Shredder clutch help needed

[Scott65]

Hi all, I just bought a shredder off of Craigslist. I have never owned or operated one that has a slip clutch, but I assume that's what this is. This thing is very used, no signs of a brand or model anywhere. Any idea where to locate some sort of diagram or parts for this clutch? It has a bolt loosely threaded through it to make it function. Is it acceptable to bypass this clutch? Can I just tighten the bolt or am I asking for problems? I bought a 4 foot shredder new with my kubota that has no clutch. But I realize with this being a 6 foot, much more rotating mass. I'm wondering if that's the purpose of the tractors overrunning pto clutch?

Thanks for any insight anyone has

 

[kebo]

two things here...

a) the bolt going through the clutch plates is not a good idea, although I suppose if it was a grade 2 bolt, it *could* act as a shear bolt. Still, that's not the best place for true shear bolt protection. I would spend the money and replace the slip clutch with a new one (if you can't find the necessary repair parts). It's there to help protect the PTO drive within the tractor. Maybe tractor supply company or a local tractor dealer near you can help with the right clutch.



b) the purpose of the overrunning clutch is totally different from the slip clutch. It will allow the PTO output shaft to "drive" the implement, but will not allow the implement to "drive" the tractor. This is a necessary safety addition on some tractors because of the transmission design of those tractors.

Without the overrunning clutch, it's possible that you could be bushhogging and get to a stopping point (the end of a row or a dead end of a logging road, etc) and you depress the clutch to stop, but the inertia or momentum from the rotating mass of the blades can actually transfer energy to the transmission and cause the tractor to keep moving forward. Like I said, it has to do with the transmission design and how the PTO is driven off of the transmission or the rear end.

Good luck!

 

[Scott65]

Great info, thanks! That makes sense.

I believe I was wrong about what this device is. I picked it up out of town. I took and posted that picture at the gas station leaving that town headed home. So I had owned it for about 2 minutes. A clutch was my first and only theory as to what that was. Now that I'm home with it, I've noticed that one bolt going through it is the only hole in that entire hub. So is that entire assembly there just to facilitate a shear pin? To have a clutch, doesn't it have to have several holes for the spring loaded bolts to pass through?

 

[kebo]

I think after that slip clutch wore out, someone probably drilled a hole through the two end plates and ran the bolt through all three plates (or however many it has). You don't normally use a shear bolt AND a slip clutch together, it's one or the other. That's an older design slip clutch, so not sure what all it should/should not have on it, but I suspect that it's probably missing a few parts pieces. They usually do have one or more springs to load the plates with pressure. I think the slip clutch on my bush hog has 6 spring loaded (adjustable) bolts that keep pressure on the plates.

 

[Scott65]

I think after that slip clutch wore out, someone probably drilled a hole through the two end plates and ran the bolt through all three plates (or however many it has). You don't normally use a shear bolt AND a slip clutch together, it's one or the other. That's an older design slip clutch, so not sure what all it should/should not have on it, but I suspect that it's probably missing a few parts pieces. They usually do have one or more springs to load the plates with pressure. I think the slip clutch on my bush hog has 6 spring loaded (adjustable) bolts that keep pressure on the plates.

I guess I'm thinking at this point that regardless of what this thing was supposed to have been, I might should just try to identify the splines of the gearbox and buy and entire replacement clutch? I see some online for around 70 bucks or so. And I assume that a clutch is better that a shear pin setup?

 

[countrybumpkin]

That is a slip clutch , fmc sidewinder cutters used those a lot. Looks like the discs went bad and someone place a bolt through it to "lock" it. The adjustment nut should be closes to the gear box on the rear of the clutch pack. Here is a parts break down pic that may help. When I bought my cutter someone had put a bolt throughout the drive plates to lock mine together because the clutch linings were shot. If you will remove the four bolts holding the unjoint yoke on there should be a retaining ring on the end of the gear box shaft that hops the clutch assembly on the shaft.

 

[Scott65]

That is a slip clutch , fmc sidewinder cutters used those a lot. Looks like the discs went bad and someone place a bolt through it to "lock" it. The adjustment nut should be closes to the gear box on the rear of the clutch pack. Here is a parts break down pic that may help. When I bought my cutter someone had put a bolt throughout the drive plates to lock mine together because the clutch linings were shot. If you will remove the four bolts holding the unjoint yoke on there should be a retaining ring on the end of the gear box shaft that hops the clutch assembly on the shaft.

Yep, thats the one. Looks just like it. Thanks, I would have never found that without you! I've been googling it quite a bit but all that I've seen is the ones with all the bolts around the perimeter. They all appear to require a different pto shaft. I hope to avoid that expense if I can. I have since found some images similar to the one you provided but they all reference specific brands. Since I don't know a brand, I don't know which pieces to order... The search results are still hit or miss. Is there some other generic term for these that you know of that sets them apart from the other type of clutches that I'm not seeing? I think I need to broaden my field to find somewhere that maybe has the clutches listed by diameter or something. I believe I'm at least going to need clutches and spring(s) to fix this

 

[countrybumpkin]

There is a name for that type clutch, but I can't think of it today , been about a year sense I got parts for mine. Google sidewinder 6x6 or 5x5 slip clutch you'll find several places that have discs. You can also call hercules service parts in Minden , la they two guys that Own it used to work for fmc sidewinder for years and can help you with the parts. If I can run across any other info I'll pass it along. John deere uses a similar design but the discs are different size.