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.