PTO stands for Power Take Off, which refers to one of the many methods of moving power from the tractor’s engine to any mounted attachment, such as a Post Hole Digger. The two types of PTO are Live and Independent. Live PTO uses a two-stage clutch, which allows you to slow down or change gears while the PTO is still functioning. Independent PTO means that you use a different clutch to control the PTO. Most of the current tractors feature a Live PTO controlled by a push-button or selector swish. This maximizes the safety of those operators who want to get close to the PTO shaft.