Did I break something on my rototiller?

[Buster57]

I was putting in some raised beds and ‘tilling up my hot pepper plot when I hit a root of some type. It stopped the rototiller and smoke came up from around the gear box. I have a First Choice RT10-66 roto tiller with a clutch.

I disengaged the driveline and stopped the tractor for a few minuets while I dug out the root. Not knowing any better, I continued. The rototiller did a perfect job, but it still smells like I burnt something. It is not leaking any fluid.

Is there any way to tell if I did some kind of damage? This is obviously not First Choice problem-I am the bonehead that hit the root. Other than the smell, the unit works great.

There are now a whopping 3 hours on my rototiller.

All thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[JJT]

If you have a slip clutch on your PTO shaft, that smell was the clutch doing its job - slipping, no harm, no foul. If you don't have a slip clutch - ????

 

[gator]

I agree with JJT. One way to find out for sure, take your slip clutch off, and away from the tiller and smell it. If the smell is with it than its just like he said.

 

[HayDR]

I'd say you are ok since you finished the job without any problems but it just depends how long the clutch was slipping and how hot the clutch plates got. It is possible to crystallize the clutch disc and if so you clutch disc will need to be replaced. Usually the rule of thumb is if the paint looks burnt or discolored due to heat the clutch disc need to be replaced provided this was the first time and the paint was not already discolored.

 

[Buster57]

I do not see any discoloration around the slip-clutch.

It was real hot for about 10-15 seconds max. I understand this may be a long time for mechanical equipment.

The garage smells like a burnt clutch, (or one of my gourmet dinners), however, I think I just burnt out about 25% of the life of the clutch. Hopefully everything else should be fine.

Thank you everyone!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I did this once to the clutch in a Dodge Daytona 4 cyl/Turbo. Was attempting to light the tires and lit the clutch instead. Smelled terrible for about 3 days, after that good as new.

The smell will dissipate. If it were me I might park the tiller outside for a few days under a tarp until the smell goes away.

Nothing smells worse than brunt clutch linings.