Tiller Tiller and Slip Clutch

[jim2210]

I needed to till a section of land for a deer food plot and garden. Before using my tiller I checked all the bolts, oil levels and loosened the slip clutch and turned it a few times before tightening it according to the manual. Everything was fine until I hit a rock. It stopped the tractor instantly (stalled). Removed the rock and everything was fine until ... round #2. Removed that rock and loosened the bolts on the slip clutch a little. Then #3. So here's my questions:

1. Do you think any damage occurred to my tractor and/or tiller? I know that hitting a rock and stalling the tractor isn't recommended, but everything works as smooth as if nothing happened.

2. How should the slip clutch be adjusted? I set it according to the manual, but I thought it should slip instead of stall out the tractor. Is it as easy as just loosening it more?

Thanks.

 

[jinjimbob]

On the clutch on my Landpride tiller, before I use it every time, I tighten it all the way in, run the tiller until it slips a little, loosen the clutch bolts until it catches and stops slipping.

Its a pain to this every time though, but I have no choice.

.... and still has almost stalled the tractor, if I wasn't quick enough with the tractor clutch. Maybe the slip clutch on mine is junk.

 

[Egon]

Is it as easy as just loosening it more?

Yes it is. Actually loosen it till it slips and then tighten the nuts a few flats at a time and reap till it just stops slipping. Feel the clutch for heat occasionally to ensure that it is not slipping.

 

[Harvest Moon]

That happened to me once. I checked the bolts on my brand new tillers slip clutch and they looked like they were set as loose as I'd want them. There was about 1/16" of thread left before the nuts were flush with the ends of the bolts.

Then I hit a steel pipe in concrete under the surface. No reason to expect it.

It was surreal, the way I was engulfed in 90 db of noise, rattling and banging, shaking at 2500 RPMs and then in an instant, dead silence. After a second it was like getting hit in the head with a brick, except I didn't see stars, all I saw was dollar signs. Fortunately, that was over 50 hours ago and everything seems to still work just as it always has. Not a hint it ever happened.

Before I tilled more, I backed the nuts off on the slip clutch as far as they go. Almost an 1/8" since I went all the way to the edge of the nylon insert in the nut, past flush. Then is slipped, too much. So, I turned them back to where the nuts are flush and it works great. I think it helps a lot to keep slip clutches dry and out of the weather when not in use.

 

[bjr]

I'm a believer in slip clutch's I hooked a root once and made big wood chips for a while. I need to buy one now. I checked at the local western wear/tractor parts/ feed store and the fellow said "well by the time I figure out what your talking about and find it in a catalog and then order it and with shipping and appropriate store markup you'd be better off goin' online and getting it yourself. So much for supporting the local vendors. I'll take his advice. bjr

 

[jim2210]

Harvest Moon: $$$ signs. That's exactly what went through my mind the split second the tractor stopped! I immediately started it back up, set the brake and looked at the PTO output shaft, which to my relief wasn't leaking hydraulic fluid. Like you, everything was smooth as glass afterwards. My stomach did sink a little bit though, before I realized I had to shut off the PTO to restart it!

Egon: That's exactally what I'm going to do. I did loosen it a little after the first time, and the tractor did seem to hesitate for a second prior to stalling for the second and third rock. I thought the clutch was working a little bit, but I didn't think the tractor should stall like that. I have maybe a 1/4" or so left on the bolts so there's room for adjustment. I was worried about it constantly slipping without noticing it and burning it out. Sounds like some experimenting is in order.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[Harvest Moon]

I think you'll smell it if it's burning out badly.

If you stop like 5 minutes out and then 15 or 20 out after an adjustment and check if it's hot, you'll know if it's burning. (for the safety police, shut the tractor off before checking) If it hasn't been slipping do to an obstruction it should stay cool, mine does. Then, like Egon said, just check it occasionally and it should be fine, especially if you don't leave it out in the rain.

And if you catch a rock and the PTO keeps spinning you'll know it's working. They don't seem to be too sophisticated, either they work or they don't.