Cheap ORCs?

[kylemorley]

In the past, just about all the PTO ORCs I"ve seen have been black
oxide finished, and sell for $70 and up. Now I am seeing lots of
shiny plated ones selling for half that.

Anyone know if they are any good?

 

[Glenn D]

I have a yellow zinc plated one I had to order in, it attaches with a roll pin pressed into one of the zerk fitting holes and it's worked fine for the few weeks I've had it.

 

[2ruNgineer]

i have a shiny plated one, but i paid $70 and up for it. Worked well for 1 year so far.

 

[howdy1960]

Mine"s yellow zinc plated and cost about $65-70 a year ago at TSC works real good

 

[Tom N MS]

Bought one of the yellow zinc ones several yrs ago for a spare..been under my bed ever since then--seems to be doing good. Prob. pd about $45 for it.

 

[MRinMN]

I've had a gold one for about 5 years, use it all summer long, still works great, keep it greased regularly. Bought it at FF.

 

[JCinKY]

(quoted from post at 17:22:55 07/24/13) I've had a gold one for about 5 years, use it all summer long, still works great, keep it greased regularly. Bought it at FF.

A gold one?!?! Gotta weigh a pound or two. I'd cash that thing in in a heart beat :lol:

Got a yellow zinc one, with roll pin under grease zerks. Paid about $70. Had it about two years. Keep em greased.

 

[kylemorley]

Which brings up another question - ORCs seem to be a bit fussy to
install, what with undoing zerks and knocking out a (greasy) pin.
Can they be just left on most of the time, or are there implements
they should not be used with?

 

[McNugget]

It can be left on, however it will be spinning if you need the lift (hydraulics) for any other implements. The spinning grease zerks will grab anything loose, like your necktie, and can wrap up some tall grass or clover. The ORC sticks out a bit more than just the PTO shaft and cover and could get in the way of some 3pt implements, so look out for that. Be careful!

 

[Ken in MI]

If you are wearing a neck tie and driving an N, you should get wrapped up.
But you are correct the zerks will grab anything loose.

 

[JCinKY]

(quoted from post at 09:33:19 07/25/13) If you are wearing a neck tie and driving an N, you should get wrapped up.
But you are correct the zerks will grab anything loose.

Sure most of us have all done it....

But you really shouldn't be behind [i:44f853df67]any[/i:44f853df67] tractor with the PTO engaged and spinning.

You can fab a cover for the ORC if your handy. I've been meaning to do it for some time, but haven't gotten around to it. Can even use PVC.

 

[McNugget]

Sigh, they just don't dress to drive an N anymore...

 

[kylemorley]

Interesting, I was doing some more reading about this in the
archives, and notice that when the gold ORCs (which apparently are made in India) hit the market here, 10-12 years ago, there were a
lot of complaints about them failing, however there don't seem to
be many recent complaints.

On earlier threads someone always recommends buying the push
button type, but they seem to be getting harder to find and more
expensive, on frequently recommended source of them was
AgriSupply but they seem to sell the yellow pin-style now.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 11:03:41 07/24/13) In the past, just about all the PTO ORCs I"ve seen have been black
oxide finished, and sell for $70 and up. Now I am seeing lots of
shiny plated ones selling for half that.

Anyone know if they are any good?

Zinc dichromate (yellow) plating is a conversion finish considerably more corrosion resistant than a black oxide finish which provides virtually no protection. Black zinc plating however is another type of conversion finish pretty close to yellow zinc for corrosion protection and similar in appearance to black oxide. As for what's underneath the finish - I've been told you can't tell a book by it's cover.

TOH

 

[NAAdearborn]

Purchased one of the "cheap" plated overrun couplers this spring, $34. 20hrs on it so far with a rotary cutter and a finish mower with no problems.