OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions On Ride On Mowers Questions on Greenfield Ride On Mower Frames Greenfields Clutch Parts

Hi, I've got a Fastcut 30 which we bought secondhand several years ago. The clutch has been getting more difficult recently - it doesn't slip but does grab and sometimes doesn't release, so I suspect a lubrication or spring problem. Before I take it apart I'd like to know that I can get replacement springs and shims for the interior of the clutch pack. The local distributor seems to have difficulty getting parts and the ODK store only has the cork pads on offer. Is there another source of springs and shims that I can tap into?

You will probably find its just sticky/gummy where the plates need to slide. I've never seen the springs broken. Just pull it out, clean it up, I only use just a smear of anti seize as lube and put it back in. Parts shouldn't be a problem as yours is a current model, but there may be delays at the moment with greenfield's merger with cox happening.

Gday Matt and Nath,

Nath is on the money with suggesting careful lubrication of the square drive. That said I�ve had a recent experience where the problem was the pedal pivot. The pedal was binding and causing odd binding behaviour that had me suspecting a drive problem. I ended up having to get quite energetic to get the pedal off the post. Cleaned it up and put some anti-seize on it and all was good again.

The point I'm trying to make is to check the entire drive system from the pedal back for freedom of movement and lubrication.

As Nath says I'd be surprised if there is broken springs or the like.

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers,

I have a Greenfields E2000 MkII.

I removed the clutch/drive assembly a while ago and found one of the springs was broken, so they can/do break. Maybe uncommon though, I'm not sure.

I have since replaced cork discs believing them to be the drive problem, only to find, much to my embarrassment that the drive belt was not tensioned (the mechanism working with the notched bar had been bent and the 'blade' that locks into the notched bar was not even touching the bar). Oddly, I rarely if ever hear any noise indicating slipping belt, nor smelt anything remotely rubbery. I had to reassess my initial assumptions to go looking at belt tension, as much as I should have done that at the very start. D'oh!

Although working my way through these problems, including carefully shimming and reshimming the clutches, lubricating the square drive with innox (believing it would not bind with dirt etc), replacing belts etc, I find my unit's drive will at times 'stick', taking a second or two to release into neutral after the pedal has itself been positioned to neutral.

Funny you say that about the belt issue, I've got a tractor 11 that is suffering a similar problem, I think a new belt will fix it though.

I would be very careful with inox/lanolin lubes as they tend to dry out and get sticky/gummy. A smear of nickel anti seize or similar has been the best in my experience.

Hi PRD,

Thanks for the hints, will dive in and have a look. I did find early on (ie months ago, 10s of mowing hours) that the pedal-to-clutch linkages had been gummed up by grass etc and did clean those and and lube. That did free up the pedal and helped things at the time, but the pedal travel is still free, hence my focus on the clutches.

Nath - Thanks for the heads up witih the nickel anti sieze/grease, will go get some.

Apparently a parts supply has come in locally so I'll get into it and advise, with pics : )

Cheers

Hi - transmission has been overhauled, see new post titled Greenfields Fast Cut Transmission Overhaul (Short Shaft)

Morning Matt,

Aopologies for not replying sooner.

That is some detailed ‘How-to’ you’ve created on the other page! Well Done!

This should be a tremendous help to anyone doing a transmission on a later machine - which,to be honest, is something I’ve never done being a ‘Tractor’ bloke.

Well done again and many thanks for putting in the effort to help others.

Cheers,

Thanks PRD