If this issue comes up for you, it's possible to operate a 1000 pto cutter with using a 540 pto driveline. I t won't turn up enough rpms' to hurt anything. But you would never want to hook up a 1000 pto to a 540. you would nearly double the speed of the 540 output shaft. Most rotary cutters are turning at operating speed of between 14000 to 16000 feet per minute, regardless of whether 540 or 1000 rpm..The difference is that the 1000 rpm tractor shaft will be turning at nearly twice the speed to provide the same blade tip speed. The higher speed 1000 rpm is designed to reduce the torque load, which can shear away both internal tractor shafts as well as main drive-lines. The 1000 rpm rotary cutter is much heavier duty. If you already know this stuff, more power to you. But there's lots of folks out there that just don't get it. The difference between 1000 & 540 farm implements is the same as comparing a 1/2 ton truck axle to a 1 ton truck axle- it's just lower gearing. The drive shaft on a half ton pickup will turn fewer revolutions to move 10 feet than a 1 ton truck will. It's also why you'll notice the much bigger diameter of a 1/2 trucks' driveshaft (usually) as compared to a 1ton trucks' drive shaft. Less torque is involved to turn the 1 ton, so the shaft diameter can be smaller without the shearing risk. So its the same principle with farm driveline implements. Hope this helps somebody to understand the 1000/540 confusion stuff.
