Introduction of a direct engine-PTO driveline to agricultural tractors has reduced production cost and increased transmission efficiency of the PTO driveline. However, this type of PTO driveline has caused a severe rattle noise in the PTO gearbox under idle conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the causes of the rattle noise and the effects of driveline parameters on it. A mathematical model was developed for a direct engine-PTO driveline. The model was proved experimentally to be accurate enough to simulate the dynamic characteristics of the PTO driveline motions. The simulation study showed that the rattle noise was caused by collisions between the driving and driven gears in the PTO gearbox due to velocity variation of the gears, which was induced by torque fluctuations from the engine. It was also found that the rattle noise decreased with the drag torque and mass moment of inertia of the engine flywheel. Smaller mass moment of inertia of the driven gears and backlash also reduced the rattle noise. However, increasing the drag torque and mass moment of the engine flywheel or decreasing the backlash and mass moment of inertia of the driven gears were limited practically by their detrimental effects on transmission efficiency, gear strength and smooth meshing of the gears.