OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Reel-Type Mowers Model 17 Clutch Problems

Good morning. I've been absent from the forum for a while, but have not lost interest. When I rebuilt the Supercut, I did not replace the clutch. Locomotion finally came to a standstill and I have pulled her apart once again. It would appear that the seals no longer seal and the clutch face is oil impregnated with a tremendous build-up of impacted grease. I wondered if anyone has ever pulled one of these Supercut electric clutches apart before I attack this one any further. Photos below may show the problem which I believe lies in the brass bushing, but that is only a guess. There are two cork faces, one of which is attached via rivets to the outer gear. I have not touched this yet. I have cleaned the clutch face with thinners in a vain attempt to see if I can salvage any remains, but doubt the eventual success of this. Any help/comments would be appreciated. John

Hello John A
I can't say I have worked on these landroll clutches.
It is a friction clutch energised by compression springs.

Grease impregnation of the components have finally taken their toll.

I guess the lining is cork stock (like on the Model 45).
I'm thinking new cork stock for the lining, if the existing lining is too thin,
or if solvent immersion cannot improve its life.

I hope a Supercut owner has experienced this.
Help!

Please keep us informed.

Thanks for the update.
------------------------------------
Jack

Thanks, Jack.
I'm guessing that the cork lining which shows as 79 in your diagram, still has enough meat on it as it is quite proud of the rivets.
I'm at a loss to understand how the 3 pieces of the 'flywheel' separate, but I'm guessing that they simply press apart.
No big deal I suppose.
Thanks for your support once again.
J

G'day folks,
Since that lining is riveted, I'd think it unlikely that it would be just cork. More like a harder friction material, like the old riveted car brake shoe linings. Or cork facing, bonded to a harder backing.

There's a small pic of this lining on this archived website [unfortunately the detail page wasn't archived],
http://web.archive.org/web/20130425013714/http://www.turfmachinery.com.au/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_91_139&sort=20a&page=2

Cork is an amazing product, years ago I had to repair a clutch on a 1948 Enfield Flying Flea. I got a cork sanding block from Bunnings sliced it into strips about 3mm thick, cut it into the triangle shapes I needed, pushed them is and that clutch is still working fine, although as you would imagine it is not used too often

I've contacted a number of repairers and suppliers but no one appears to have anything that is old stock or remanufactured so I'm scratching my head at the moment. I've soaked the cork (?) facing in thinners and it is slowly coming clean, but my concern is why the grease got there in the first place so I'm off to an engineering shop in the near future to ask what can be done.
Apart from that, the engine works fine so thank you to those who had suggestions for the capacitor as that was the problem there.
Cheers
John

Supercut clutch update:
I'm happy to report that the supercut is working well after soaking the clutch plate in thinners several times and cleaning the flywheel face in the same manner. I think that the oil soak came from age and no maintenance and I did not pull the clutch assembly apart when I rebuilt the rest of the machine. Whatever the reason, it is working fine now with no apparent problems.
Thanks, Jack, NormK & Gadge for your advice.
I'm thinking that I will pass this supercut, another SB electric and the Suffolk, on now so someone else can play with them if anyone knows of people interested.
Cheers
JohnA

Forgot the all important....

G'day John A

It's always nice to have a resolution to a story.
You gave us one.

Do you think the landroll clutch failure was more a case of over-maintenance?
I mean, the desire to grease the clutch bushings meant too much grease was
applied - that it impregnated the cork lining?

In any case you have shown that otherwise serviceable cork linings may
be restored by removing excess grease impregnation via solvent immersion.

I think this symptom is less common on Model 45s is due to the use of a
sealed ball bearing. Any grease impregnation was due to over-servicing
of the chains in the chain case. Just a thought.

These Model 17 Electrics are under appreciated, and they must be
matched to the 'right' lawns.

I hope it goes to a loving home.

Many thanks John for the journey here.

----------------------------
Jack