I got a JD 180 with a attitude! Just cause I use it and 'gator blades instead of a bush hog shouldn't make that much difference - wouldn't think!
Was hogging a couple of weeks ago when the blades went on vacation. Twas late, so quit for the day. Couple days later fired it up, hit the chew'em up switch and the blades went to work - for about 40 seconds. Hmmmmph. Shut it down.
Later one evening when didn't have anything else to do (Yeah, right), tried it again. Blades ran for maybe a minute, then I cut them off. When I hit the switch again, nada - motor didn't change pitch.
Tech manual sez you're supposed to be able to hear the PTO 'click' if you hit the switch with the ignition on (no motor running). MY ole' switch makes so Dang much noise when I cut it on you couldn't hear a cherry bomb in your back pocket if it went off at the same time! So much for that helpful comment.
So, I deposited my 68 year old spry butt down on the comfortable concrete and eyeballed the clutch - didn't see anything of immediate concern. Clutch frame rotated freely throughout the slot travel as allowed by the stop pin sticking down - maybe an inch or so.
Now, more about that stop pin ...
Started the motor while I was still horizontal, and reached up and hit the switch while watching the clutch. I saw it rotate to the stop point and thought I saw a spark at the stop pin!
Moved the light away and - Lordy, there was a whole bunch of sparks justa dancing around that stop pin! Strikes me as not being quite right -know what I mean, Vern?
Watched the show for a while, then offed the switch and shut down the motor. Turn the ig switch on again, hit the gogo switch. Reached up and moved the clutch around - back and forth - didn't see nary a spark! Nuttin! And it was dark up there!
Well, ain't what I expected. Poot switch off, start motor, Poot switch on, and the fireworks start again! Well, Crap!
Ok, Wise Souls, help me decipher this strangeness! First off, kinda makes sense that the PTO coil has sadly found an unwanted connection to the clutch frame. I saw the dash lights dim a bunch while this testing was going on - dropping close to 3 volts at the PTO connection from battery + and the coil surface gets downright hot pretty quick.
Now, seeing as how the crankshaft IS a least somewhat connected to frame ground through the bearings, piston rod, rings, etc - Granted, not an inspector grade connection but still SOME - why was the current not going thru the crankshaft to ground but instead puttin on the light show at the pin? (Never woulda seen it in the daylight tho!)
And, why didn't I see any sparks when I was rotating the clutch frame by hand with the switch on? Didn't see NONE! That's what gets me!
All ideas will be greatly appreciated!:dunno:
(Plus a cheap PTO clutch! Hint hint.)
Friendly Fred
Was hogging a couple of weeks ago when the blades went on vacation. Twas late, so quit for the day. Couple days later fired it up, hit the chew'em up switch and the blades went to work - for about 40 seconds. Hmmmmph. Shut it down.
Later one evening when didn't have anything else to do (Yeah, right), tried it again. Blades ran for maybe a minute, then I cut them off. When I hit the switch again, nada - motor didn't change pitch.
Tech manual sez you're supposed to be able to hear the PTO 'click' if you hit the switch with the ignition on (no motor running). MY ole' switch makes so Dang much noise when I cut it on you couldn't hear a cherry bomb in your back pocket if it went off at the same time! So much for that helpful comment.
So, I deposited my 68 year old spry butt down on the comfortable concrete and eyeballed the clutch - didn't see anything of immediate concern. Clutch frame rotated freely throughout the slot travel as allowed by the stop pin sticking down - maybe an inch or so.
Now, more about that stop pin ...
Started the motor while I was still horizontal, and reached up and hit the switch while watching the clutch. I saw it rotate to the stop point and thought I saw a spark at the stop pin!
Moved the light away and - Lordy, there was a whole bunch of sparks justa dancing around that stop pin! Strikes me as not being quite right -know what I mean, Vern?
Watched the show for a while, then offed the switch and shut down the motor. Turn the ig switch on again, hit the gogo switch. Reached up and moved the clutch around - back and forth - didn't see nary a spark! Nuttin! And it was dark up there!
Well, ain't what I expected. Poot switch off, start motor, Poot switch on, and the fireworks start again! Well, Crap!
Ok, Wise Souls, help me decipher this strangeness! First off, kinda makes sense that the PTO coil has sadly found an unwanted connection to the clutch frame. I saw the dash lights dim a bunch while this testing was going on - dropping close to 3 volts at the PTO connection from battery + and the coil surface gets downright hot pretty quick.
Now, seeing as how the crankshaft IS a least somewhat connected to frame ground through the bearings, piston rod, rings, etc - Granted, not an inspector grade connection but still SOME - why was the current not going thru the crankshaft to ground but instead puttin on the light show at the pin? (Never woulda seen it in the daylight tho!)
And, why didn't I see any sparks when I was rotating the clutch frame by hand with the switch on? Didn't see NONE! That's what gets me!
All ideas will be greatly appreciated!:dunno:
(Plus a cheap PTO clutch! Hint hint.)
Friendly Fred