right-arm fast]

Are there any PTO guards available that are better and last longer than the conventional type? Just had a power harrow walterscheid guard start to self destruct and im thinking there must be a better way.

cheers

 

[Gerbert]

A piece of 6 inch suction hose from a slurry tanker is surprisingly though, but obviously the angles can't be that big. I'd just throw the guard away and continue, you are never next to it when it turns anyway. But that's me.

 

[mobileweld]

I really rate the Bare-co ones. They are a black guard with yellow levers on the ends so you can easily slide the end down to get to grease nipples. Fairly universal fit aswell just get the length right

 

[Right-arm fast]

A piece of 6 inch suction hose from a slurry tanker is surprisingly though, but obviously the angles can't be that big. I'd just throw the guard away and continue, you are never next to it when it turns anyway. But that's me.

The angles are quite large at times which makes me think its not going to be simple to organise something other than a whole new guard which will inevitably cost more than half the cost of whole brand new shaft with guard.

 

[David.]

A piece of 6 inch suction hose from a slurry tanker is surprisingly though, but obviously the angles can't be that big. I'd just throw the guard away and continue, you are never next to it when it turns anyway. But that's me.

There is actually some merit in this.
Operator should not be out of cab with pto running, full stop; and possibility of injuring a casual passer-by is vanishingly small.

 

[bitwrx]

There is actually some merit in this.
Operator should not be out of cab with pto running, full stop; and possibility of injuring a casual passer-by is vanishingly small.

Administrative control (i.e. relying on operator action) is at the bottom of the hierarchy of risk control measures. It is at the bottom because people can't really be relied upon to do what they are supposed to do *all* the time.

Engineered measures (e.g. guards) are better, because they are more reliable (when fitted!).

Eliminating the hazard is best (e.g. hyd power instead of PTO), but is not reasonably practicable in all situations.

Either way, unguarded machinery is dangerous. The risk of injury is not vanishingly small, as attested by the various injuries due to unguarded machines.

 

[Suffolksucklers]

There is actually some merit in this.
Operator should not be out of cab with pto running, full stop; and possibility of injuring a casual passer-by is vanishingly small.

Until pipes, cables, vegetation etc start wrapping themselves round it instead

 

[Dave W]

I would only fit bareco to a machine I wanted to use myself.

Biggest issue with most pto guard is no one ever grass the bloody rings. They would last 10x longer if people did

 

[David.]

I like the Bareco ones, better than most originals.
GreenGuard ones were good too I thought, but not sure they're still available.

 

[Om352]

Until pipes, cables, vegetation etc start wrapping themselves round it instead

Almost every video of farm machinery in the US have guards that are unchained and fly around like an unguarded PTO. Not sure if thats the legal way or just people can't be bothered.

 

[Bloders]

Almost every video of farm machinery in the US have guards that are unchained and fly around like an unguarded PTO. Not sure if thats the legal way or just people can't be bothered.

i am always amazed at people posting videos of actvities or machinery whihc are illegal.
must be real easy to proesecute them?

 

[Richy12]

A piece of 6 inch suction hose from a slurry tanker is surprisingly though, but obviously the angles can't be that big. I'd just throw the guard away and continue, you are never next to it when it turns anyway. But that's me.

See, I'm of the other mentality... If you run a machine without a guard in good condition you need a good hard kick in the stones. Is 2022 not 1962

 

[Gerbert]

If that is your belief thats great but I don't see your logic, what is good practice in your mind then and don't say "the law". Does everything rotating needs to be guarded? In which case wouldn't wheels need to be guarded?
Or is it that anything that can move when stationary need to be guarded? In which case wouldn't the powerharrow tines need to be guarded?
If it is that anything that transmit power needs guarding, then surely a hydraulic hose should have some sort cage around it.

 

[Highland Mule]

If that is your belief thats great but I don't see your logic, what is good practice in your mind then and don't say "the law". Does everything rotating needs to be guarded? In which case wouldn't wheels need to be guarded?
Or is it that anything that can move when stationary need to be guarded? In which case wouldn't the powerharrow tines need to be guarded?
If it is that anything that transmit power needs guarding, then surely a hydraulic hose should have some sort cage around it.

How about just doing all that’s reasonably practicable? Funnily enough that’s both the law and common sense.

 

[pgilliat]

I was genuinely interested in people's options of replacement guards when I clicked on this thread.
I find it truly frightening the stupid mentality of some, there is no wonder our industry has the accident rate it does.
For what it's worth I have used the bareco ones and was impressed with how easy it is to clip and unclog for maintenance, not sure the longevity is there but time will tell.

 

[glasshouse]

Administrative control (i.e. relying on operator action) is at the bottom of the hierarchy of risk control measures. It is at the bottom because people can't really be relied upon to do what they are supposed to do *all* the time.

Engineered measures (e.g. guards) are better, because they are more reliable (when fitted!).

Eliminating the hazard is best (e.g. hyd power instead of PTO), but is not reasonably practicable in all situations.

Either way, unguarded machinery is dangerous. The risk of injury is not vanishingly small, as attested by the various injuries due to unguarded machines.

Yawn
Ffs
An operator who gets near a turning power harrow pto is in far greater danger from the rotating tines

 

[Gerbert]

How about just doing all that’s reasonably practicable? Funnily enough that’s both the law and common sense.

That is fair enough, but as said a pto guard on a powerharrow is a bit pointless as you don't want to be near it anyway.
I am aware that the pto guard malarky is quite agrresively enforced on your side of the pond which makes it a different matter.

 

[Bloders]

That is fair enough, but as said a pto guard on a powerharrow is a bit pointless as you don't want to be near it anyway.
I am aware that the pto guard malarky is quite agrresively enforced on your side of the pond which makes it a different matter.

An interesting point there.
Up until recently, the UK was in the EU (as i think you are)
At that time, we all fellunder the same legilation, the machinery directive.
However, it is very clear that we NEVER interpreted things in a consistent manner.
My job in the railway supports this further.

This is an observation, and not a criticism of your post.

 

[Munkul]

PTO guards are the law. And when you hear of some accidents people have without them, it makes you realize why.

If you can't afford to fit and maintain a PTO guard on your machinery you can't afford to be in business, IMHO

 

[Lofty1984]

Why are they so bloody expensive that’s what I want to know