Cable or electric clutch for a small engine?

[4570Man]

Maybe cheaper, but growing up the Cub Cadet mower had a much superior and smoother transition use a pulley system then any electric clutch that slams in that I’ve seen since.
You could control how fast mower comes up to speed and how much engine rpms dip at the same time.
That Cub got replaced by a Honda that also used a pulley system that slams in as hard as an electric clutch.
It really depends on the set up and linkage.

I agree. It’s cheap in price but there’s nothing second rate about the way it works. My grandpas G4200 Kubota used that method and it’s all worked smooth and hasn’t caused any problems.

 

[ottawarob]

Like this eh?

 

[BHD]

by the time you get the manual clutch working IMO, use a electric clutch, watch on craigslist or ebay and if need buy a junk riding mower, with a blow engine there nearly a give away item,

I have built a number fo things and have "saved money" and spent a lot of time saving that money, and one of my creations, at times when disengaging it the belts will jump off the pulleys, and at times depending on the resistance, (powered wheel barrow) it releases but still wants to move, (this is a modified lawn tractor drive clutch), so I did not design the clutch system,

on my gas powered air compressor I did use a centrifugal clutch to help it start, and works well, (few engines one can not vary the throttle),

 

[CobyRupert]

by the time you get the manual clutch working IMO, use a electric clutch, watch on craigslist or ebay and if need buy a junk riding mower, with a blow engine there nearly a give away item,

I have built a number fo things and have "saved money" and spent a lot of time saving that money, and one of my creations, at times when disengaging it the belts will jump off the pulleys, and at times depending on the resistance, (powered wheel barrow) it releases but still wants to move, (this is a modified lawn tractor drive clutch), so I did not design the clutch system,

on my gas powered air compressor I did use a centrifugal clutch to help it start, and works well, (few engines one can not vary the throttle),

The way the Honda Harmony mower prevented the belt jumping off the driving pulley when disengaged was to have a couple brackets (i.e. guides, bent metal rods) that almost rub against the outside circumference of the driving pulley. They're maybe 1/4"'-1/2" away from the pulley, close enough you have to bend them to get the belt on, but enough free space that belt comes out of the "V" of the pulley when disengaged, but cant come off the pulley.
I can't find a good picture, but works well.