Tiller Tiller, slip clutch or shear bolt?

[Newtogreen]

First this is a great site, although I do more lurking than posting. Anyway I purchased a used 50 inch Maschio tiller that had been sitting outside without cover for nine years that I know of. This is a 1995 model that I don't think was ever used. The slip clutch is awful rusty and after taking it apart I don't think it is salvageable. I also got a shear bolt connection that came with it. My question is should I replace the slip clutch or just use the shear bolt. I am using this with my John Deere 4115 cut. Thanks for any info.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I'd guess you should replace the slip clutch, but it depends on how much you like changing bolts. I don't, so I use a clutch. Course, bolts don't need regular maintenance, and the clutch does...

Sure you can't get new pads and springs and rebuild the slip clutch?

 

[suncoast]

A slip clutch is good to have. Use it with your shear bolt and see if and how often you might break it. If it is a regular issue then I would go to the slip clutch. If you don't have any problems stay with what you have.

 

[Newtogreen]

Thanks for the reply's, this is a friction clutch and the problem is the hub and the clutch housing are so rusted. I believe the clutch is a Walterscheid because that is what the driveline is. The friction disk look new but are full of rust also from being squeezed together with the combination of water. The belleville springs look ok.

 

[whistlepig]

First this is a great site, although I do more lurking than posting. Anyway I purchased a used 50 inch Maschio tiller that had been sitting outside without cover for nine years that I know of. This is a 1995 model that I don't think was ever used. The slip clutch is awful rusty and after taking it apart I don't think it is salvageable. I also got a shear bolt connection that came with it. My question is should I replace the slip clutch or just use the shear bolt. I am using this with my John Deere 4115 cut. Thanks for any info.

I have never owned a piece of equipment with a slip clutch. I have never had a problem with shear bolts so never saw the need for a slip clutch.

 

[Egon]

I'd prefer the slip clutch.

Make a stab at cleaning up your rusted one. Phosphoric acid may clean it up.

 

[dmccarty]

I have a slip clutch on my rotary cutter. Its not hard to maintain but its just one more thing I have to do. I THINK it has actually slipped once or twice when I hit a rock or stump. I always wonder if I should have just used sheer bolts.

If you can easily use the sheer bolts give it a try and see how many you break. If you break too many bolts and spend too much time fixing sheered bolts then its slip clutch time.

Later,
Dan

 

[radioman]

Well - without looking at it, I am not sure of how bad it really is. Have you tried loosing up the springs so tension is gone and then run it like that causing it to slip all the time? this oughta clean up the surfaces quick. I prefer a slip clutch in the tiller over shear. With shear, you never know if you are out there without spares and tools and you trying to get tilling done then what ? Slip clutch allows you to keep working and still protect tiller.

 

[Newtogreen]

Thanks again for the reply's. Because of the shape it was in I don't think the clutch would have slipped at all.I called Landpride because I saw where they used the same Waltershceid slip clutch to give me a price on a new one and the man said six hundred dollars, I couldn't believe that. Anyway my biggest concern is protecting my cut so my question I quess would be will a shear bolt protect the tractor enough? I don't mind changing bolts.

 

[pitt_md]

Thanks again for the reply's. Because of the shape it was in I don't think the clutch would have slipped at all.I called Landpride because I saw where they used the same Waltershceid slip clutch to give me a price on a new one and the man said six hundred dollars, I couldn't believe that. Anyway my biggest concern is protecting my cut so my question I quess would be will a shear bolt protect the tractor enough? I don't mind changing bolts.

you can buy a lot of shear bolts for $600!!
The shear bolts will be all you need for protection provided they are the correct bolts.