Here at Tractor Spare Parts, we don't just supply high-quality parts for Nuffield, Leyland, and Marshall brands of tractors across the globe. We also offer a workshop where we repair tractors, mainly for local farmers and tractor users alike.
We also make up hydraulic hoses, PTO shafts etc this is in case they break and are in need of repair or replacement parts. These parts are not just for the Nuffield, Leyland, and Marshall brands, but for a whole host of brands of tractors that are used locally.
We have recently had some PTO shafts through our workshop and we have repaired where possible and replaced parts where required, this got me thinking about the safety aspect of having a PTO on your tractor; specifically about the PTO on a Nuffield, Leyland or Marshall tractor. It got me thinking how simple measures can be taken to ensure you are legally compliant, but more importantly, how you and your workers can remain safe.
We all know that the Power Take-Off (PTO), and the power take-off drive shaft of a machine are very dangerous if they are used and not correctly guarded. Do we ALWAYS adhere to these laws, regulations and guidance? We know we should do certain things, but we all know farming life is busy and things can go wrong. So, I hope that this short blog will help bring it back to the front of your mind. We hope it gets you thinking about how important it is to ensure safety around the PTO on your Leyland tractor.
Every year people are killed or seriously injured in accidents involving PTO’s and PTO drive shafts. The majority of these accidents are preventable if the PTO and PTO drive shaft are fitted with guards of good design, which are properly used and maintained1.
What Is The Legal Requirement in the UK for PTO Guards?
The legal requirement for guarding a PTO (here in the UK at least) is that you must protect the tractor PTO with a shield covering the top and both sides of the PTO, this is so it stops anybody making contact with it, either with parts of their body or their clothes. This shield should be well constructed and capable of supporting a downward load of at least 120 kg. When the PTO is not in use, it may be covered with a fixed cap1.
The Health and Safety Executive produce a lot of good short information sheets that cover specific topics and Agriculture Information. Sheet No 40 covers ‘Power take-offs and power take-off drive shafts,’ this useful document can be found here. It is well worth a look at and maybe even printing off a copy for your farm Health and Safety folder so that it can be easily referenced by all your workers and users of your tractors in the future.
What Does This Mean for My Nuffield, Leyland or Marshall Tractor?
So, what does this mean in terms of your Nuffield, Leyland, or Marshall tractor? Well, these tractors were all fitted with PTO master shields from the outset, so this is nothing new, it’s not like it has been reinvented to make us safe. I know it can seem like in the 21st Century we are Health and Safety mad, but this topic is a basic one that has been around since the invention of the PTO shaft.
Nuffield Tractors
The Nuffield tractors have a PTO master shield on them that should be kept on the tractor at all times. The master shield is three sides of a box that cover the top and sides of the PTO, this is required by law. This master shield can be used while the PTO is both in-use and also when it is not in use, so it is a good idea to fit the master shield and leave it on all the time.
Many of the original master shields have corrosion and may have been bent over time. As stated above, the guidance from the HSE states that the PTO shield should withstand 120 kg from above, so it is worth looking at your original type of PTO master shield to see if it still meets these requirements.
If your original PTO master shield on your Nuffield tractor is missing, or needs replacing, here at Tractor Spare Parts Ltd we can help. We have remanufactured these PTO master shields in the UK to the original specifications.
You just need to be careful as the PTO master shields for the early Nuffield tractors are different to those of the Nuffield 3/45 and Nuffield 4/65 models as well as both Leyland and Marshall tractors. The master shield for the Nuffield 3DL, Nuffield Universal 3, Nuffield 4DM, Nuffield Universal 4, Nuffield 342, Nuffield 460, Nuffield 10/42 and Nuffield 10/60 models is the one in the picture above and has a scallop out the middle top face.
The master shield bolts on at the side with 4 bolts and is easy to attach. Why not attach a new one that you know is safe and just leave it there on your tractor all the time?
The part number for this Nuffield PTO master shield is ATJ6127, and you can find a link to purchase this product here. The bolts used to fix the PTO master shield in place are part number HNS0605 are available and can be found by following this link.
When it comes to the PTO shield itself, which I always describe as the toilet roll shape shield to distinguish it from the squarer master shield, there was a change point with the Nuffield models up the Nuffield 460 having one which has mounting holes of 3” (Part number NT3781), and the Nuffield 10/42, Nuffield 10/60, Nuffield 3/45 and Nuffield 4/65 having a larger PTO shield with mounting hole centres of 3 7/8” (Part number ATJ6293). So, it is worth checking out which one you need. The PTO shield with hole centres of 3 7/8” also fits the Leyland range of tractors, as well as the Marshall 502 tractor model.
These PTO shields are a recommendation by the HSE when the PTO is not in use. It is a great idea to fit one to be extra safe, especially if you don’t do a lot of PTO work and it can stay on there for a long time, or if you take your tractor to shows or on road runs where there may be members of the public around.
Nuffield models with the smaller 3” mounting holes:
- Nuffield 4M
- Nuffield 4PM
- Nuffield DM4
- Nuffield 3DL or Nuffield Universal 3
- Nuffield 4DM or Nuffield Universal 4
- Nuffield 342
- Nuffield 460
This PTO shield is made as a new reproduction product and is manufactured to a high-quality standard here in the UK. You can find it by following this link.
Nuffield models with the larger 3 7/8” mounting holes:
- Nuffield 10/42
- Nuffield 10/60
- Nuffield 3/45
- Nuffield 4/65
- Middleweight Leyland tractors including 344, 384, 253, 255, 270, 245, 262, 462, 272, 472, 282, 482
- Marshall 502
This PTO shield, part number ATJ6293, is made in the UK and machined to finish in our own workshop here at Tractor Spare Parts Ltd, and can be purchased by giving us a call or following this link.
Nuffield 3/45, Nuffield 4/65, Leyland Tractors and Marshall Tractors
The PTO master shield fitted on the later Nuffield tractors, as well as the middleweight Leyland range of tractors and the Golden Harvest Marshall tractors are slightly different to the Nuffield PTO master shield. This master shield still has the top and sides of the PTO shaft covered, but instead of the scallop out at the back of the top face it has two slots.
This PTO master shield, part number ATJ6704, is also made in the UK and is available through our website by following this link, or if you prefer you can call Tractor Spare Parts Ltd on 01335 310538 to purchase and discuss your requirements.
These tractors from the Nuffield 3/45 and Nuffield 4/65 through to the Leyland middleweight range of tactors and the Harvest Gold range of Marshall tractors were all fitted with the 3 7/8” mounting hole centres PTO shield listed above, part number ATJ6293. This is the PTO shield that is an optional extra that goes over the PTO shaft when it is not in use. It is always a good idea to fit this, especially if you are live drive!
It Is Better To Be Safe Than Sorry
It is always difficult to write or talk about safety in a fun way, but I hope that this blog has helped you understand what is required by law on your tractor and how and why important it is. I think most of us who work in the agricultural sector, or even live in the rural world, know somebody or have heard of somebody who has had a close incident or even lost their life to a PTO. Let’s not add to these statistics.
There are plenty of You Tube videos out there about PTO safety and if you are that way inclined you can spend hours watching accounts of near-misses or tragic incidents. Here is one video from the NFU USA, which although is based in USA and not the UK, still have the same message – click here for a reminder of why PTO can be dangerous.
Keep safe and don’t forget to use protection!
