Cable or electric clutch for a small engine?

[ottawarob]

I'm thinking about making my own little two wheel implement, using a gas engine. The engine I'm looking at is mechanically governed with no throttle, so I can't use a slip clutch. I'd like to add some electrical or mechanical clutch so I can start the engine, but my implement won't get drive until I pull a cable / hit a switch. I know this is a little off topic for this forum, but thought you fine folks might know if such a clutch exists, and if so where I could find it.

 

[LittleBill21]

u can get a pto clutch for a lawn mower which will do what you want, but they require 12v to engage and cost about 150 bucks just for the clutch.

 

[ArlyA]

If you give us more details as to what your implement will be doing, folks might give you better ideas...

 

[ottawarob]

u can get a pto clutch for a lawn mower which will do what you want, but they require 12v to engage and cost about 150 bucks just for the clutch.

Thanks Bill. Yeah, I was taking a look at them... Bit more of an expense than I was hoping for (would need an SLA battery as well) but it would work quite well.

 

[4570Man]

You can use a spring tensioner that you manually engage and not use a clutch.

 

[ottawarob]

You can use a spring tensioner that you manually engage and not use a clutch.

Oh interesting, so if you let the tension out, belt starts to slip, no power to implement? I think I follow, but am not totally sure.

 

[LittleBill21]

Oh interesting, so if you let the tension out, belt starts to slip, no power to implement? I think I follow, but am not totally sure.

its the way the cheaper lawn mowers do it, go to home depot and look at a unit with a bar to engage the mower. you will understand quickly how it works

 

[ottawarob]

its the way the cheaper lawn mowers do it, go to home depot and look at a unit with a bar to engage the mower. you will understand quickly how it works

Super interesting, I will thanks!

 

[flyerdan]

I've seen a two man auger with a clutch lever like a motorcycle; fit on a 3/4 shaft B&S mill. Probably a lot more expensive than a swinging pulley belt slip clutch like a riding mower uses.

 

[CobyRupert]

its the way the cheaper lawn mowers do it, go to home depot and look at a unit with a bar to engage the mower. you will understand quickly how it works

Maybe cheaper, but growing up the Cub Cadet mower had a much superior and smoother transition using a pulley system than any electric clutch that slams in that I’ve seen since.
You could control how fast mower comes up to speed and how much engine rpms dip at the same time.
That Cub got replaced by a Honda that also used a pulley system, but slams in as hard as an electric clutch.
It really depends on the set up and linkage.

 

[4570Man]

Maybe cheaper, but growing up the Cub Cadet mower had a much superior and smoother transition use a pulley system then any electric clutch that slams in that I’ve seen since.
You could control how fast mower comes up to speed and how much engine rpms dip at the same time.
That Cub got replaced by a Honda that also used a pulley system that slams in as hard as an electric clutch.
It really depends on the set up and linkage.

I agree. It’s cheap in price but there’s nothing second rate about the way it works. My grandpas G4200 Kubota used that method and it’s all worked smooth and hasn’t caused any problems.

 

[ottawarob]

Like this eh?

 

[BHD]

by the time you get the manual clutch working IMO, use a electric clutch, watch on craigslist or ebay and if need buy a junk riding mower, with a blow engine there nearly a give away item,

I have built a number fo things and have "saved money" and spent a lot of time saving that money, and one of my creations, at times when disengaging it the belts will jump off the pulleys, and at times depending on the resistance, (powered wheel barrow) it releases but still wants to move, (this is a modified lawn tractor drive clutch), so I did not design the clutch system,

on my gas powered air compressor I did use a centrifugal clutch to help it start, and works well, (few engines one can not vary the throttle),

 

[CobyRupert]

by the time you get the manual clutch working IMO, use a electric clutch, watch on craigslist or ebay and if need buy a junk riding mower, with a blow engine there nearly a give away item,

I have built a number fo things and have "saved money" and spent a lot of time saving that money, and one of my creations, at times when disengaging it the belts will jump off the pulleys, and at times depending on the resistance, (powered wheel barrow) it releases but still wants to move, (this is a modified lawn tractor drive clutch), so I did not design the clutch system,

on my gas powered air compressor I did use a centrifugal clutch to help it start, and works well, (few engines one can not vary the throttle),

The way the Honda Harmony mower prevented the belt jumping off the driving pulley when disengaged was to have a couple brackets (i.e. guides, bent metal rods) that almost rub against the outside circumference of the driving pulley. They're maybe 1/4"'-1/2" away from the pulley, close enough you have to bend them to get the belt on, but enough free space that belt comes out of the "V" of the pulley when disengaged, but cant come off the pulley.
I can't find a good picture, but works well.