Cub Low Boy 154 Clutch Issue - Page 5

cgmiller · #41 08-09-2018, 08:49 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. When I had the transmission fixed in fall of 2015 when I got it, the mechanic replaced everything. It worked great for half the season last year and slowly got out of adjustment. The mechanic adjusted it and replaced a "nut" on something. I feel that something is vibrating loose again on the clutch. Would I adjust the clutch adjustment rod or the bolt on the top of the clutch assembly? I don't want to make it worse.

I typically shift it into reverse to get it out of my barn and then into 1st to mow the yard. I can typically mow the entire yard without stopping.about 2-2.5 hours. I stop near the yard hydrant and wash her off and then put her back in the barn. I touch the clutch maybe 4-5 times every other weekend and no I do not ride the clutch. The mechanic told me not to do that.

As for the sediment in the carb. I do have the sediment bowl under the fuel tank and it looks clean. I can see some sediment in the tank that I need to clean out. I bought a vacuum oil changer that should work pretty good for that too.

J-Mech · #42 08-09-2018, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgmiller

Would I adjust the clutch adjustment rod or the bolt on the top of the clutch assembly? I don't want to make it worse.

Did you download the manual(s) I linked to earlier? They will tell you how to adjust it. One part adjusts the clutch, the other adjusts the clutch brake. I don't want to read the manual for you..... or to you. If you read it and don't understand, that is fine, ask then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgmiller

I typically shift it into reverse to get it out of my barn and then into 1st to mow the yard. I can typically mow the entire yard without stopping.about 2-2.5 hours. I stop near the yard hydrant and wash her off and then put her back in the barn. I touch the clutch maybe 4-5 times every other weekend and no I do not ride the clutch. The mechanic told me not to do that.

Doesn't sound like enough use to cause any adjustment issues. Perhaps something is loose, or didn't stay tight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgmiller

As for the sediment in the carb. I do have the sediment bowl under the fuel tank and it looks clean. I can see some sediment in the tank that I need to clean out. I bought a vacuum oil changer that should work pretty good for that too.

If the sediment bowl is clean, the carb should be too. What makes you think it has something in the carb? Water also collects in the sediment bowl. You have to dump it out/clean it on occasion.

cgmiller · #43 08-12-2018, 07:58 PM

John,

I downloaded the owners manual and service manual when I bought the tractor. I think there is dirt in the carburetor because the engine will not idle down without stalling and it was doing that last summer and the mechanic told me there was dirt in the carb.

I am going to take a look at it next weekend as I only get to my place with the tractor every other weekend.

cgmiller · #44 08-25-2018, 09:13 PM

Good evening gents. I took the cover off the mid section of the tractor and took a stab at adjusting the clutch. I am embarrassed that I was intimidated by it. Adjusting it was pretty easy. Toughest part was fitting the 3/4" wrench in the small place. It took such less time that I started mowing the grass before I should have and I think I may have burned up the PTO clutch. There was smoke coming out from under the seat and when I sprayed the hose under there to wash down the unit and the water spray was steaming...that cant be good. It was making some odd noises when I started it up the next day after putting it away...

J-Mech · #45 08-25-2018, 10:30 PM

So, what does adjusting the clutch not taking very long have anything to do with a PTO clutch? And why are you spraying down a hot tractor with water?? Blow it off with an air hose if you think it needs cleaning off. Washing a machine like that every time you use it isn't necessarily good for it. Especially if you do it while it's hot.

In my personal opinion, this doesn't seem like a machine you are really very apt to own. Lo-Boys are kind of finicky, require quite a bit of maintenance and aren't really that great of lawn mowers anyway. Maybe you should look for something that takes a bit less attention.

cgmiller · #46 08-26-2018, 08:28 PM

John you might be right..the deal with the clutch adjustment going well is that I started mowing the property much sooner than I should have. The grass was high and wet. When I was almost done, I started smelling smoke and it was not cutting well. I looked back at the PTO pulley wheel and it was not turning. I don't know if the mower deck was all packed with wet grass. I pushed in the pto clutch handle as soon as I noticed it but tried a couple of more times. It was still not functioning properly so I shut it down and washed it off as I do after ever cutting. I bought the low boy as it was the biggest tractor that I could tow with my vehicle and the riding mower I have is way too small for my property which is not flat, it has hills and slopes and uneven ground. The low boy handles that well.

J-Mech · #47 08-26-2018, 08:33 PM

Sounds like you slipped the PTO clutch. May or may not have ruined it. I do believe it is adjustable, but I would have to either look up the procedure, or go look at one. Mine is not at my house. You have the book, look it up.

Trade it for a Cub SGT with a 60" Haban deck. *Or* a ZTR mower. You will be much better off.

The best maintained equipment I've ever worked on, got a bath once or twice a year, but got blown off when dusty. Too much washing causes fastners to rust, along with linkages and anywhere water sits. Almost as bad as leaving it out in the rain all the time.

cgmiller · #48 09-04-2018, 09:16 AM

John, I was at my property this weekend where the tractor is. I started up the Lo Boy yesterday and it was not making the banging sounds that it was 2 weeks ago. I pulled it out of the barn and mowed some of the grass...it would not mow the higher thicker stuff..the heavy grass stopped the blades from turning..there was a little smell...after noticing this a couple of times I shut her down and finished mowing with the riding mower. I definitely did something bad to the pto clutch. I brought the service manual home and will have to do some research. I don't like the zero turn mowers. I like the tractor and driving it.