IH 300 utility ...PTO Questions/Interchangeability

You have not mentioned anything about a TA so I am assuming that you do not have one. In view of that it seems likely you don't have any IPTO or PTO drive hardware. Your tractor was built as a cheap loader machine. You did mention something about a hitch so that is in favor of your owning something that had some options. Again, you have to look at your serial number.

The serial number may be hard to read because of your loader. It is stamped on an aluminum plate (2.5" x 4") that is riveted on the left side of the clutch housing. If you don't have one, you will have to remove the PTO plate cover at the rear and the cover plate on top of the center section. This where the parts book comes in handy. You will be able to identify what you do or don't have. If you have a PTO (not IPTO), you should be able to rotate things with your hand while the engine clutch is disengaged and the engine is not running.

The IPTO is handy with any powered implement that is used while the tractor is moving. That applies to the mower and tiller. No real advantage with the post hole digger.

The planetary IPTO will interchange on the 300, 330, 340, 350, SMTA, 400, 450, and some 460, 560, and 660. It can be made to work on the last three as well as numerous other models but the speed won't be correct.

The letter suffix will need to be "R" if you have a Torque Amplifier (TA) and want to install a PTO.

The letter suffix will need to be "S" if you have a Torque Amplifier (TA) and want to install a IPTO.

The letter suffix will need to be "P" if you do NOT have a Torque Amplifier (TA) and want to install a IPTO.

The reason for this is that there is hardware ahead of the IPTO that needs to be in place. I don't own a utility but I think alot of that stuff was optionally deleted on those models. A parts book will help you understand the the different setups.

I forgot to mention this earlier but the handles are different on the utilities. It's primarily due to the seating position of the operator. In addition, the valve bank on the utes may be in the way. The handles on the row crops are verical whereas the handles on the utes are nearly horizontal.

Could you modify one? Perhaps. I wouldn't. It is more than just a piece of flatbar. There is a latch, spring loaded thumb button, and linkage that complicates things.

I should also mention that the IPTO drive train starts with the engine clutch spring cover that bolts to the flywheel. From there the tractor needs a sleeve and gear, a driven gear, two more shafts, a coupling, and a bunch of bearings. This is all needed before the IPTO gets power. You may have this stuff but you need to check the serial number suffix.