An instrumentation system to measure the loads acting on the tractor PTO bearing during rotary tillage

•Instrumentation setup was developed to measure the loads acting on the PTO bearing.•EORT measured the axial load and the vertical component of the radial load.•The horizontal component of radial load was measured using strain gauges.•PTO ball bearing life was assessed for rotary tillage based on the measured loads.•Sudden peak loads were found to be the root cause of early failure of PTO bearing.