Shear Bolt vs. Slip Clutch for Rotary Cutters

[ColoradoDan]

Well, my new JD 5083E has arrived at the dealer...FINALLY!!! They are installing the loader, rear hydraulics, radio, etc. so I should be getting it next week. To say I am excited is an understatement!!

I ordered a Land Pride 4096 rear blade with skid shoes and three hydraulics today:thumbsup:. It should be here within a week.

My last attachment that I am contemplating buying before the winter comes is a rotary cutter. The Land Pride dealer is pushing the shear bolt style while the JD (Frontier) dealer is pushing the slip clutch.

I can get the Land Pride 84" RCR 18 for $2600 with the shear bolt. I can get the Frontier 84" RC2084 for $2969. This only comes with the slip clutch, it does not have the option for the shear bolt.

Any thoughts on the shear bolt vs. the slip clutch? What about Frontier vs. Land Pride? Thanks.

 

[whodat526]

i would rather have a slip clutch so if u hit something u dont have to get off and put in another bolt u can just keep mowing and the slip clutch will be of more protection to the tractors pto shaft than the shear bolt thats just my opion

 

[mjonesnh]

I have a slip clutch on a Bush Hog SQ600 ( a lot lighter duty unit than you are considering) that has been trouble free since purchased new. Has slipped a couple of times when it needed to and then wound back up to speed after clearing obstacle. I loosen springs and engage pto once a year make sure it does not freeze up and not let it slip if needed then re-tighten to factory specs.

 

[TripleR]

If you properly maintain your slip clutch, it will always be my recommendation as I mowed for much of my life with shear pin models and spent a great deal of time replacing them. If you are going to just mow flat pastures/fields a shear pin will cause you no issues, but if you get into the rough stuff, you will be breaking the shear bolt quite regularly.

We have a Woods DS1260 and Land Pride RCR2672 that we use the most and they are very good mowers. I really don't know anything about the Frontier models.

 

[greg_g]

For a tractor/cutter that size - no matter who makes them - definitely opt for a slip clutch.

//greg//

 

[dpgood1]

I have a slip clutch on a Bush Hog SQ600 ( a lot lighter duty unit than you are considering) that has been trouble free since purchased new. Has slipped a couple of times when it needed to and then wound back up to speed after clearing obstacle. I loosen springs and engage pto once a year make sure it does not freeze up and not let it slip if needed then re-tighten to factory specs.

The important part is not to let it seize up. If you have it under cover and do as above and loosen up the springs during the winter so that it will not seize up, you should have good service from the clutch. If you have a flat area with no obstacles to deal with (such as a baseball field), then the shear bolts work fine.

 

[ColoradoDan]

Thanks for the info guys. It looks like the slip clutch is probably the way to go. Does anyone have any experience with the Frontier cutters?

 

[Deadman]

I have a 2060 with a slip clutch and love it. I know the 2072's had issues with the frames bending......:ashamed:

 

[nikdfish]

Thanks for the info guys. It looks like the slip clutch is probably the way to go. Does anyone have any experience with the Frontier cutters?

I just got a RC2060 (only about 10 hours on it so far...). I know that series is considered "standard duty" - with 0"-1" considered the normal material size. So far mine has done just fine. I have cut thicker materials, but that has only been while inching along to keep the revs up. Mine came with the slip clutch & it has worked as designed. I know it's been working as I had put reference marks across the side of the plates just to see if it slipped during a cutting session & it has. So far, no dents, no hassles, other than having to remove & replace the PTO shaft when greasing the universals - the shaft shields cover the zerks.

Nick

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Dan, a slip clutch is almost always the best way to go when dealing with PTO driven implements.