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Electric Clutch Rebuild?

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SnowmanPA

· Northwest PA Bolens Fan!
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315 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey Gang!

I'm finally in the process of replacing the Onan in my QT-16 with a new Honda. The electric PTO clutch has always worked flawlessly, but I found that the bearing is definitely showing its age. It still spins freely, but with a noticable roughness and noise.

I've never worked on a clutch, but I just assumed that the bearing should be replaceable. However, I'm not having any success in finding any rebuild instructions or parts info in any of the usual manuals. So I'm wondering if maybe these clutches are not rebuildable after all?

Has anybody ever disassembled and overhauled an electric PTO clutch?

Thanks!

I'll get some pictures up soon!

Ted
 
#2 ·
I spent a lot of time trying to rebuild a warner only to find out it wasn't very pratical or even possible at least with mine.

One guy on here carried on about how he could do it but wouldn't share the how to and dissapeared in the end.

In the end I picked up a new one for 215 which was about 50 less than dealer wanted.

If and when the bearing locks up it will wind the wires and brackets up in big mess. Look at replacing it before it siezes up.

THere may be a warner or whatever brand model number on a sticker somewhere on it.
 
#3 ·
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Thanks for the info guys...since I'm going with a Honda engine, does anybody have any suggestions on a dual-groove pulley for a 1 1/8" crank?

Or does anybody else have a different opinion on the rebuild?

Thanks!
 
#6 ·
the bearings you can find at a napa auto parts store they have a long
list...if there is a snap ring,take it off and drive the bearing out of the pully
and have napa mic it to size it.....or buy one close to what you are looking
for and take the old one and the new one to a machine shop and have it
milled to size.. :thThumbsU
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Ok...now we are getting somewhere. I haven't had the chance to tackle the PTO clutch on this project because my PTO on my tube-frame gave it up the other day. I had just finished mowing and out from the deck there arose such a clatter!

The splines on the pto pulley had worn out so completely that the pulley kept spinning but the shaft didn't!

E-bay to the rescue! I put the new one on last night and mowed for about 10 minutes...and then the mower quit again! I was nervous that my new PTO had been defective...but no. Whew! It was the belt on the deck itself.

That's my project for tonight! Pull the deck to change the belt. I'd ask you all what size belt to buy, but I don't have the foggiest clue which part# deck I have. I do know that it is pretty small. I have another derelict tube-frame deck that is actually about 3-4" wider than the one I'm using.

If anybody would like to hazard a guess, I'll take it under advisement until I can get home to measure the thing.

The worst part will be my wife telling me to sell my 37 year old tractors and buy a new one at Sears. She just doesn't understand that they aren't the same thing...I'll take my old Bolens "tractor" over a disposable riding mower any day.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
I found the part number mower deck I have. Its a 38" model 18418. 75" length.

Thanks to Sonny's Bolens for posting all the manuals. They have many that aren't on MTF.
 
#9 ·
When we had the HVAC business we did a lot of farm air work. Electric clutches were part of the process.

The kind of clutch you have makes a big difference in ease of bearing replacement. Some are simple with just a snap ring holding them in while others require special pullers and that sort of nonsense. If you get stuck on this consider taking it to someone that does automotive air, an independent would be most apt to have the tools, and see if they can help you.

I've not worked on any of the GT clutches but what I've seen of them they are very similar in design to HVAC equipment. You might be able to buy a replacement clutch from a wrecking yard. Often the center hub can be changed out and just the replacement coils of the clutch used.

Mike
 
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Discussion starter · #11 ·
UPDATE: Electric Clutch Rebuild?

Hey Gang,

Between changing job locations and moving over the last couple months, I've been hard pressed to find any time to get my QT-16 back to work. I ended up buying a used clutch for an Ariens on Ebay. Unfortunately, the pulley was damaged and unusable.

However, I was able to disassemble both old clutches and use the field coil and rotor from the Ariens along with the pulley / clutch plate from my old one. In addition, I was able to drive out my old bearing and I found the exact replacement bearing online for $6.95 at VXB.com

The shipping was actually more than the bearing! $7.95! But that was still cheaper than about $30 bucks from Napa.

I took a bunch of pictures of the whole process and I put the newly rebuilt clutch on the tractor today and it works great! I think the total cost of everything (Ariens clutch and new bearing with shipping) came in around $75 bucks. That sure beats $700 that I've seen listed for this particular clutch.

I'm at work right now, but I'll try to get some pictures posted tomorrow.

Ted
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Sorry I didn't get the pics online today. I had some unscheduled maintenance to do that took the rest of the day before I had to go to work.

I planned to mow this morning and then get on the computer at lunch time, but when I pulled the tractor out of the garage I noticed that one of the PTO belts had popped off. I suspected that this might happen since my Honda engine was sitting almost 1/2" further forward than the Onan.

I thought I might have to change the shimming on the crank spacer, but I was able to leave that alone and simply move the engine back about another 1/4". That seemed to have lined up the pulleys better. Fortunately, when I fabricated the motor mounts for my Honda, I built in some adjustability by drilling slots instead of round holes. Thank God I did!

As far as your clutch goes, you may be able to buy a used PTO clutch on Ebay like I did, and then simply use the field coil for yours.

I will get those pictures online tomorrow.

By the way, I looked back at your earlier posts...very nice tractor that you have there. Apparently that 1900 is simply the ultimate evolution of the QT series.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Discussion starter · #17 ·
UPDATE: Electric Clutch Rebuild?

Howdy Gang,

I just finished organizing and writing all the captions for the pictures. I had a lot of duplicate pictures with no explanations. I picked the best ones and tried to organize them in a logical sequence.

I hope this is helpful. See the following link for all the info.

Ted

http://picasaweb.google.com/tedrmiller/BolensPTOClutchRebuild?feat=directlink
 
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SnowmanPA
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