Mowing Overrunning clutch for Finish Mower

[Trev]

I can think of two reasons for the OR clutch, and one against.

-It makes hook up much easier. It's hard to rotate the mower so that it lines up with the splines on the PTO shaft from the tractor. With the OR clutch, it's a snap.

-When I disengage my PTO, the mower stops.. dead! This has to be rough on something... no? With the OR clutch, it just coasts to a gentle stop. Seems easier on the equipment.

-On the other hand, there may be an emergency situation someday when you WANT the mower to stop IMMEDIATELY. With the OR clutch that won't happen. It will coast to a stop at its own leisurely rate.

I leave my OR clutch hooked to my finish mower (72" JD) because of the above easier components, and hope I never need to stop it instantly. The other implements are easy to hook up without the clutch, and it saves me having to cut down the PTO shafts for each of them.. as the OR clutch adds a bit of length to the PTO shaft. It works fine with the mower, but would need cutting down of the shafts on the other implements. Not a huge job.. just not needed in my case.

Hope this made some sense! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob

 

[Soundguy]

Each unit actually functions as its name implies. The ORC allows the driven implement to freewheel when its speed is greater than the pto speed.. this keeps inertial energy from being transmitted up the pto shaft to the final drives and pushing the tractor on the old single stage clutch setups.

The slip clutch allows for you to set a tension, and anything that overcomes that pre-set tension causes the clutch to slip. Slipping may or may not protect shear pins from being shorn.. but does provide for an engineered in 'weak point' in the driveline.

For instance, a tiller doesn't build the rotary momentum that a mower has.. therefore a ORC doesn't do you much good.. however the first time you hit a root, and the clutch slips, you'll be glad.

Soundguy

 

[tonyw]

Aha! So, that's why my tiller has a slip clutch! Thanks, Soundguy, for explaining this!

tony

 

[Inspector507]

TonyW,
That ORC you mentioned at Agri-Supply, is the easy on, easy off style. Works like a charm /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[tonyw]

Inspector507,
Thank you! Looks like I'll be placing my order today! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[fivestring]

There should be grease fittings so be sure it's lubed up. I was told to also keep a little grease on the splines.

 

[tonyw]

thanks, Gary! I actually ordered 2 tubes of the fancy Castrol Agri Pyroplex Green grease when I placed my over-running clutch order /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[pruntyc]

I don't grease my splines, I spray them with Super Lube, from Lowes. It lubes and it is dry, so it don't get so much dirt on the PTO, when you are doing other things. I think that works better, at least it does for me.

 

[tonyw]

I actually cleaned the globs of grease and grit from my PTO shaft recently; I use super lube on it now, so maybe I'll do the same for my ORC. I can still use my fancy grease for other areas that need lubrication!
Thanks!

 

[shady1701]

I got 2 free tubes it that castrol works realy well if it was localy available i'd use it.. neat color too.. realy works well in water contaimanation.