pto slip clutch

[r porter]

i have always had shear pins in everything until now. i bought a cutter over the winter that has a slip clutch and wonder what is the proper adjustment for it.

i loosened all the bolts until the springs were very loose and fiddled until i could turn it by hand. i hope that means the plates are good.

i then tightened the bolts finger tight on the springs and added about half to 3/4 turn on the bolts against the springs. it did not slip mowing three acres.

when i loosened the bolts they were probably 3 revolutions against the springs. so how tight should they be?

 

[5030]

The only way to determine the slip (break point) of a clutch is by slipping it with a bar of known length and applying a known force. IOW either using a torque wrench set to the known slip point spec or by using a bar and weight. The only way to determine if the plates are good is by taking it apart. Weasler had breaking torque charts on their website that will apply to most slip clutch units and they are in foot pounds.

 

[STx]

I adjust mine by loosening it and engaging the PTO to break it loose of any rust. I then hand tighten it plus about 1 turn and hit some tall grass. If it slips (it usually does), I tighten it in 1/2 turn increments until it doesn't. If I'm mowing something heavier and it's slipping too much, I'll tighten it a little more but, I want to be sure that the clutch will slip before the motor bogs down.

I do this every year in the Spring before my fist mow.

 

[Gary Fowler]

The slip clutch on my KKII rotary tiller has no exposed springs. I was informed by the dealer not to f--- with it as it is adjusted at the factory. I don't plan to take it apart each year to see how it works. Anyone else have one like this? Sorry don't have a photo available.

 

[STx]

Mine doesn't have any springs, it's a cupped plate on each end. Tightening the bolts reduces the cup and increases tension.

Slip clutches have to be tested and adjusted or they will rust together and not slip when needed. Or, if they slip too much, they'll wear down and won't hold solid. I would find the manual for yours and give it the proper maintenance before it just becomes a bump on your PTO shaft.

 

[Tx Jim]

I think your KK ll tiller dealer gave you some inaccurate information. As for as I know ALL slip clutches should be checked to be sure they're not stuck at beginning of season. I looked online and could only find info on a KK ll tiller with exposed springs on slip clutch similar to my KK ll tiller. Please note steps 7 thru 9 in the posted KK ll rotary tiller maintenance. My Krone disc mower slip clutch has no exposed springs but has instructions in operators manual how to check to be sure plates aren't stuck. Read Krone operators manual slip clutch(Walerscheid) instructions below.

 

[Tx Jim]

Mine doesn't have any springs, it's a cupped plate on each end. Tightening the bolts reduces the cup and increases tension.

Cupped plates are called Bellville washers.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

I think your KK ll tiller dealer gave you some inaccurate information. As for as I know ALL slip clutches should be checked to be sure they're not stuck at beginning of season. I looked online and could only find info on a KK ll tiller with exposed springs on slip clutch similar to my KK ll tiller. Please note steps 7 thru 9 in the posted KK ll rotary tiller maintenance. My Krone disc mower slip clutch has no exposed springs but has instructions in operators manual how to check to be sure plates aren't stuck. Read Krone operators manual slip clutch(Walerscheid) instructions below.

STx is actually correct, there are some slip clutches on the market primarily on smaller cut att that you have no ability to adjust/repair the clutch, some of them don't even offer repair items if it fails you buy the whole thing. I have been around a few and unless the unit gets abused they seem to work just fine, tillers seem to be one of the areas where we see them the most.

 

[JRobyn]

My manual for my BushHog 286 includes instructions for adjusting the slip clutch by tightening down each of the spring nuts until each spring is a specified length.

 

[STx]

Cupped plates are called Bellville washers.

Cool, I learned something new today. I'll probably forget it by the time I need to go buy some though...LOL