PTO Clutch

[helpfulbook]

Hi, I am thinking about adding a PTO clutch to my PTO that I am using on my wood chipper.
I am wondering if it is advisable? What are the pro's and cons?
And is it really and added insurance measure that can protect both tractor and Chipper?

Thank you for your advise!

 

[kthompson]

If there is possibility of the cutter jamming would suggest it if you don't have shear pin on it already. If you do be sure you check the over all length of shaft with clutch for your tractor. But you must service the clutch for you don't want it set too tight or rusted in place.

 

[Fallon]

If you have a sheer pin & it's properly rated & not steering much if at all, a clutch won't buy you anything. You need to clean & adjust the clutch annually. Probably takes upwards to half an hour or so. If you neglect this, it will rust solid & not protect your gear. If you neglect a sheer pin it functions just fine.

I was upset when I went to do the first annual maintenance on the clutch on my rotary cutter. Found a sheer pin instead of the clutch the dealer said it had. Thinking about it... I hadn't had to replace the pin under my normal usage & now didn't have to do annual maintenance on it. Still upset at the dealer a bit, but not at the pin. We'll see if that additude (and sheer pin) holds when I go after this upcoming field with some yucca & brushy stuff. If I'm breaking a lot of pins I might think about getting a clutch.

 

[helpfulbook]

Thanks for the advise guys! I think at this point I will stay away from the clutch.
Fallon, good luck with your sheer pins. I hope the dealer made an honest mistake by telling you it had a clutch...

 

[Fallon]

Mowed a couple hundred yucca last night, most of em sounded like a small grenade going off under the cutter & bogged things down a fair bit. No damage or popped sheer pins though.