23. 6. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 164/5 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the Member States 
relating to the power take-offs of wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors and their 
protection 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 26 May 1983) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, and in particular 
Article 100 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas the technical requirements which wheeled 
agricultural or forestry tractors must satisfy pursuant 
to existing national legislation relate inter alia to the 
power take-off and its protection; 
Whereas these requirements differ from one Member 
State to another; whereas it is therefore necessary for 
all the Member States to adopt the same 
requirements, either in addition to or as a substitute 
for their existing regulations, in particular in order to 
make possible the implementation, in respect of each 
tractor type, of the EEC type-approval procedure 
which is the subject of Council Directive 
74/150/EEC of 4 March 1974 on the approximation 
of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-
approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry 
tractors ('); 
Whereas the Council resolution of 29 June 1978 
concerning an action programme of the European 
Communities on safety and health at work (2) 
provides for the application of the principles of 
accident prevention in the design and creation of 
plant and machinery, including the agricultural 
(') OJ L 84, 28. 3. 1974, p. 10. 
OOJNoC 165, 11.7. 1978, p. 3. sector; whereas the provisions concerning power 
take-offs and their protection constitute obvious 
safety factors; 
Whereas the approximation of national laws relating 
to wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors involves 
the mutual recognition by the Member States of tests 
conducted by each of them on the basis of common 
requirements, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: 
Article 1 
1. Agricultural or forestry tractors means any 
motor vehicle, fitted with wheels or endless tracks, 
having at least two axles, the main function of which 
lies in its tractive power and which is specially 
designed to tow, push, carry or power certain tools, 
machinery or trailers intended for agricultural or 
forestry use. It may be equipped to carry a load or a 
crew. 
2. This Directive applies exclusively to the tractors 
defined in paragraph 1 above, which are fitted with 
pneumatic tyres and have at least two axles and a 
maximum design speed of between six and 30 kilo­
metres per hour. 
Article 2 
Member States may not refuse to grant EEC or 
national type-approval in respect of a tractor, or 
refuse or prohibit the sale, registration, entry into 
service or use of a tractor, on grounds relating to the 
power take-off and its protection if the latter satisfy 
the requirements set out in Annex I. 
Article 3 
Any amendments necessary for the adaptation to 
technical progress of the requirements of Annex I and 
the model annex to the EEC type-approval certificate 
shown in Annex II shall be adopted pursuant to the 
procedure laid down in Article 13 of Directive 
74/150/EEC. 
No C 164/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 6. 83 
Article 4 
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, 
regulations and administrative provisions necessary to 
comply with this Directive not later than 1 October 
1984. They shall forthwith inform the Commission 
thereof. 
2. As soon as this Directive has been notified, 
Member States shall also ensure that the Commission is informed, in sufficient time for it to submit its 
comments, of any draft laws, regulations or 
administrative provisions which they intend to adopt 
in the field covered by this Directive. 
Article 5 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States. 
23. 6. 83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 164/7 
ANNEX I 
DEFINITION AND SCOPE, APPLICATION FOR EEC TYPE-APPROVAL, EEC TYPE-
APPROVAL, TYPES OF POWER TAKE-OFF AND DESIGN AND POSITIONING 
REQUIREMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE LATTER AND THEIR PROTECTIVE GUARDS 
1. DEFINITION AND SCOPE 
1.1. 'Power take-off (PTO) means the splined end of the tractor drive shaft which transmits 
motion to a machine via a universal-joint drive shaft. 
1.2. The provisions of this Directive apply exclusively to power take-offs located at the rear of 
the tractor. 
2. APPLICATION FOR EEC TYPE-APPROVAL 
2.1. The application for the type-approval of a tractor type as regards the power take-off and 
its protection must be submitted by the tractor manufacturer or his authorized rep­
resentative. 
2.2 It must be accompanied by: 
2.2.1. drawings, in triplicate, on an appropriate and suitably detailed scale, of those parts of the 
tractor subject to the requirements of this Directive. 
2.3. A tractor representative of the type submitted for approval or those part(s) of the tractor 
considered indispensable for the execution of the tests required by this Directive must be 
supplied to the technical service responsible for conducting the type-approval tests. 
3. EEC TYPE-APPROVAL 
3.1. A certificate conforming to the model which appears in Annex II must be attached to the 
EEC type-approval certificate. 
4. TYPES OF POWER TAKE-OFF 
4.1. The characteristics of PTOs must conform to one of the types described in Table 1 below: 
TABLE 1 
Characteristics of types of PTO 
Type 
1 
2 
3 Nominal-
diameter 
(mm) 
35 
35 
45 Number of splines 
Six straight splines 
21 I 
{ Involute 
j Serrations 
20 J Nominal PTO rotation speed 
(r/min) (') 
• 540 and/or 1 000 
(') The nominal rotation speed of the three types of PTO must be obtained at not less than 80 % of the 
rated engine speed. 
4.2. The rotation speed of the PTO must be maintained by suitable means. 
4.3. Should more than one ratio between the engine speed and the PTO rotation speed be 
provided, any change of ratio must be perceptible. In addition, specific design measures 
must be taken to ensure that unintentional changes of ratio — in particular changing to a 
higher rotation speed — cannot occur. This safety device must operate each time the PTO 
is engaged. 
4.4. Means must be provided by which the PTO rotation speed can be clearly indicated at all 
times. 
No C 164/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.6.83 
5. DESIGN AND POSITIONING REQUIREMENTS 
5.1. Depending on the type, the dimensions in millimetres of the main PTO of agricultural 
tractors must correspond to the dimensions shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and Tables 2, 3 
and 4. 
A-A (dimensions in millimetres) 
Section of shaft 
Figure 1 
Type 1 PTO 
(') Spline circle diameter. 
(2) Hardened area: 48-56 Rockwell C hardness. 
(5) With or without neck. 
(4) Sitze of bevel left to manufacturer. 
TABLE 2 
Type 1 PTO spline tolerances 
(dimensions in millimetres) 
Type 1 PTO 
Nominal dimension 
Verified dimension Shaft 
s 
8,69 
Direct measurement 
With GO ring gauge 8,60 max. 
8,53 min. 
8,64 max. 
23.6.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 164/9 
(dimensions in millimetres) 
Base section of shaft 
Section of shaft 
Angle of pressure a = 30°; number of teeth z = 21; modulus m = 1,5875 (diametral 
pitch 16). 
Figure 2 
Type 2 PTO 
(') Hardened area: 48-56 Rockwell C hardness. 
(2) Spline circle diameter. 
(') Only for a system in which the teeth mesh fully. 
(') Size of bevel left to manufacturer. 
NoC 164/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.6.83 
TABLE 3 
Type 2 PTO spline tolerances 
(dimensions in millimetres) 
Type 2 PTO 
Nominal dimension 
Verified dimension 
Nominal dimension 
Tolerances 
Verification figure Shaft 
s 
2,494 
Direct measurements 
With appropriate GO ring 
gauge 2,369 max. 
2,306 min. 
2,406 max. 
Distance between outermost points of wire guages, Ma 
31,182 
1,473 
3.6^ I \? 39,00 max. 
38,90 min. 
23.6.83 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 164/11 
(Dimensions in millimetres) 
Base section of shaft Section of shaft 
Angle of pressure a = 30°; number of teeth z = 20; modulus m = 2,1167 (diametral 
pitch 12). 
Figure 3 
Type 3 PTO 
(') Hardened area: 48-56 Rockwell C hardness. 
(2) Spline circle diameter. 
(3) Only for a system in which the teeth mesh fully. 
(4) Size of bevel left to manufacturer. 
No C 164/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.6.83 
5.2. 
5.3. 
r">i TABLE 4 
Type 3 PTO spline tolerances 
(dimensions in millimetres) 
Type 3 PTO 
Nominal dimension 
Verified dimension 
Nominal dimension 
Tolerance 
Verification figure Shaft 
3,325 
Direct measurements 
With appropriate GO ring 
gauge 3,200 max. 
3,173 min. 
3,237 max. 
Distance between outermost points of wire gauges Ma 
48,432 
1,544 
48,239 max. 
48,142 min. 
Direction of rotation of the rear PTO 
Clockwise when the PTO is observed in the direction of travel of the tractor. 
Position of the rear PTO 
The PTO must be positioned as shown in Figure 4 in relation to the ground. 
••"\2r"* 
vb/;/////\///;/7////}/7/i Y//////A 
Figure 4 
Position of PTO in relation to the ground 
If the tractor is fitted with two PTOs, e max. should be so adjusted that one of them is 
outside the shaft clearance area. 
23.6.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 164/13 
TABLE 5 
Position of PTO in relation to the ground 
(dimensions in millimetres) 
PTO type 
1 
2 
3 h 
450 
to 
675 
550 
to 
775 
650 
to 
875 e max. 
50 
50 
50 
No C 164/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.6.83 
5.4. Zone of clearance around the PTO 
The PTO zone of clearance must be in conformity with Figure 5. 
(dimensions in millimetres) 
Section XX 
Vertical cross section 
of the limiting surface 
of the clearance area 
(for guidance) 
Horizontal section 
Median plane of wheel 
PTO shaft 
Vertical section 
Figure 5 
Zone of clearance around PTO 
23.6.83 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 164/15 
5.5. Protection of PTOs 
5.5.1. Protection 
5.5.1.1. The power take-off must be protected by a guard mounted on the tractor which covers at 
least the top part and the two sides of the PTO as shown in Figure 6 below, or by other 
means providing a similar degree of protection such as the location of the PTO in a recess 
that is part of the tractor or is formed by a separate part (tow-hook mounts, coupling 
cover, etc.) 
5.5.1.2. The dimensions of the protective guard are laid down, as a function of the type of PTO, in 
Table 6 below; 
5.5.1.3. An additional non-rotating protective device which fully covers the PTO must also be 
supplied with the tractor to protect the PTO when the latter is not in use. 
5.5.2. Characteristics of protective guards 
5.5.2.1. The protective guard must be designed so as not to impede (or in order to facilitate) the 
use and maintenance of the tractor. 
It must be possible to carry out maintenance operations without removing the protective 
guard. 
5.5.2.2. The materials used must be able to withstand bad weather, must retain their mechanical 
properties in cold weather and must be sufficiently sturdy. 
5.5.2.3. It must not be possible to remove the protective guard without the use of a tool; in 
addition, the protective guard must have no points or sharp edges, must contain no orifices 
other than that necessary for attaching the chain of the protective device for the universal-
joint drive shaft and, if fitted in such a way that it can be used as a step, must be able to 
bear a weight of 120 daN. 
<—9 M 
Optional shapes 
016 mm 
Optional angle 
Figure 6 
Protective guard for type 1, 2 and 3 PTOs 16,5 mm 
No C 164/16 Official Journal of the European Communities 23.6.83 
TABLE 6 
Dimensions of the power take-off protective guard 
Type 
1 
2 
3 Dimensions of protective guard (') 
(mm) 
a 
70 
70 
80 b ± 5 
125 
125 
150 c ± 5 
85 
85 
100 d ± 5 
285 
285 
300 w 
125 
125 
150 
(') In the case of tractors having two rear PTO shafts, the dimensions b and/or d may be adjusted in 
order to maintain equivalent clearance areas between the shafts and the protective guard. 
23.6.83 Official Journal of the European Communities NoC 164/17 
ANNEX II 
MODEL 
(Maximum size: DIN A4 (210 x 297 mm)) 
Name of competent 
authority 
ANNEX TO THE EEC TYPE-APPROVED CERTIFICATE FOR A TRACTOR TYPE WITH 
REGARD TO THE POWER TAKE-OFF AND ITS PRODUCTION 
(Articles 4 (2) and 10 of Council Directive 74/150/EEC of 4 March 1974 on the approximation of 
the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of wheeled agricultural or forestry 
tractors) 
EEC type-approval No 
1. Trade name or mark of tractor 
2. Tractor type 
3. Name and address of manufacturer 
4. If applicable, name and address of manufacturer's authorized representative 
5. Brief description of type of power take-off and its protection 
6. Tractor submitted for type-approval on 
7. Technical service responsible for type-approval tests 
8. Date of report by that service 
9. Number of report issued by that service 
10. EEC type-approval with regard to the power take-off and its protection has been granted/ 
refused ('). 
11. The following diagrams bearing the abovementioned type-approval No are attached to this 
communication: 
An appropriate set of diagrams of those parts of the tractor considered of interest for the 
purposes of Council Directive of on the approximation of the laws of the Member 
States relating to power take-offs and their protection. These diagrams will be supplied to the 
competent authorities of the Member States at their express request. 
12. Remarks, if any 
13. Place 
14. Date 
15. Signature 
(') Delete where applicable.