Slip clutch maintenance

[davep]

Hi folks,

I have an RCR1860 with a slip clutch. There is a large shield around the slip clutch which makes it very difficult to service, even with the small cutouts on the side.
I’ve searched this forum, and it appears some people have removed the cover permanently. I don’t think I want to do that.
What have you folks found as the best way to service the clutch?

 

[B737]

There is a large shield around the slip clutch which makes it very difficult to service, even with the small cutouts on the side.
I’ve searched this forum, and it appears some people have removed the cover permanently. I don’t think I want to do that.
What have you folks found as the best way to service the clutch?

Removed the cover permanently.

 

[Dieseldonato]

Removed the cover permanently.

Yep... not sticking your hands in it from the tractor seat....

 

[mcfarmall]

Leave the cover in place if you let your kids ride on the cutter while in use.

 

[Elliott in GA]

While more cumbersome than not having a shield, you can certainly service/slip it with the shield in place. You simply have to rotate the item you need to reach to one of the access points. I opened both access ports to allow extra light into the housing, but I only used one access port to reach the bolts. I did it on cool sunny day in March in the morning, and this allowed sunlight to stream into the housing from a sun that was low in the sky. You could also do it late in the afternoon or use a flashlight.

Take your time; it took me about an hour to complete everything (from warming up the tractor then hooking up the cutter to putting everything away).

If I had to do it more often than once a year, I would consider removing the shield; however, personally I feel the shield is worth the extra effort yearly. Your equipment, your choice.

I doubt it would present much of a problem, but I do wonder how much debris/briars/sticks would be wrapped around the unshielded spinning slip clutch when you back into overgrown areas? I do this fairly often, but others may never do it.

 

[Bmyers]

Been a couple recent post on this topic.

As I stated previously, for me, the shield is no more. I understand the purpose of the shield, but the design creates more frustration than it is worth. Since anytime that the mower is engaged, no one should be around the mower, the need for it to protect people is non-existent if you follow rule number one and that is have no one around the mower when the PTO is engaged.

 

[D2Cat]

Been a couple recent post on this topic.

As I stated previously, for me, the shield is no more. I understand the purpose of the shield, but the design creates more frustration than it is worth. Since anytime that the mower is engaged, no one should be around the mower, the need for it to protect people is non-existent if you follow rule number one and that is have no one around the mower when the PTO is engaged.

I agree. These kind of "protections" are there for people with no understanding of how equipment functions properly, but still own it.

We'd have to close down all law schools for at least 10 years to reduce the number of lawyers to reduce law suits, but the snowball has been rolling too long for much realistic change.

 

[SDT]

Hi folks,

I have an RCR1860 with a slip clutch. There is a large shield around the slip clutch which makes it very difficult to service, even with the small cutouts on the side.
I’ve searched this forum, and it appears some people have removed the cover permanently. I don’t think I want to do that.
What have you folks found as the best way to service the clutch?

The shield is lawyer repellant and is not needed.

Yes, the clutch can be slipped without removing the shield, but why?

 

[davep]

I understand the desire to remove it completely. My concern with doing that is that it also keeps water off the slip clutch, which would cause it seize up and need to be re-slipped in the first place. I guess if you keep it inside, it isn't a concern, but I keep mine outside.

 

[Dieseldonato]

I understand the desire to remove it completely. My concern with doing that is that it also keeps water off the slip clutch, which would cause it seize up and need to be re-slipped in the first place. I guess if you keep it inside, it isn't a concern, but I keep mine outside.

Doesn't much matter if it's out side, it's going to absorb moisture either way. Directly rain or being stuck in the rain and the humidity. They just need slipped every now and then.

 

[davep]

Doesn't much matter if it's out side, it's going to absorb moisture either way. Directly rain or being stuck in the rain and the humidity. They just need slipped every now and then.

Yeah. I guess that’s also true. Going to need maintenance no matter what.

 

[mikester]

I can see a need for guards when bush hogging in tall weeds with hidden surprises and around low hanging evergreen branches.

Accidents happen. When they do it's in the blink of an eye and you can end up having a very bad day. At the end of the day we are all mortal...even if you are cleverer than the safety guards.

Did you see this post?

TRACTOR SLUNG PTO SHAFT!!! - PICS.

In case anyone takes life for granted when standing near a spinning PTO shaft - here's what can happen when a #8 grade bolt for PTO clutch is no match for PTO engagement at 2000 RPM's (that was my fault - had just turned PTO off and saw I had missed a spot so turned it right back on before...

www.tractorbynet.com

 

[Bmyers]

I can see a need for guards when bush hogging in tall weeds with hidden surprises and around low hanging evergreen branches.

Accidents happen. When they do it's in the blink of an eye and you can end up having a very bad day. At the end of the day we are all mortal...even if you are cleverer than the safety guards.

Did you see this post?

TRACTOR SLUNG PTO SHAFT!!! - PICS.

In case anyone takes life for granted when standing near a spinning PTO shaft - here's what can happen when a #8 grade bolt for PTO clutch is no match for PTO engagement at 2000 RPM's (that was my fault - had just turned PTO off and saw I had missed a spot so turned it right back on before...

www.tractorbynet.com

I wonder if the person had been maintaining the slip clutch? Theoretically, if the clutch was maintained, the bolt should not have had enough force to break. Yet, failure to maintain the clutch, you end up with one solid piece of metal.

 

[SDT]

I wonder if the person had been maintaining the slip clutch? Theoretically, if the clutch was maintained, the bolt should not have had enough force to break. Yet, failure to maintain the clutch, you end up with one solid piece of metal.

Few do.

 

[Dieseldonato]

I can see a need for guards when bush hogging in tall weeds with hidden surprises and around low hanging evergreen branches.

Accidents happen. When they do it's in the blink of an eye and you can end up having a very bad day. At the end of the day we are all mortal...even if you are cleverer than the safety guards.

Did you see this post?

TRACTOR SLUNG PTO SHAFT!!! - PICS.

In case anyone takes life for granted when standing near a spinning PTO shaft - here's what can happen when a #8 grade bolt for PTO clutch is no match for PTO engagement at 2000 RPM's (that was my fault - had just turned PTO off and saw I had missed a spot so turned it right back on before...

www.tractorbynet.com

The guard in question would have been ripped off if that happened anyway. Experienced similar with a Ferri flail mower, except it was the entire gear box that came off the side of the mower. Nearly shite myself. Fortunately I already had my hand on the pto lever because I heard a weird noise so I managed to shut it off family quickly, but not before the pto shaft separated.
Point it stuff can and will break, and no one should be near that pto when it or the tractor is in motion. Tin guards do little to stop something with 75hp behind it.