Tiller slip clutch question

[MFFI422]

Have a new LP tiller I haven't used yet. My understanding is to adjust the slip clutch before I use it. It's stored inside a climate controlled shop now but initially sat outside for awhile. Question is, after I do the adjustment and after use can I put some sort of grease or WD-40 on it to keep it from seizing in the future?

Thanks!

 

[Nicfin36]

I'm no expert, but I believe you need to loosen the nuts to make sure the clutch slips then adjust back just prior to use every year. It was a bit of trial and error for my tiller. After loosening the nuts, I engaged the PTO and and as the tiller was spinning, I lowered it so it would touch the ground. I had it too loose and had to adjust it twice before I got it right.

It is a bit of a pain, and I wish there was a easy solution. But, I am thinking putting anything on the clutch would contaminate it and not allow it to function correctly. I would think it would be like getting oil on a automobile clutch. It would cause it too slip too much.

 

[BigG]

If you count the number of turns as you back off the nuts you then can recount them to find the starting point. Often it is near the correct location you need.

 

[Tx Jim]

I agree slip clutch at beginning of season should have nuts loosened.plates slipped.then nuts tightened sufficiently according to spec's so clutch doesn't slip or only limited slippage. IMHO no lubricant should ever be applied to a slip clutch assembly

 

[SidecarFlip]

Never put ANYTHING on the slip clutch plates. They must always be dry. It's a FRICTION clutch and it needs friction to work properly.

Most all my driven implements have slip clutches.

The way I set mine is, I measure how far the threaded rod is proud of the nut, back them all off a couple turns and engage the pto and slip the clutch a couple revolutions (to get the corrosion off the plates), then run the nuts back down to the measurement I recorded prior to backing them off. Then I engage the pto and listen for a squeak which tells me the clutch has slipped and grabbed. You want a tad bit of slip every time you engage the pto and you'll hear the squeak of the DRY plates rubbing together.

No squeak means thew clutch is too tight. Long squeak means the clutch is too loose. You want maybe a 2 second long squeak when you engage the pto.

The clutch is there to protect the implement drive line, not the tractor.

 

[MFFI422]

Question answered. Thanks guys. On the spot as usual!

 

[UpNorthMI]

Question answered. Thanks guys. On the spot as usual!

Most important thing is you are taking the time to adjust the clutch. I had an old woods heavy duty brush cutter with slip clutch and let it go for several years without adjustment, my son was mowing a clearing and went off in the rough with it, the slip clutch did not do what it should have and my MX5800 destroyed the 75HP gear box on the cutter by thrusting the input shaft out of it's seals and bearings. Luckily no one hurt and it cost a new gearbox and PTO shaft, now every year before first use, I adjust every one of my slip clutch PTO shafts for each attachment just like Sidecar Flip describes.