Mowing MX6 JD Slip Clutch Still Slipping

[bodin1968]

MX6 JD cutter about 5 yrs. old. .. got it from my dad. when i received it the slip clutch gap was about 3/8 in. [manual says it sh be 4mm].. mower blades were apparently slipping with the clutch and not cutting even in thick grass during testing... I marked the slip clutch hub and belleville spring. the two marks moved after engaging the PTO etc. telling me the clutch plate was at least and apparently not locked up..

I tightened down the six bolts or slip clutch spacing to 4mm (about 1/8) as per the JD manual. mower is cutting great now BUT the clutch plate is still slipping as the two marks i placed on the slip clutch hub and belleville spring are still moving when i cut? any suggestions appreciated!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Tighten down the bolts evenly, until it quits slipping!

SR

 

[jd110]

I am sure to get some different opinions, but those clutches should slip a little during normal operation. If you are only cutting very light, short material, maybe not so much. But if you are mowing heavy, thick material and possibly scalp the ground occasionally(ground hog holes), that clutch better be slipping slightly to protect the driveline. The problem with clutch not slipping at all unless you hit that huge rock or stump, The clutch will end up seizing with rust and it won't protect you driveline at all. A good way to see if clutch is working properly is to check for heat in the clutch after mowing. If clutch is extremely hot, it is slipping too much. You want it to be a little warmer than other driveline parts to prove it is slipping some. Even if you have to replace the disks in the clutch every couple of years, it is much cheaper than replacing broken driveshafts and gearboxes. It is also important to purposely loosen the slip clutches at the beginning of each mowing season and engage the pto a few times to purposely slip it to make sure it hasn't seized due to rust in the off season. after it slips a little, tighten it back up for normal operation.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I absolutely do NOT want my clutch to "slip a little"!! I want it to slip only when my rotary cutter has hit something or has pulled my tractor RPM's down to near stall.....period!

I've never have had rust build up in one season to freeze the clutch up and I've been running rotary cutters for MANY years...

SR

 

[beenthere]

I too expect the clutch to slip a bit on startup, as well as slip if hitting an object or going too fast in heavy cutting.
For sure before "near stall" but then my tractor is a compact utility which is on the small side.
I've been loosening the clutch on my TurboSaw because it can stop the tractor sometimes. Don't want to keep having that happen.

A good topic here to avoid broken parts in the PTO drive. IMO

 

[brown40]

I've never replaced any, but the friction discs are a wear item/replaceable if you don't have enough threads to mate the surfaces well.
As much as you describe the slippage a full disassembly might help determine if your discs and their mates can/do/will make smooth even contact.
Slippage should happen suddenly when you hit your adjusted setting, and not at all during normal use.
Every turn it makes on the slip is polishing and removing either disc or plate material, so you may have strange etching/scoring and contact/lack of between the discs (if still all there) and/or plates. Be sure to note the orientation of every part for reassembly or the unit may not work.

 

[Tx Jim]

The clutch lining spec's are shown below if tightening the nuts won't stop the clutch slippage.

 

[bodin1968]

texas: is this parts to change the sc plates?

 

[LD1]

If it's cutting fine and only moving slightly, there is nothing wrong with that. Mine probably moves a bump if cutting over a big sapling, scalping a little, loading up and bogging with thick grass, and startup.

IMO you are overthinking this. If it's cutting fine, fun it for 15 min or so then go feel the clutch (carefully). If it's cooking hot....then yea it's slipping too Mich. But if it's as cool as everything else around....it's fine and I would expect the marks to not stay aligned for reasons mentioned

 

[Tx Jim]

texas: is this parts to change the sc plates?

Yes part number & spec's are for slip clutch lining
Jim