Sssh! Don't tell.

[RalphVa]

I removed the rear PTO shield. The combo of it allowing a tad less room than the JD 2025Rs and the refusal of the PTO to allow easy hand rotation was too much. The shield is off and will stay off. I'm a big boy and know not to put things in the way of a rotating PTO. Takes a 12 mm open end wrench because of interference with the HST dip stick on the left side.

Put the WM WC46 wood chipper on today and managed some work with it until the discharge chute plugged (only 2nd time). Ran it at 2300 rpm ~ 450 rpm on the rear PTO where I ran it with the 2025R. Can probably increase the hydraulic feed speed now with a tad more hp on the B2601. It and the JD just loaf along with the WC46, but a WC68 at 700 # is a tad heavy to use on our hills. I really noticed the 510 # WC46 back there on the 2025R but didn't take it down the back hill this afternoon. The B seems a bit less tipsy.

While moving it, the right rear tire lugs were rubbing on the right lower lift arm. I swung the tractor left and went back to the garage.

Do not put the pins for those sliding tensioners in the slots. I put the right pin in a hole to hold it in place.

The PTO shaft didn't need to be shortened any more. I'd already shortened it another inch from what the WM instructions told me to because it seemed to bind when lifted. Still does that. I'll just shut it down before lifting. Think I have to do this anyway to be able to put the seat down. Tractor will shut down if it put the seat down with PTO running.

The rear PTO instructions in the operators manual do not work. Had to tilt the seat up against the steering wheel. Then the rear PTO could be used.

The PTO position selector was difficult to move the first time. I'd had it in front position with hopes of being able to rotate the shaft by hand. Nada.

 

[NCL4701]

If your chipper is plugging, reducing the feed speed will likely help (assuming the 46 has the feed speed adjustment same as the 68). I generally have to reduce feed speed when chipping gummy stuff like wet sappy pine or eastern red cedar to avoid chute clogging. Hardwood or dry stuff, can turn feed speed back up.

Don’t know how running less than 540 impacts performance. Never tried it but sounds like it has been working for you.

Your tractor/chipper combo may be a bit different from mine. If the chipper input shaft is as close to the back of the tractor as it is on mine, the quite short PTO shaft creates some pretty extreme angles when lifted. Would not even think about leaving the PTO running on mine if it’s not sitting on the ground.

If you need to turn the PTO shaft on the tractor (with it not running of course) and it’s not cooperating, there are wrenches for that to give you some leverage without damaging the splines: https://www.sloanex.com/pto-speed-w...MIp_ig6c-F9gIVyiZMCh1VTA9iEAQYASABEgKFkfD_BwE

I’ve not had any issues rotating the PTO shaft on the chipper to achieve alignment, but you should be able to rotate the shaft on the tractor as well.

YMMV…

 

[GreensvilleJay]

re: I removed the rear PTO shield.
I've had 9 'big' tractors, ONLY the BX23S HAD a PTO shield on it...maybe cause it was the ONLY brand new tractors I've bought in 22 years

 

[RalphVa]

If your chipper is plugging, reducing the feed speed will likely help (assuming the 46 has the feed speed adjustment same as the 68). I generally have to reduce feed speed when chipping gummy stuff like wet sappy pine or eastern red cedar to avoid chute clogging. Hardwood or dry stuff, can turn feed speed back up.

Don’t know how running less than 540 impacts performance. Never tried it but sounds like it has been working for you.

Your tractor/chipper combo may be a bit different from mine. If the chipper input shaft is as close to the back of the tractor as it is on mine, the quite short PTO shaft creates some pretty extreme angles when lifted. Would not even think about leaving the PTO running on mine if it’s not sitting on the ground.

If you need to turn the PTO shaft on the tractor (with it not running of course) and it’s not cooperating, there are wrenches for that to give you some leverage without damaging the splines: https://www.sloanex.com/pto-speed-w...MIp_ig6c-F9gIVyiZMCh1VTA9iEAQYASABEgKFkfD_BwE

I’ve not had any issues rotating the PTO shaft on the chipper to achieve alignment, but you should be able to rotate the shaft on the tractor as well.

YMMV…

Thanks. Ordered it. Pricey shipping cost.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

If you're running material smaller than 'advertised', slower does the job,saves some fuel.

 

[B737]

I had the same trouble with my B2601 and LX. You'll find the PTO will loosen after about 40-50 hours and you'll be able to hand turn it with the PTO set mid only.

run it wide open or you are just going to bog down the engine.