Archive through November 09, 2012

[elamott]

Regarding the thrust button on my 129. Currently the blower turns when the clutch is disengaged and I have about 30 thousand space on the button. I am going to bring it down to about 5 to 10 thousand space and see what that does.
Thanks for the comments
Earl

 

[aschumacher]

Ken, Wayne, here is updated MacMaster address
http://www.mcmaster.com/?error_redirect=true#hex-coupling-nuts/=k4h5v4

 

[nbextermueller]

Earl,

I think you have your engaged/disengaged ideas backwards. The PTO is actually disengaged (off) when the thrust button is pressing against and compressing the triangle spring of the PTO. The PTO is engaged (on) when there is a space between the thrust button and the PTO.

I know it seems logically backwards, because it is...

 

[fcurrier]

Nic: Well said! I had to read it a couple times before I could say that. Forward is on, back is off.

 

[hydroharry]

Earl and Nic and Frank - yes in his last post Earl referred to having 30 thousands space with the clutch being dis-engaged, and you're right, having the space there means the clutch is engaged. Earl also said he was going to reduce that space to 5 to 10 thousands. Since his clutch was "not dis-engaging" at 30 thousands he is correct to reduce the space.

Earl - the spec in the manual is 0 to 30 thousands. I'd try 1/4 turn tighter on the turn buckle to see if that is enough, probably around 20 thousands. If it's still not enough then try another 1/4 turn tighter. You can go all the way to zero space per the manual spec (and it will probably wear your fiber button in to just what you need.)

 

[nbextermueller]

Harry,

Are you talking about 0-30 when engaged? Then yes, any space between the PTO and trust button will leave the PTO engaged. I interperate that as meaning don't let that space get bigger then .030 or when you disengage the PTO, it won't push the button far enough in to full release the PTO clutch.

So agree with your recommendation, crank in the turn buckle until it disengages the PTO and attached blower. Heck CAREFULLY do it while it's running. Then when the blower stops turning, turn the thing off, and the engage the pro lever and see if the remaining space is within spec.

But I repeat, ONLY adjust it while running if you feel comfortable doing so. One could very quickly kill a fiber button if not done very slowly with a watchful eye.

 

[hydroharry]

Nic - yes I meant 0 to 30 thousands gap when the PTO clutch is engaged. I think Earl had set the gap at 30 thousands engaged and was going to reduce the gap to between 5 and 10 thousands engaged. I actually thought this would be to little gap, and thought he could just try tightening the turn buckle 1/4 until he reached the point of dis-engaging. I actually would not recommend doing this with the engine running. You can start and stop the engine easy enough, and the turn buckle has that little locking nut (is it 7/16) that is hard to get at just behind the S/G. Earl should be able to tell pretty quickly since he's doing this with the snow thrower mounted on the unit. If the snow thrower auger rotates immediately when he starts the engine then the PTO clutch has not dis-engaged, and he needs to tighten the turn buckle just a little more.

 

[mhomrighausen]

Good morning, All. It is danged chilly outisde when Fancy and I checked frost was everywhere. To set proper clearance on the old manual pto clutch just find a matchbook cover and use it. That's what the manuals for the early Cub cadet narrow frames state. That or 1/64th inch clearance when engaged.

Off to work so everyone keep warm and have a wonderful and safe week.

 

[kide]

+1 for what Marlin said.. C'mon - this isn't rocket science.. If the clutch is dragging with the PTO lever all the way in the disengaged position and .010 difference makes it release fully, then the assembly is too tight. The full disengagement point should be BEFORE the PTO lever is against the stop. It took me a while to figure out why I was chewing up buttons - as was said earlier, it's a little counter intuitive to have have the throwout bearing (which is what the button is) working backwards - engaged when the clutch is disengaged- until you remember that the part of the assembly it's working against STOPS spinning when it's engaged......

 

[kmcconaughey]

I'm glad I got my Cub Cadet 125 ready for snow a week or so ago. It's snowing this morning. Great big flakes.