Adjustment of slip clutch on a Bush Hog 286

[Esprings240]

I have a Bush Hog 286. I pull it with my New Holland TN70A. I am trying to make sure my slip clutch is correctly adjusted. I have a manual that I downloaded. I have followed the directions for trying to burn in the clutch. The first time I loosened the eight nuts until I could turn the springs with my fingers. When I engaged the PTO the blade still spins. So.... I took the clutch apart and shined up all friction components. I put everything back together and tried again. I did notice that when I was mounting the drive shaft to the gearbox the clutch moves. However.... when I engage the PTO the blades still move.

Question? Shouldn't the blades not move at all when the clutch is loose?

Question? It appears to me that the EG / Comer clutch also incorporates a shear pin . Am I correct?

 

[ptsg]

There is always drag in the clutch, so the blades will still move freely without any load. Once you start cutting, the blades will just stop.

 

[Texasmark]

On the shear pin: You need some method of attaching the slip clutch to the shaft. Bolt may/probably is for that purpose. Next, if the unit doesn't have the extra cost option of the slip clutch, that bolt hole and a Yoke (with no slip clutch) would constitute a place to put a shear bolt.

 

[1010]

I doubt there is a shear pin with clutches, what would be the point of that. The spring loaded bolts just need a torque wrench and tighten them to the correct tension. You can measure the springs also on some models. As the clutches wear the springs get longer. Don't fix what aint broke.

 

[AlbertC]

I doubt there is a shear pin with clutches, what would be the point of that. The spring loaded bolts just need a torque wrench and tighten them to the correct tension. You can measure the springs also on some models. As the clutches wear the springs get longer. Don't fix what aint broke.

I have that exact same bush hog and I too am confused about how to slip the clutch. I loosened the springs to where they were pretty loose and then engaged the PTO but after doing this I知 not sure if I burnt the clutch material or not. My concern was that I had it too loose and there was not enough friction to burn the clutch. I may have just moved the position of the clutch plates relative to each other but did not really burn the plates. It痴 all very confusing to me.

 

[CoyPatton]

With the clutch loosen, put it under a load to slip the clutches. Either increase your RPM’s or cut some heavy grass. Mark the clutches before engaging your PTO so you know it gas slipped.

 

[1010]

I have that exact same bush hog and I too am confused about how to slip the clutch. I loosened the springs to where they were pretty loose and then engaged the PTO but after doing this I知 not sure if I burnt the clutch material or not. My concern was that I had it too loose and there was not enough friction to burn the clutch. I may have just moved the position of the clutch plates relative to each other but did not really burn the plates. It痴 all very confusing to me.

It is possible the clutches are stuck together even rusted together. I promise you if you hit something just right they will slip/work if the correct tension is on the springs.

 

[Esprings240]

Thank you all for your input. I have really enjoyed rasslin with that drive shaft. I'm not a big boy.

 

[FTG-05]

On my 286, I loosened them up pretty much all the way, then ran it in grass. Didn't cut, tighten; didn't cut, tighten; rinse repeat until it just stopped slipping.

The instructions were useless.

 

[RickB]

There is so much difference in available torque that is applied to implement slip clutches that instructions are usually of little help. A 286 with a slip clutch has a splined gearbox input shaft, the bolt anchors the clutch to the gearbox, the splines prevent the clutch hub from rotating independently of the gearbox input shaft.

 

[CobyRupert]

With the clutch loosen, put it under a load to slip the clutches. Either increase your RPM’s or cut some heavy grass. Mark the clutches before engaging your PTO so you know it gas slipped.

Suddenly starting the PTO with a good amount of engine rpm will slip things, but I find most positive method is:
With engine off, turn on PTO, (unnecessary if PTO has a brake lock), reach under raised hog (backed-up by a safety jack), grab blade and pull.
If you turn the blade but PTO shaft doesn’t turn, clutch is slipping.

 

[CobyRupert]

It is possible the clutches are stuck together even rusted together. I promise you if you hit something just right they will slip/work if the correct tension is on the springs.

May be rusted. This is why he should loosen and slip them to break the rust before he hits something.

 

[Beeenvenue]

Grab a paint pen and mark a line across the clutch disks. Try to slip. When the line is no longer continuous across all clutch elements it is because they have slipped. Retorque and go cut.

 

[CoyPatton]

Suddenly starting the PTO with a good amount of engine rpm will slip things, but I find most positive method is:
With engine off, turn on PTO, (unnecessary if PTO has a brake lock), reach under raised hog (backed-up by a safety jack), grab blade and pull.
If you turn the blade but PTO shaft doesn’t turn, clutch is slipping.

Who said anything about suddenly starting the PTO with engine RPM’s up besides you?
While at an idle, the loose clutch may nit slip, it likely will as you increase RPM’s. And while your description of turning the blade is correct, it does provide the removal of any glazing on the components or other items such ad rust build up—the entire reason for the proper maintenance of a slip clutch so it will function as designed