Shearing too many bolts on cutter

[SPYDERLK]

The lucky circumstance that low idle gets around breaking the bolts is secondary to OPs discovery that "auto" allows him to have manual control engaging the clutch. Odd that auto lets him engage slowly vs "manual".

yes that does seem backward doesn't it. And the operators manual has 20 pages of safety stickers, but not a whole lot of help with engaging the pto. It does say to lower rpms before engaging, but not to bring it down to idle. And it also says that operating in auto will stop the pto from turning when the clutch is in. I kind of had to figure that out on my own.

Good for you.:thumbsup: I imagine that will come in handy later in your tractor experiences. ... Some implements are very hard to start and would stall an idling engine. Its usually the ones that have some rotor mass and spin very fast. Drum mowers are that way. Flail mowers for the speed reason as well as because the stationary rotor is imbalanced by blade droop and theres a lot of resistance to move their weight up and around.

 

[dpmonk]

Well to resurrect a dead horse...Bad news is I sheared 2 bolts today. First one sheared for no apparant reason. I was cutting real slow, pto was engaged, had some vibration similar to what I feel when I raise the cutter too high and it just sheared. Second one sheared when I hit a chunk on concrete hidden in the weeds. The good thing is I am getting very proficient at changing the bolts. A slip clutch is in the future.

 

[xring100]

just make sure you do the annual check/adjustment on the slip clutch especially if it's stored outside. It's a great way to turn a PTO shaft into pretzel

 

[Bull Of The Woods]

A very BAD tasting pretzel I assume..................A taste that would take at least a 6 pack to wash down!

 

[Fallon]

I was pissed when I found out my rotary had a pin instead of the promised clutch (a year after buying it I finally pulled the shroud to adjust the clutch). Now given I've had it for 2.5 years & not had to do a dam thing to it I'm almost glad I got screwed. No annual clutch maintenance for me. If/when I end up blowing a pin or 5, it will be less work to fix em than the annual clutch maintenance I haven't needed to do.

Lucky or just have good fields to now I guess.

 

[Btown]

I have never broken a shear bolt on my 5 foot rotary cutter, I have hit rocks, stumps and who else knows what. I don't run at 540 rpm' but I'm usually not far off. Even on my post hole digger I broke about 5 the first day I got it then I think I have broken 1 since then. I have put in over 200 posts, I learned to slow the post hole digger down can save time.