Rotary Cutter PTO Slip clutch on Rotary Mower- How often to check?

[CobyRupert]

Each summer season before using rotary mower, after sitting out through the winter, , I always loosen the slip clutch bolts on the mower and verify that it not rusted together.

Question: Do I only need to do this once a year? How often should one make sure the slip clutch hasn't rusted, or otherwise fused itself together? Would you be worried if it sat around for 1 month? 2 months? 3 months without being used? Maybe location is factor (dry desert vs. humid?)
The slip clutch is under a housing, but wind driven rain could still get at it.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

It's recommended to loosen the bolts on springs engage pto let clutch slip cleaning rust dirt etc. then stop pto and adjust bolts to specs some manufacturers give a torque but I have been told to tighten bolts all the way and then back off 2 turns this what's recommended how many people actually do this is anybody's guess.

 

[Notforhire]

Each summer season before using rotary mower, after sitting out through the winter, , I always loosen the slip clutch bolts on the mower and verify that it not rusted together.

That's what I do, loosen the bolts and spin the clutch. Usually I store my cutter under cover, so it rusting up in a month or so isn't an issue, but it sat outside this summer. Like you I'm a little apprehensive about just hooking it up. It only takes me a half hour or so to loosen/spin it. I think that's what I'm going to do.

 

[Rara Avis]

Rotary cutter slip clutches have a tendency to seize up if left idle for some time(nebulous period of time, one month, over the winter, multiple years...)....YMMV as to what the time period is...

 

[JRobyn]

I would start to worry after 3 months or so, particularly if there has been hard, wind-blown rain able to get up under the cover. Ideally, the friction disks are very tight against the pressure plates, so there shouldn't really be any way for water get in there. I guess the friction material is just hygroscopic or porous enough for moisture in the air to migrate in there.

 

[RandyT]

I hadn't checked my slip clutch in a couple of years. About a month ago, loosened the bolts, and turned the clutch and determined it was still free. reset to specs and went to work.

 

[Fallon]

I do it anually. This spring after loosening up the bolts on the tiller slip clutch it wasn't slipping. Stuck a 2x4 in the tines & fired it up. Cut 3/4 of the way through the board before the clutch finally let loose with a bang. Rust & what not can glue a clutch together really well with no clutch pressure. No way clutch pressure + rust would have slipped when needed.

Mark the 2 sides (one side is an inner plate, outside plates are bolted together usually) of the clutch with chalk or paint to keep tabs on the clutch slipping. Both when adjusting the clutch & running normally. If it occasionally slips in normal operation it's probably working right.

 

[Rara Avis]

The following was in my Frontier Rotary Cutter Manual...

IMPORTANT: After thirty days or more, linings of slipclutch may draw moisture. Linings may bond to metalparts causing slip clutch to be ineffective. Loosen all locknuts on slip clutch. This will relieve spring load on thediscs reducing this problem during storage.