Slip Clutch maintenance.

[BufordBoone]

I'm about to "burn in" the slip clutch on a bush hog that I doubt has ever been done.

If it won't slip, what should I do next?

Not tried it yet but don't want to come in to type with dirty hands. Would kinda like to get ahead of this if possible.

Thanks, in advance.

 

[topbuilder]

Go run over a fire ant hill. Tell me it won't slip...

 

[DLTTrekkers]

Hopefully it was adj correctly.. messeure springlenth and nota it . Then strip the slipclutchassy and remove all rust an loosen all discs . Reassy all and readjust to ariginal springlenth

 

[nybirdman]

Getting a slip clutch on a BH to slip is a pain.I do mine every year;loosen the bolts and find a stout bush or small tree and force the slip;then retighten to spec.Roto-tiller is much easier.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

So, did it slip?

 

[JRobyn]

I loosen up my springs, then rev up to about 1500 and engage the PTO. The sudden shock of engagement vs the inertia of the blades easily breaks it loose. But then I'm pretty sure that the friction disc in my slip clutch is worn down to nothing. So YMMV.

 

[BufordBoone]

I got tied up with other things and didn't get the chance to try it. I want to have a couple of hours available...just in case.

Nothing worse than starting something like that and running out of time.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[4570Man]

I would temporary replace the shear bolt with a grade 8. Engage the PTO at PTO RPM and drop the clutch. If that doesn't break it loose then it's time for plan b.

 

[C4Ranch]

On my Landpride, I turn each bolt 2 revolutions and can easily slip it just by engaging the pto at low rpm for a few seconds. First, use a pencil and draw a line down each clutch disk to make sure they all rotate. If not off the line remove and free up, then reassemble based on specs measuring bolt length.

 

[BufordBoone]

The Landpride is easy. The bush hog is very old (93 model?).

All the recommendations are appreciated.

To 4570 man: I don't think it has a shear bolt, but will look, again. You mentioned "Plan B" That was really my main question in this thread, What is "Plan B".

What do I do if loosening the bolts doesn't let it slip? The manual simply says to "Contact your Bush Hog Dealer".

Thanks, all.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

For me, Plan B would be to take the mower while the bolts are loosened and the springs are decompressed and run the mower over a fire ant mound or something that you know should make it slip.

What you may find is that one of the disks will slip, but the other one won't. In that case, you will probably have to disassemble the slip clutch. And if I was going to do that, I'd just replace both disks while I had it disassembled.

 

[BufordBoone]

That is what I'll do, probably this weekend. Thank you, sir.

 

[4570Man]

Back it in a pond if you have one. That will supply all the load your poor tractor can handle. You are right. It won't have a shear pin. That's what the slip clutch is for.

 

[SPYDERLK]

For me, Plan B would be to take the mower while the bolts are loosened and the springs are decompressed and run the mower over a fire ant mound or something that you know should make it slip.

What you may find is that one of the disks will slip, but the other one won't. In that case, you will probably have to disassemble the slip clutch. And if I was going to do that, I'd just replace both disks while I had it disassembled.

If it slips at all, all disks will slip. Their friction effect is additive and the motion of the friction disks is not independent from one another.