Grooming mower with no shear pin or slip clutch protection?

[TN8Man]

I bought my tractor in a package deal that came with a Titan grooming mower and the PTO drive shaft. The PTO drive shaft has the button release spline on both ends. The grooming mower uses two belts, small one for gear box and large for the three blades.

Question: With belt drive do I still need a drive shaft with either a shear pin or slip clutch?

I hit something (probably a tree root) the last day I used it and noticed one blade not cutting. When I inspected the mower I found the spindle threads striped on the blade/spindle assembly that was not turning. I also found the blade bent and the PTO drive shaft bent. I replaced the spindle and blade and now looking for a drive shaft replacement.

Obviously I'm thinking I need a shear pin or slip clutch but I'm wondering if a belt driven mower does not require it. The manual talked about the drive shaft for safety and proper length but never mentioned I must use a slip clutch (the mower has a spline connection).

 

[2manyrocks]

I'm curious how bending a spindle on a belt driven mower transferred enough force to bend the PTO shaft? Unless the entire mower jumped so hard from hitting whatever it was that the mower jumping caused the PTO shaft to bend?

 

[TN8Man]

It surprised me too. Actually, I did not discover the bent drive shaft until after I replaced the spindle and blade and I was starting to use the mower for the first time.

 

[leonz]

How low are you mowing????

The spindle metal is too soft. The V belt should have sheared or become glazed upon impact.

If the Gearbox is not a COMER gearbox I would be very concerned about owning this mower.

You should go to tractor supply and purchase a Eurocardan PTO shaft with a slip clutch sized for
the tractor PTO horsepower you have. If they do not have one in stock they will order one for you and it
should be there within a week or less at your door or the pick up box in store

 

[TN8Man]

It's set for ~3".

The gearbox is not COMER.

 

[cbg8670]

I would think on grooming mower belts will slip before breaking something..hmmm

 

[old and tired]

Which Titan - this one? https://www.palletforks.com/tractor...finish-mowers-cat-1-3-point/FINISHMOWERS.html

The Other" Titan now goes by Iron Craft....

SGM Series Finish Mower

www.ironcraftusa.com

 

[TN8Man]

I would think on grooming mower belts will slip before breaking something..hmmm

Actually, a few years ago I ran over a stick that jammed the belt drive and the belt started smoking.

 

[TN8Man]

Which Titan - this one? https://www.palletforks.com/tractor...finish-mowers-cat-1-3-point/FINISHMOWERS.html

The Other" Titan now goes by Iron Craft....

This was a Titan Implement grooming mower and yes it's now under IronCraft.

It's the SGM7

I think its made in India

 

[old and tired]

How old is the unit? I'm impressed with the strength of your belt! Not impressed with the other failed parts...

 

[2manyrocks]

Was it the center spindle that bent?

 

[TN8Man]

How old is the unit? I'm impressed with the strength of your belt! Not impressed with the other failed parts...

I bought the Tractor package in 2019.

 

[TN8Man]

Was it the center spindle that bent?

It wasn't the spindle that bent, it was the blade and drive shaft. The spindle threads that holds the blade were stripped. It was not the center spindle, it was the left side.

 

[crashz]

My finish mower is belt drive as well. I always assumed that the belt would slip, providing protection to the gearbox and PTO.

 

[2manyrocks]

It wasn't the spindle that bent, it was the blade and drive shaft. The spindle threads that holds the blade were stripped. It was not the center spindle, it was the left side.

Hard to see how a belt drive could transmit enough force from the left side to bend the PTO shaft at the center. I'm still leaning towards the thought that the impact jolted the entire mower deck so hard that it caused the PTO shaft to bend?

 

[TN8Man]

This event happened at the end of the last season so it's been at least 5-6 months ago. What I remember is mowing and looking back and seeing no grass being cut under the one blade. Then I replace the blade and spindle over winter. When I tested out the mower recently I noticed the bent drive shaft immediately after I engaged the PTO and I shut it down quickly. Thinking more about this as I respond to questions here makes me think I should have noticed the bent drive shaft back when I noticed the grass was not being cut under one blade but I didn't. I wonder if the bent drive shaft happened after the initial event. I don't share the drive shaft with other implements so I don't know when the bent drive shaft event occurred but it is bent now.

 

[seville009]

Just a shot in the dark regarding the bent pto shaft, but did you move the mower around somehow using the loader since you last used it (maybe to store the mower somewhere over the winter)?

It would be easy to accidentally bend a pto shaft like that with a loader bucket without realizing it.

Not that I’ve ever done anything like that (cough cough)……….

 

[old and tired]

I would try and figure out what the heck you hit!!! Make sure it doesn't happen again....

I've bent my drive shaft and just replace the center pipe. Bought replacement at Agri-supply.

 

[2manyrocks]

That is really bent to the point I wonder if something else caused it.

Have you gone back to where you think all this happened to see if there is a stump?

 

[old and tired]

If the PTO bent while using it... it would have twisted it!!

That looks like mine when I jammed it into the ground backing up my tractor (mine was the outer one that bent like that).