Rotary Cutter, No Shear Protection.....

[haybaler9]

just put the slip clutch on and adjust it properly and don't worry about it anymore. 99 bucks is a lot cheaper than anything else that WILL brake the first time you use it

 

[JerryG]

So if I can get a new 40hp gearbox with a smooth input shaft with shear pin protection for $140. Should I just wait until my current gearbox without shearpin protection goes kaput? A slip clutch is $100 and not really "guaranteed " to work.
Is there a chance that my tractor will be damaged before the bush hog gearbox? This is what I am most concerned about.

BTW: my tractor is an '01 Kubota L3010 HST

Lidge

If your gearbox goes kaput so may parts inside your tractor and or your PTO shaft. Those are the parts that the slip clutch protects. Without a shear bolt or a slip clutch all of the shock that is produced when the blades hit a solid object is transfered to the PTO shaft and to the inside of the tractor. I have seen twisted PTO shafts and broken transmission gears when no shear pin or slip clutch has been used.
As was said above, the two types of clutches don't do the same thing. An over running clutch is like a one way ratchet. When you push in the clutch and put on the breaks, the mower blades can keep spinning until they slow to a stop while the ORC ratchets and lets the tractors PTO shaft, transmission gears and the tractor its self come to a stop.

 

[Stef]

A slip clutch would give that type of protection, as it can slip under excess load. The problem is that they tend to rust up and not slip when you need them to!

Good point! Let's say you equip a slip clutch on your rotary cutter, rain and wet conditions will allow a progressive buildup of rust between the plates. The problem is if you do no maintenance at all. The clutch tends to jam over time and you won't know it until you hit something hard and you break something valuable on the cutter or the tractor. So, a slip clutch is great but you have to do a minimum of maintenance to keep it protecting the tractor. Go for it, it's a good solution. You shouldn't wait for something to break... it could be the wrong one!

Don't touch to an over running clutch. It won't protect your tractor.

 

[Lidger]

Ok,

I will pick up a slip clutch. Which end do I put it on? The tractor side or the cutter/gearbox side?

 

[RobJ]

HEre is a shot of my TSC brand BH. Smooth shaft and a shearbolt.

Rob

 

[schrand]

Another option would be a clutch like the one I have on my tiller. I don't recall what it's called, but it works with a series of spring loaded ball bearings that ride in grooves. If the torque gets to great, the balls compress their springs, and snap into the next groove. No adjustments (other than new springs), and nothing to 'freeze up' like on a conventional pressure plate and disk style clutch. Mine came from CCM with my tiller, and I'm sure that Mark (CCM) would be able to help you out.

 

[N80]

Ok,

I will pick up a slip clutch. Which end do I put it on? The tractor side or the cutter/gearbox side?

Gearbox side.

 

[Lidger]

Thanks so much everybody for all of your help. I have a slip clutch on order from Agri-Supply ($40 cheaper than TSC). I will let you all know how everything works out!

Thanks again for your help!!!

Lidge

 

[Lidger]

Ok,

So my slip clutch arrived today.
I am still confused!!! It looks as though It should be installind it on the tractor side.
The spindle on the slip clutch looks idectical to that of my tractor. (indented about 1/3 on the splines for the yolk).
The place where I slide the spindle into the slip clutch has two nut's and bolt's that I tighten around a spline to hold it in place.
Has anybody ever seen a slip clutch installed on the tractor?
I will have to change the yolk on my pto shaft to accomodatevthe slip clutch. (so both ends of the PTO shaft have the release bearings on the yolk.)
Is this normal? Am I making any sense?
If anybody canhelp me out I guess I will go to TSC tommorow and pick up a new yolk.

Again....thanks so much for all of your help!!

Lidge

 

[Lidger]

Again after more research on this site I realize I have a stump jumper on my output shaft where my blades attach. Does this make a difference? Is a slip clutch still absolutly nessisary?
I apologize for all of the rediculous questions. This is my first tractor.