Abstract: A system for providing sufficient space to accommodate a wrench for tightening the securing nuts in the restricted confines of a power take off mounted to a vehicle's transmission which employs step studs whose large diameter ends are threaded into the standard S.A.E. hole pattern apertures of the transmission P.T.O. window, while the studs are designed to have significantly smaller opposite ends which protrude through the aligned P.T.O. housing apertures, thus allowing smaller nuts to be used to make room for the wrench.

Abstract: A drag brake mechanism prevents rotation of the shaft of a truck mounted connect-disconnect, clutch-operated, power takeoff device when the clutch is in its disconnect mode, by applying a constant braking force to the shaft which cannot be overcome by inadvertent frictional forces within the discs of the clutch that may occur despite the clutch being in its disconnect mode. The constant force selected, however, is insufficient to create undue heat during normal shaft rotation and is easily overcome when the clutch is placed in its connect mode.

Abstract: There is provided a mechanism for engaging a power takeoff employed primarily to drive a load from a truck engine having a solenoid with a high energy coil that is energized for a short interval to produce engagement of the power takeoff and a low energy coil to maintain engagement of the power takeoff. The mechanism includes an armature movable from a retracted to an activated position to move the power takeoff engagement mechanism to a power takeoff engaged position and a high rate spring which is compressed if the power takeoff does not engage whereby to return the armature to its retracted position upon de-energization of the high energy coil. A second lower rate spring moves the armature to its retracted position upon de-energization of the lower energy coil.