Do I need a slip clutch?

[Brambleberry]

Someone told me I should get a slip clutch to prevent damage to my tractor's transmission if my pto powered implement would bind up on something. I have mostly old, very used implements and an old, very used MF TO-35 tractor. But it still runs really well considering! I've seen slip clutches you can just slide onto a six-spline pto like my tractor has, the question I have is do I need one? Or should most implements, even old ones, have a shear pin to break before the tractor's transmission would be damaged?

 

[greg_g]

Hard to say without knowing what kind of work you do with what kind of implements. Generally speaking, I've personally only seen slip clutches on six foot and larger rotary cutters - and tillers. I suppose you could fit one on a PHD, but I've never seen it done myself. That said - if you do light rotary cutter work and/or till or install posts in sandy or loamy soil - shear pin protection should be sufficient.

Not all 35s had two stage clutches however. If yours doesn't, you should probably consider buying an ORC (over-running clutch) for mowing.

//greg//

 

[flusher]

Someone told me I should get a slip clutch to prevent damage to my tractor's transmission if my pto powered implement would bind up on something. I have mostly old, very used implements and an old, very used MF TO-35 tractor. But it still runs really well considering! I've seen slip clutches you can just slide onto a six-spline pto like my tractor has, the question I have is do I need one? Or should most implements, even old ones, have a shear pin to break before the tractor's transmission would be damaged?

Depends on the implement.

My 6-ft Hawkline brush hog came with a slip clutch.

My MF-124 baler came with shear bolts, a slip clutch and a sprag clutch (a type of over running clutch), all on implement end of the drive shaft.

I added a slip clutch to my 4-ft Yanmar RS-1200 rototiller because I couldn't find a shear bolt anywhere on that thing. Better safe than sorry.

My MF41 7-ft sicklebar mower, my 7-ft Allis Chalmers pull-type sicklebar mower, and my JD 350 side delivery hay rake all run off the tractor's pto shaft and all have a V-belt drive. So I figure a slip clutch isn't needed since the V-belt will slip or break if a jam occurs.

 

[MikeD74T]

I've seen slip clutches you can just slide onto a six-spline pto like my tractor has, the question I have is do I need one? Or should most implements, even old ones, have a shear pin to break before the tractor's transmission would be damaged?

A slip clutch is adjustable whereas a shear pin requires significant force to break. With the clutch you choose how much force is transferred to your drive train. Also changing broken shear pins is a PITA. No piece of your drivetrain is cheaper than a slip clutch. MikeD74T

 

[Soundguy]

Many mowers have shear bolts.. but a slip clutch is a great upgrade!

soundguy

Someone told me I should get a slip clutch to prevent damage to my tractor's transmission if my pto powered implement would bind up on something. I have mostly old, very used implements and an old, very used MF TO-35 tractor. But it still runs really well considering! I've seen slip clutches you can just slide onto a six-spline pto like my tractor has, the question I have is do I need one? Or should most implements, even old ones, have a shear pin to break before the tractor's transmission would be damaged?

 

[spruce Deere]

I will second soundguy on a great upgrade. I much prefer slip clutch vs. shear bolts, pins for tilling, hoggn' almost anything

 

[Highbeam]

My 5 foot rotary mower has a slip clutch on the implement end of course and the slip clutch is labeled "implement end only" and I love it. I would not want to be fiddling with shear pins while in the middle of a mowing project. I have had implements with shear pins and it's not as though they break off clean, they kind of bend and half way break meaning I need to drive the remaining pin out of the hole and then try to realign the holes for the new shear pin and then use tools blah blah blah. You don't even know it happened with a slip clutch.

I would not be worried about the drivetrain of a tractor if the implement had proper shear pin protection. It is entirely a benefit to the operator in terms of time, money, and convenience.

 

[GasNSteering]

Is an overrunning clutch the same thing as a slip clutch?

 

[kebo]

Is an overrunning clutch the same thing as a slip clutch?

Nope, they serve two different purposes. The overrunning clutch allows the PTO output shaft to drive an implement, but it does not allow an implement to "drive" the PTO output shaft. When/if that happens the PTO output shaft can actually start driving the rear end due to the way some transmission/rear end/PTO are designed.

If that happens with certain tractors, it can cause the tractor to move forward when you actually want it to stop, thus creating a possibly dangerous situation. Whenever you hear an overrunning clutch make a ratcheting noise, it's allowing the implements PTO shaft spin faster than the PTO without affecting the tractor.

A slip clutch basically takes the place of a shearbolt. It allows the implement to "slip" its rotational speed relative to a PTO output shaft spinning at 540 RPM.This allows for variations in speed such as when a blade hits a stump and it tries to slow down REAL quick, thus helping to protect the pto driveline and transmission.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

You can buy a slipclutch down here where I am at for less than $100.00 as far as I am concerned it is well worth that for not having to deal with shear bolts, just remember every year when you get your mower out for the first mowing loosen those springs on that slipclutch and bump the PTO in gear and make sure it slips and is not froze up. Good luck.