Possible to use a slip clutch on the tractor side of a PTO shaft?

[bill333]

I have a rotary mower with a 'stuck slip clutch' -- stuck not only in frozen, but I can't get it off the mower (some of you may have seen my post in 'Is this safe?'). I've bought a replacement slip clutch, but because I can't remove the old one, I can't put the new one on. (I've even tried using a large gear puller; it doesn't budge. I'm wondering if perhaps the splines have rusted, shrunken, and then the rotary force has basically forced them over one another)

The tag on my new slip clutch says to only use it on the implement side of the PTO shaft. Can someone explain the logic of this to me? Is it dangerous or won't it work if I put it on the tractor side?

I'm at a loss; I may have to buy a new mower. Serves me right for buying something used without knowing exactly how it worked, but this mower had been in use here on my property for years so I assumed it was okay.

 

[bullsram]

Bill
There is no way that Im aware of to put a slip clutch on the tractor side pto shaft it needs to be on the mower side. That is the way they are desined to work plus when you pick up the mower there is a hard angle on the pto shaft so I doubt a slip clutch would work anyway. Just my 2 cents worth.
Later... Bullsram

 

[zzvyb6]

You should not use the slip clutch 'within' the PTO shaft because if it slips, the Cardan joint angles won't deliver constant velocity to the implement and you make break the shaft, pieces may fly out and may hit you or others. That's how a double Cardan is supposed to be rigged. You can however put it on the tractor PTO spline if the implement is not hinged or pinned off the drawbar. That's because the drawbar pinning also causes a conflict with the equal angle aspects of a double Cardan mechanism. It would vibrate at twice the pto rpm frequency. I believe the phrase "decapitation is the principle mode of failure" would apply when this happens. You might find that a slipper clutch doesn't fit there because there is usually a guard shield in the way, but try it.

Why can't you burn out sections of the bad clutch until it releases? Just slitting the quill ought to change its mind.

 

[geneP]

This one reads like it is designed to go on the tractor PTO shaft

New Tractor PTO Slip Clutch Slasher Kubota Deere Ford - eBay (item 190328810627 end time Sep-14-09 23:10:24 PDT)

 

[greg_g]

Just my 2 cents, but that eBay slip clutch is way overpriced for such a light duty (Chinese) unit. I say this because you can get a new 20-60hp rated Eurocardan (Italian) for $83. Besides, I don't think it's truly intended to be mounted on the tractor's PTO spline. A six inch diameter lump of spinning springs at your back is just an accident waiting to happen. Don't think it would fit inside either of my tractor PTO shields anyway. More likely it mounts on a splined input shaft (safer too).

Note that at the same time he's calling it a slip clutch, he also claims it "overruns". Either it's a slip clutch, or an ORC - it's hardly both. I'm inclined to believe the seller doesn't know his product.

//greg//

 

[bill333]

that slip clutch is actually cheaper than the one I bought at TSC for $135 -- and it has a quick type button too...

but I think I've solved the problem. I finally managed to get the old slip clutch off, so I'm now going to try seeing if my (expensive) slip clutch plus new PTO shaft will fit...

 

[dex3361]

How did it come off?

 

[bill333]

I put a large gear puller on it, and keep turning it. At one point the puller actually starting biting into the shaft itself, I had so much pressure on it. I had been hitting it on and off with a sledge and soaking it with rustbuster and wd40. finally I left the gear puller on, got a baby sledge, and banged the heck out of it. It finally budged about 1/8 inch. I tightened down the gear puller, hit it again, and kept repeating the process.

I've already spent way more $$ and time on this than it would have taken to buy a new mower! Hope that new stuff fits...

 

[greg_g]

that slip clutch is actually cheaper than the one I bought at TSC for $135 -- .

Yeah, but you bought a clutch-equipped shaft right? That eBay item was clutch only - no shaft

//greg//

 

[bill333]

Yeah, but you bought a clutch-equipped shaft right? That eBay item was clutch only - no shaft

//greg//

no, that is the clutch only. the shaft was another $199.
so basically between the shaft, the slip clutch, and the gear puller (not to mention my time and 4 one hour trips to TSC) I've spent more than I did on the mower...