An Overview of Lawn Mower Clutches
It may not even be known to the average homeowner what a lawn mower clutch is. In reality, these clutches are critical and expensive parts of your lawn mower
Technically, an electric clutch is an electromagnetic device. The rotor and the armature. Located on the crankshaft, the rotor attaches to the armature, and as the armature spins, so do the blades of the mower. Electric clutches can be used with larger mowers and small tractors for blade sets with multiple speeds. The disc-shaped clutch is a magnetic coil that operates the blades. The magnetic coil forces when the clutch receives power from the starter.
What is a Lawn Mower Clutch?
Your lawn mower’s clutch must be understood before operation. It’s the part of the mower where the blade attaches to the engine and transmits power.
Complex components, including a powerful magnet, make up the blade. Also included is a brake pad, which slows down your lawn mower blade when you turn it off.
Understanding the mechanisms is critical to ensure you don’t waste your money on unnecessary replacements and repairs.
The parts in lawn mower clutches differ slightly between types. Overall, all clutches serve the same purpose
What does a lawn mower clutch do?
A clutch connects the power of your engine to your mower’s blades.
With a shaft running through the middle, a flat pulley is mounted on top of the clutch.
A clutch rotor is spun by the engine when it engages the pulley. It spins inside the clutch when the clutch is disengaged. That’s the case.
After engaging the clutch, the powerful magnet inside will be activated. This will start pulling against a plate within the rotor as soon as the clutch is engaged. A pulley that is attached to the blades begins to spin again when this process occurs and therefore the blades begin to spin.
Whenever the blades are turned off, the clutch also acts as a brake to prevent the blades from moving. In the event that you disengage the clutch and the magnetic force on the deck is released, the brake pad on the clutch is able to make contact with the pulley, which helps to slow down the deck.
When you flip the switch on the dashboard of your lawn mower, you will be able to activate the clutch. Under the deck, you should hear the clutch moving up and down. If you do not hear this, there may be a problem with your mower.
Is there a specific way in which lawn mower clutches work?
This is an extremely crucial safety element that is part of every lawnmower that uses a PTO clutch, as we previously mentioned. With the engine running, the primary function of this component is to engage the blade, preventing it from spinning when the engine is running. Basically, the clutch transfers the power generated by the lawnmower engine to the drive train of the lawnmower.
An electric mower’s PTO clutch is connected to two drive shafts that run inside the mower; below is an example of how it works. When the engine is running, your lawnmower’s clutch works in conjunction with these shafts to secure the lawnmower when you start it.
For anyone who isn’t aware, the PTO clutch is made up of a couple of basic components, which we are about to describe below. A good example of this is a pulley, which you can always find on the brace of the housing of the machine, which is where the pulley is mounted. Also, the pulley is designed in such a way that it can be easily rotated around the housing brace of the lawnmower because it is designed that way.
There is one significant thing to note here; when the power to the PTO clutch is turned off, the magnetic energy released by the clutch is what controls the rotation of the rotating coil of the electric mower. When this occurs, the springs controlling the rotation of the coil put pressure on the coil, causing the coil to sit up against the brakes.
This brake is responsible for stopping the PTO pulley, which in turn stops the blades from spinning, as it stops the shaft in between. No doubt, there is no doubt that a power take-off clutch (PTO) works on a complicated principle. It is recommended that you watch this video so that you can get a better idea of how the component works.
An examination of the mechanical clutch of the PTO is required
It is a necessity to carry out a mechanical test on the clutch, first of all, just to rule out any physical problems with the clutch. In order to do this, you will have to turn on your lawn mower. The mower should be in neutral or park, and the emergency brake should be engaged while the mower is in neutral or park. It may be necessary for you to disengage the emergency brake on some types of mowers to engage the PTO as they have varying safety features.
The mower can be operated at full throttle by engaging the PTO switch or lever while the mower is running at full throttle. You can rule out the PTO solenoid if you hear the blades trying to start up when the blades are on. It is imperative to disengage the PTO and turn off the mower engine if the clutch is squealing or if the mower engine is revving up. Depending on what’s causing your problem, you may have a malfunctioning bearing on the camshaft, a rough contact surface on the flywheel, or a worn PTO pulley.
Make sure that the belt is kept in working condition by examining whether it is loosened, frayed, cracked, or otherwise worn out. You can find replacement pulleys, belts, and clutch assembly parts at your local small engine repair shop. You have activated your PTO switch and your blades are turning! Congratulations! You have a functional PTO clutch and you can mow away!
Can you tell me what kinds of noises a blade brake clutch makes and what they mean?
When the blade brake clutch of your mower develops a malfunction, you may hear a number of different kinds of noises. There is nothing wrong with taking anything different from what is usual seriously.
In the following paragraphs, we list down a few common noises which may indicate blade brake clutch problems, and what the possible causes could be.
Occasionally, there may be a clanking or rattling sound coming from the mower due to a broken or loose component hitting various metal components throughout the machine.
The squalling noise could indicate either a lack of lubrication in the blade brake clutch parts. Or, it could indicate a lack of lubrication in some other parts that may have worn out or have been shifted from their original positions.
There is often a grinding sound when a metal rubs against another metal, and the sound is usually interpreted as a warning.
The brake blade clutch cable seems to be faulty
It is possible that a faulty cable could be causing issues with the blade engagement of the lawnmower and this may be due to problems with the cable.
The cable is connected between the blade clutch and the blade bail and is attached to the blade clutch. A metal cable with a plastic sheath and cast metal ends, as well as one or more mounting brackets, are used to make it.ertinent to note that the main reason why there are problems with the engagement cable is the cable itself.
The cast end that connects the cable to the clutch and the bail can be extremely fragile after years of use. It is prone to severe breakage after frequent use. The steel cable could break or fray, which is accelerated because of rust.
There could also be an issue with cable kinks, which occur when the cable gets snagged on a fence or shrub. In this case, the cable is kinked, causing it to not slide smoothly through the cover, causing the operation to be finicky, as the cable cannot move. Suppose the steel cable gets corroded or rusted. This happens when the clutch seizes inside the plastic sheath, which is common in mowers that are exposed to harsh weather conditions. Water seeps inside, and because it cannot be drained, it starts to corrode and rust the clutch.
Check the Magnet in Your Clutch
If your clutch is receiving power, then there may be a problem with the electromagnet inside of the clutch.
A potential problem could be with the resistance against the magnet. In order to check for resistance, you will need to use your multimeter again.
Resistance is measured in Ohms, so you will need to set your multimeter to Ohms and attach it to your electromagnet. In general, your Ohm reading should be between one and three.
A high Ohm reading means that there is a higher resistance rating. This would require more energy to complete the circuit. On the other hand, a lower Ohm reading might mean there is a problem with the wiring, and the electromagnet is too powerful.
It is necessary to replace the blade brake clutch once it wears out
The clutch does wear off over time, and it will eventually need to be adjusted or replaced. This would get it back to its proper working condition once it had worn off. A specialist will have to disassemble the mower in order to diagnose the clutch, so that he can inspect the clutch. An expert will closely inspect the condition of the model to determine if it can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced.
In the event that several components of the clutch fail to function properly, there is unfortunately no other option left but to replace the clutch. Whenever the clutch needs to be replaced, make sure you consult the owner’s manual for the replacement part number in case you really do need to change it.
Among the blade brake clutches that are available on the market, we have some that are preassembled. There is no need for the mechanic to remove and replace different parts because it saves him time. This type of blade brake clutch can only be replaced if it begins to develop issues, and replacement is the only solution.
Ensure that you buy the right assembly for your mower model. Ensure that it is securely tightened before commencing operation of the mower and taking it for a test run.
As a conclusion
Lawn mowers with blade brake clutches are more efficient, so select one with one. The clutch under the engine is connected to the crankshaft, which is also a part of the engine and is attached to the clutch. Whenever the blade starts turning, the engine’s crankshaft travels directly through the brake clutch. Belts connected to the clutch rotate the blade as soon as the clutch starts rotating. In addition, the clutch won’t allow the blades to spin while the mower is running. Thus, even if the mower is running, the operator is in full control.
Many homeowners find their lawn mower to be their most valuable asset. It’s beneficial to your lawn and your wallet if you keep them in good working order.How Lawn Mower Clutches Work
