50 hp diesel 128

[sawdustdad]

Seems to me a standard cub clutch will work as is. It spins tires with chains in hard dirt as it is. I think you'll lose traction before you lose the clutch.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by sawdustdad

Seems to me a standard cub clutch will work as is. It spins tires with chains in hard dirt as it is. I think you'll lose traction before you lose the clutch.

If that was the case, pullers would use a stock clutch. Roland is correct, the standard clutch is good to about 20hp.

[cadetbemo]

I understand that H.P. won't be divided between axles and hyd. It was just a creative way of justifying 50hp. I understand that many only have stock engines in articulating tractors.

I have to thank J-Mech for helping get me back on track with some helpful conversations.

I don't think that i could risk getting caught somewhere with a blown out clutch. If I were to use a "cadet" style clutch it would have to be able to handle 30 - 40 hp. Even though the engine will be 50 hp I don't anticipate loading engine down to the extreme that is done in competition.

If a stock 128 clutch is good up to 20 hp. what would a twin disc "stock" 6-pin setup be able to handle? I would think that maybe good up to 30 hp?

[turbo460]

Pullers could probably use a stock clutch,if they ran stock hitch height and no additional weight...

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by turbo460

Pullers could probably use a stock clutch,if they ran stock hitch height and no additional weight...

Pulling is totally different than anything you ever do with a cub. No, the stock clutch won't hold up for tractor pulling.

[turbo460]

You failed to understand my post. If they had stock hitch height and stock weight I believe they would lose traction before clutch would slip.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by turbo460

You failed to understand my post. If they had stock hitch height and stock weight I believe they would lose traction before clutch would slip.

If they were stock hitch height, and stock weight, and stock, stock, stock.... they wouldn't be a pulling tractor then. Of coarse the clutch will hold stock. Point of this thread is it won't hold a 50 hp motor. PERIOD.

[sawdustdad]

Originally Posted by J-Mech

If they were stock hitch height, and stock weight, and stock, stock, stock.... they wouldn't be a pulling tractor then. Of coarse the clutch will hold stock. Point of this thread is it won't hold a 50 hp motor. PERIOD.

J Mech, of course the stock clutch won't handle 50hp. but my point (and turbo460's) was that unless the 50 HP tractor includes pulling (cut tires) and lots of extra weight, the 50 hp will never get transmitted to the ground, and wheels will spin before the clutch 20hp limit is exceeded. I can't see any reasonable way a cub cadet tractor could get more than 20hp transmitted through the clutch since the OP has stated he is likely to use 2wd, and isn't setting it up for pulling.

Bottom line, a 6pin driver and double clutch plates will probably work fine for the OP's project. A pulling clutch with aluminum plates would not be advisable as they don't slip upon engaging. Perhaps adding a heavy duty spring would assure that the clutch would handle the torque. This would be a relatively inexpensive upgrade and still suit the intended use.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by sawdustdad

J Mech, of course the stock clutch won't handle 50hp. but my point (and turbo460's) was that unless the 50 HP tractor includes pulling (cut tires) and lots of extra weight, the 50 hp will never get transmitted to the ground, and wheels will spin before the clutch 20hp limit is exceeded. I can't see any reasonable way a cub cadet tractor could get more than 20hp transmitted through the clutch since the OP has stated he is likely to use 2wd, and isn't setting it up for pulling.

Bottom line, a 6pin driver and double clutch plates will probably work fine for the OP's project. A pulling clutch with aluminum plates would not be advisable as they don't slip upon engaging. Perhaps adding a heavy duty spring would assure that the clutch would handle the torque. This would be a relatively inexpensive upgrade and still suit the intended use.

I'm going to reply,

Via the conversation that the OP and I had over PM, this is what he intends to build. (Picture pulled from extrememotorworks.com)
cub cadet 4X4 019b.jpg

By adding the 50HP liquid cooled diesel (heavy) a second trans (heavy) big tires all the way around, duals or not (weight) a transfer case (weight) some sort of hydraulics (weight).... I don't think he will have any trouble getting 20 hp to the ground, and I believe a stock clutch will be inadequate given the big motor. As a matter of fact, if the tractor pictured had lug tires, and a bigger motor, I'm pretty confident it would come closer to stalling the hydro, than spinning. As it sits, with the turfs, it would spin. If he was running a Kohler, or even a Kubota diesel from say a 782, I think he'd be fine with the stock clutch.

Building a working 4X4 articulated tractor isn't easy. Making it usable, is even harder. I stand by my opinion on the clutch, as I base it off of years experience with repowers, turning up tractors, and custom clutch builds in construction and oil field equipment, and just generally dealing with this type of equipment on a daily basis. I feel my opinion is based off enough experience to justify it. I will also state, that I don't want to debate it any longer. I stand by my position.

[sawdustdad]

Well, that's a horse of a different color. I would agree that the clutch might need to be upgraded, but only if that tractor was used to pull heavy loads. By itself, as a novelty tractor, it wouldn't need it. Ask it to tow a truck up a hill, or some other substantial task, and yes, a better clutch might be required.