Tiller Burned out my slip clutch on my KK II Tiller

EagleEye · May 25, 2004

It happened two weeks ago. The guys at KK were really nice about sending me the new plates (about $20/set - I ordered 2 sets /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif). They came w/i a week.

The lesson I relearned (was tilling properly a couple days before) was that when you till hardpan, keep the depth shallow and put the transmission in a very low gear. I made the mistake of agreeing to do a favor for a friend but then deciding to rush it. Needless to say, I paid for it.

There is good news though. Who knows what the damage to my gears would have been w/o the slip clutch. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif ....there's almost always a silver lining!

KiotiJohn · May 26, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( There is good news though. Who knows what the damage to my gears would have been w/o the slip clutch. ....there's almost always a silver lining! )</font>
Reading your post I wonder if the clutch was actually adjusted to it's best setting? I'm surprised that it would burn out so quickly, your speed notwithstanding. You may want to check that out when you put in the new plates.
Nevertheless, I'm happy for you that you had no other damage. John

em14 · May 26, 2004

Doesn't your slip clutch have adjustments? It must be adjusted or they will burn out. Or if they don't burn out because they are aren't adjusted so they may slip when needed, you will tear something up. Check your manual and see how they reccomend adjusting. Normally, you must clean the rust off the disk surfaces the first time out for the "season" or if if has been sitting for a long time. You can do this by loosening the adjustments a litte then rotate the shaft, under power from the tractor, while attached to the tiller, a few rpm which will cause surfaces to rub cleaning them selves, Now you can adjust the clutch so that it only slips when the tiller hits something and not slip at all when in normal use.
Leo

JJT · May 26, 2004

I've smoked the disc a couple of times when a large stone got jammed in the tines, but have not needed to replace the clutch. I back mine off and re-adjust every spring.

Ozarker · May 26, 2004

Following this thread I am guessing that a slip clutch is different from an over-riding clutch. Is a slip clutch built in to some implements or is it a separate unit? Seems I should get one before I start using this tiller I recently bought.

MarkV · May 27, 2004

Ozarker, you are correct a slip clutch is different than an overriding clutch. A slip clutch attaches to the gearbox end of a PTO shaft. It is not built into the implement itself and can be added to any PTO driven piece of equipment. It has a series of clutch disk that are adjusted by spring tension to slip if your tiller were to hit an immovable object. If you tiller does not have a slip clutch it would have a shear bolt designed to break if your tiller hit that immovable object. You can buy and add a slip clutch to an implement for about $100.

Also note that slip clutches require some maintenance. The clutch disks tend to rust when left unused for a while which locks them so they will not slip. You need to loosen the springs to let the clutch disks slip and clean off the rust. You then retention the springs for the desired amount of resistance so the clutch will slip before the gearbox is damaged. Normally this only needs to be done once a year.

Whether you should add one all depends on your situation. You have a shear bolt so your tiller is protected. If most of your tilling will be clean ground you are most likely fine. If you are tilling where there are lots of rocks and big roots it may be worth adding one to save the aggravation of changing shear bolts.

MarkV

Libertine · May 27, 2004

EagleEye:

Question? How do you like your KK II? These are about the lowest priced tillers with gear drive (as opposed to chain). Do you get the feeling the gears/gearbox is well made, properly hardened, etc.?

JEH

Ozarker · May 27, 2004

Rocks???? I'm in the Ozarks. I have to kick the rocks out of the way to find dirt. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

MarkV · May 28, 2004

Ozarks = Rocks = $100 slip clutch as a good investment. Duh! I have brain farts at times. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

MarkV

smilingreen · May 30, 2004

I have a KK II 5' tiller and have been using it in all types of soil in our landscaping business for about 3 years. Very well built tiller. The only thing I can think of is if you buy one, make sure all of the bolts on the tine attachment to the collar have been torqued good and tight. I lost about 3 of them in the first 2 weeks I used my tiller. Other than that, the thing is built like a tank!!