Another Homebrew Clutch Spring Compressor
 

I was having clutch problems with my 1200, and decided I needed to take it apart to figure out what was wrong. Obviously I needed a spring compression tool. This is what I came up with, using some 'T' shaped pieces of steel (left over parts from a defunct garage door opener), some 5/16" all-thread, a few nuts, washers, and lock washers, and some head scratching and elbow grease:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...t/DSCN0525.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...t/DSCN0527.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...t/DSCN0528.jpg

In the last two pictures, the all-thread is reversed, as I discovered that the way I originally had them, they interfered with the clutch arm on re-assembly.

The angle with the large square hole has the hole sized to allow the small-diameter section of the throwout bearing to fit. The angle bears against the throwout bearing when the nuts on the all-thread is tightened.

The other angle, with the large square cutout and the small square cutout at the bottom is arranged such that the shaft fits through the large hole, and the pin through the shaft passes through the small cutout as the nuts are tightened.

It worked pretty good. (Of course, if I were to build another I could make it better now that I have an understanding as to what I need. But I've been a Cub-Cadet owner for 30+ years and this is the first time I've needed one, so my warranty will probably expire before I need it again.)

BTW, after I got apart, I think all my problem was mainly that the spring spacer and teaser spring were so gunked up with old grease, dirt, ground up grass clippings, etc. that the spacer just wouldn't slide freely on the shaft. The shaft looked good - no burrs or badly worn areas, etc. I ended up just cleaning it up good, and putting on a thin coating of lithium grease. Put it back together and adjusted it, and it seems to be working OK now, with just the usual little bit of drag.

Nice job, tpelle! Thanks for sharing. :beerchug:

I would make and use a safety loop on that spring compressor. Never know when a driveshft will deside to pop out.

Nice work on the spring compressor tpelle :ThumbsUp:

You know? I was thinking the same thing. As a matter of fact, while I was on the way to the hardware store to buy the all-thread I was thinking about a couple of U-bolts that could be dropped through the bottom of the angle and a couple of nuts threaded on as a pop-out preventer. I had a senior moment, though, and was already home using it when I thought of it again!

I think i could make that one, better than a vise. Great job.