White smoke coming from shredder...

[robininni]

I was out shredding today with my Land Pride RCR1872 rotary cutter and I looked back at one point and noticed thick white smoke poring out from where the PTO drive shaft connects up to the gear box. I stopped the PTO and the smoke subsided. I decided to see what would happen if I started it up again and so I did and it seemed to run fine and cut fine for the rest of my shredding time. Any idea what might have happened? Could it be the slipper clutch engaging from too heavy a cutting load? The gear box? I did feel the gear box afterward and it was not hot. Also, this shredder has is new and has only been used about 6 hours total. Thanks for your input.

Rob

 

[gauthier]

Well,would suspect slip clutch,what size stuff you cutting?

 

[robininni]

Well,would suspect slip clutch,what size stuff you cutting?

grass that's 1/2 foot to 1 foot, sunflowers (3 to 4 feet), random brush (1/8 inch to 1/4 inch stems), and I hit quite a bit of stones hiding in the pasture, some small, some large.

Would the clutch have malfunctioned somehow? It shouldn't smoke should it? Would that be clutch shoes rubbing or something?

 

[gauthier]

Probably just needs snugging up a half turn on all the nuts,,if its slipping,what I do on my tiller is in spring,loosen all those bolts/nut till you can turn it by hand,than I snug them up,than try it out,,don't take much between slipping and not slipping,hopefully you havn't burnt it up,that might be the big question,you can take them apart,I have never done that,but you do want them to slip at a certain point,,[always like shear bolts on my cutters],,slip clutch is a pain if you worry

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Would the clutch have malfunctioned somehow? It shouldn't smoke should it? Would that be clutch shoes rubbing or something?

If it's too loose it can slip and smoke.

If it's like most, there is a LARGE (2-3 inches across) nut on the back of the slip clutch to tighten it

 

[gauthier]

Mines got 10-12 little bolts / nuts,no large nut.

 

[Ford tractor]

It sounds like you may have been slipping the clutch due to a blockage or from the nuts being too loose. Is it a new cutter? It could have been set too loose by the dealer. It could also be set just a bit loose, and you may have had "stuff" wrapped around the output shaft of the cutter gear box making it hard to turn and the clutch slipping.

The clutch disc's are around $100 each (pretty sure there are 2). You may have used yours up or nearly so. I can pretty much feel when the clutch is getting a beating. There are different vibrations from the tractor and cutter also different sounds and smells. Even with the hearing muffs on, it's easy to hear the difference at least with mine.

 

[dex3361]

Post a pic of the clutch and we can advise a bit better. I would start by inspecting the clutch to see if there wear left. I think I saw replacement clutch discs for some clutches at TSC the last time I was there.

 

[Soundguy]

also.. make sure there is oil in the gearbox.. many are shipped dry.

soundguy

 

[Gordon Gould]

All advise above seems pretty good but I would think if the clutch was slipping enough to smoke you would smell it and would feel heat. It would be best to check it as avised above though.
Are you sure it wasn't steam from wet grass and stems getting cooked from being all wraped up in there ? That has happened to me.

 

[Jim Thompson]

It's possible that something jammed and either stopped or restricted the ability of the blades to turn and the slip clutch was working as it should. When you disengaged the PTO, the obstruction (sticks, heavy grass and rocks) dislodged and everything was ok when you reengaged. Still may need adjusting. Usually set them based on the amount of compression on each of the springs. Will check the book on my Rhino and let you know.

Jim

 

[robininni]

I tried it out some more today and the cutter is getting worse. I won't cut much before the clutch starts smoking. It started out okay but then did it two or three times within a 15 minute period of time. I guess I am going to get my manual out and try to take the driveline apart and inspect the clutch.

To whoever said something about steam from wet grass: It is definitely the clutch and you can smell the burning---really stinks.

So on slip clutches, they work by 'slipping' when the blades cannot turn as they should from vegetation tangling or whatever? Surely it isn't normal for the clutch to smoke when it slips as intended?

I would think mine has been working well as I have lots of hidden stones in my pasture that I hit and I thought the clutch slips for such things?

Maybe it is already worn out and so now somthing rubs that shouldn't so it smokes?

Thanks,

Rob

 

[robininni]

Okay! Think I found my answer right here in the manual. Under clutch assembly and disassembly, it says the if clutches have been slipped to the point of 'smoking' the friction discs may be damaged and should be replaced. Heat build up may also affect the yoke joints.

What are yoke joints?

 

[Soundguy]

u joints at the yoke ends probably.

soundguy

 

[gauthier]

So,you didn't tighten them up any? just kept going?,well,your clutch plates are probably toast by now,so,,,doubt if it ruined the u joints but,,who knows

 

[Jim Thompson]

I tried it out some more today and the cutter is getting worse. I won't cut much before the clutch starts smoking. It started out okay but then did it two or three times within a 15 minute period of time. I guess I am going to get my manual out and try to take the driveline apart and inspect the clutch.

To whoever said something about steam from wet grass: It is definitely the clutch and you can smell the burning---really stinks.

So on slip clutches, they work by 'slipping' when the blades cannot turn as they should from vegetation tangling or whatever? Surely it isn't normal for the clutch to smoke when it slips as intended?

I would think mine has been working well as I have lots of hidden stones in my pasture that I hit and I thought the clutch slips for such things?

Maybe it is already worn out and so now somthing rubs that shouldn't so it smokes?

Thanks,

Rob

It has been my experience that the clutches do not slip except in extreme situations, but, if they slip enough, they surely will smoke. My point was that it may not have malfunctioned, just slipped when your cutter was stopped or severely restricted. You still might be able to follow the clutch adjustment procedure in your manual and get a little more use, but. Of course, every time it smoked, it was eating clutch material, so will likely need to be changed soon.

I would also further check the cutter to insure that no obstruction remains underneath.

Jim

 

[E/S]

I had the same problem this spring, took the clutch apart and the disks crumbled. Replaced the disks, adj. like the manual said and no further problems.

E/S

 

[Soundguy]

hard to say.. but I hope he tried to tighten them before using again...

soundguy

So,you didn't tighten them up any? just kept going?,well,your clutch plates are probably toast by now,so,,,doubt if it ruined the u joints but,,who knows

 

[robininni]

hard to say.. but I hope he tried to tighten them before using again...

soundguy

No. I didn't tighten or do any adjusting before using it again after the first smoke incident. After the second smoking session, I took it apart. One friction disc is intact, the other was basically non-existent, just some particles left over. The metal pieces look okay except for a little metal grinding on one piece, but it is slight and I think it can be smoothed and be okay.

Like I have said in other posts, I hit lots of rocks (some quite large). My blades look pretty terrible on the cutting side (all dinged up with chunks missing here and there). I have a feeling that this has resulted in poor cutting performance which led to more drag and bogging which in turn led to a lot of clutch slipping which.... drum roll please..... led to burning up clutch slip discs.

Anyway, I will get me some new slip discs and put it back together. I will also use a flie on my blades and see how it turns out or just order some new ones. I don't know how 'bad' bad is because this is my first rotary cutter. Infact, this is my first anything ag. I just got this RCR1872 Land Pride cutter when I got my L5240HSDC tractor in early June 2010. I have a lot to learn I am sure.

Thanks for all your help and input.

Rob

 

[aczlan]

I will also use a flie on my blades and see how it turns out or just order some new ones.

Save yourself a few hours and use an angle grinder to clean up the edges.
When you sharpen the blades, leave a blunt edge (3/16" or so), the edge will last longer this way and any trees you hit will end up with shredded stumps rather than nice sharp stumps that will poke holes in your tires the next time around.

Aaron Z